Reverse Resolutions

Recently I came across this concept of reverse resolutions or upside-down resolutions. Basically, rather than setting up a big program of total change starting on January 1, you gear up for the change you want to see. I’ve written before about having goals that you work on rather than resolutions you must follow and in many ways these are addressing the same problem. First, it’s really hard to make changes, something that is probably obvious since you wouldn’t really need to make the resolution if it wasn’t already hard. Second, the idea of a goal or a warming or gearing up period allows you to make adjustments as needed to transform your life rather than just setting up rules that you’ll probably break and set aside by the second week of January.

So, I’m gearing up for some changes for the year. I’ve yet to write my resolutions and honestly, haven’t really done much to keep them but it’s not too late, right? I’m just reallllllly slow in the gearing up process.

Without further delay, I hereby resolve to accomplish the following in 2009:

1. Finish the damn degree already!!!

2. Stay on top of grading and teaching prep.

3. Stop intake and reduce the current loads of “stuff” by 10% per category. “Category” here being anything that is big enough to be counted as a group such as skeins of yarn, bolts of fabric, sweaters, socks, and so on. And good grief, yes, I have enough socks to need to reduce by 10%, probably more actually.

4. Reduce the “junk in the trunk” by 10%.

5. Celebrate holidays and birthdays… as close to on time as possible.

6. Cook real food more often… and then wash the dishes.

7. Turn clutter room into crafty room. Possibly only different semantics but at least the sewing machine will be out on a table and I’ll pretend to have time to be creative.

8. Follow the advice of my new office sign: “Today I will be happier than a bird with a French fry.”

9. Follow the advice of my motto for the year: “Get shit done.”