December
31st 2007
Posted under meanderings
Here we are at the eve of another new year. As I look ahead at another year filled with friends and fibery goodness, I thought I’d take a moment also look back to see if I managed to accomplish some of this past year’s resolutions.
To refresh your memory these were my goals:
- Get over my sweater fear and knit a few. I really need to get off my lazy ass and my comfort zones and just dive in. I have enough yarn for one sweater. I just need to get rid of the mental block in my head that I can’t do this.
- Spin more and with specific projects in mind. I’ve already started doing this, but I want to keep it up.
- Knit with what I spin. I have yet to knit with what I’ve spun except for one afghan block. This is just plain silly. I must stop this kind of silliness.
- Lose weight. I’ve been slowly losing weight this past year and I’d like to keep it up by going for regular walks and cutting down on my snacking. I think if my body were at a more acceptable weight I’d be more inclined to knit sweaters for myself too.
- Get my Christmas presents out on time. I was really bad this year and I feel really badly about it. I had them all knitted up I just didn’t get them wrapped and mailed in time. Shame on me.
- Buy more yarn. I’m really hard on myself when I buy yarn. I agonized over every purchase like I’m bleeding money when in fact I’m not. I don’t have a terribly big stash and I do use what I buy. I need to stop with the guilt trips whenever I buy yarn. (I do need to go easy on the sock yarn though. My sock yarn bin is huge. I need to go on a sock yarn diet.Oh and I have huge amounts of laceweight.)
- Be more patient and kind to myself. I find that the courtesies that I unthinkingly extend to others rarely get extended to myself by myself. So I need to start being more courteous to myself by being more tolerant as well as being patient and kind.
Let’s start at the beginning.
- While I didn’t knit a lot of sweaters, I did manage to get over my sweater fear. Hopefully 2008 will bring more sweaters into my wardrobe.
- I did start a spinning project with a specific goal in mind. Unfortunately, I didn’t even come close to finishing it. Maybe I’ll have better luck in the future.
- I did start a project out of my own handspun. Even though I didn’t finish it, I feel like I’ve accomplished that goal.
- Ha! Let’s not even go there. :)
- Again. Ha! But I have joined a support group this time around to help me be better prepared for next Christmas. I’ll get it right one of these years.
- Oooh. This was a hard one. Needless to say, mission accomplished.
- My perspective has changed from when I set this goal for myself. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing to be demanding of oneself. It’s great to challenge yourself to new heights as long as you don’t abuse yourself to the point where it becomes counterproductive.
I don’t think I’ll be making any resolutions for next year. After awhile, the resolutions I made this year began to feel more like a burden then a motivation.
Instead, I will start the new year with a completely clean slate, clear of mind.
Happy New Year!
Jeanne on 31 Dec 2007 at 11:10 am #
Well, you accomplished a lot this year and should be proud! I do hope you eventually get back to the Flower Basket shawl because your yarn is so pretty! Happy New Year - I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next year!
loribird on 31 Dec 2007 at 12:42 pm #
Hey, Opal! Glad to see you accomplished so much - perhaps that’s the point of resolutions, so we can look back and see what we’ve done differently…
I hope you have a happy new year too!
Karen B. on 31 Dec 2007 at 3:12 pm #
Clean slate all the way, baybee! Some people think it means you don’t set any goals. In my opinion, it just means that the possibilities are endless!
Onward to 2008, my friend!
debbie on 31 Dec 2007 at 4:00 pm #
i like that clean slate idea! and i think i better go see how i did on my last resolutions/goals….
Agnes on 31 Dec 2007 at 4:30 pm #
I’m not making resolutions either … just wish myself a productive and pleasurable knitting year … and to you too!
Robin in VA on 31 Dec 2007 at 4:42 pm #
I’m not making any resolutions this year…somehow I never keep them! However, there is one that I KNOW I’ll keep~~Knittin’ & Spinnin’!!!!
Hattie on 31 Dec 2007 at 4:54 pm #
I never make resolutions, I just like to set goals for “sometime”. Goals are more positive and less like rules. ;)
Shelly on 31 Dec 2007 at 4:54 pm #
Wow! You did much better than me this year! I am so proud of you - I know you will keep doing great on anything you try to do!
Keep knitting those sweaters!
fleegle on 01 Jan 2008 at 1:04 am #
You are much more disciplined than I am! That’s an amazing list!
I resolve to buy yarn.
I should be able to keep that resolution :)
Jenny Raye on 01 Jan 2008 at 3:43 am #
I’m in the no resolutions camp this year myself, although I do have one goal in the back of my mind, but it isn’t exactly a resolution…….well, maybe it is. Anyway…….
Happy New Year!
Robbyn on 01 Jan 2008 at 4:04 am #
I don’t make resolutions any more because I generally lack the self discipline to follow through on them. They pretty much all boil down to one thing anyway - patience. More patience with myself and with others.
Hope the year is good for you my friend, good for us all :)
Roseann on 01 Jan 2008 at 4:10 am #
Thank you for your inspiring retrospective. I know what you mean about resolutions becoming burdens! I want to spin more and unknit less. I have this grand dream, for a bit in the future, where I spin, design and knit my own garments, though I will probably continue to buy sock yarn. Happy New Year!
Peggy on 01 Jan 2008 at 4:49 am #
Sometimes our resolutions can come back and bite us in the butt. Here is to a fruitful, extremely productive & peaceful 2008.
Alison on 01 Jan 2008 at 7:41 am #
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore, so you’re not alone! It was great getting to know you this year and hope we continue. Have a great year!
Cookie on 01 Jan 2008 at 8:25 am #
Regarding #4: Acceptable?! Miss Opal, you are fabulous as is. Do not make come over there!
Happy New Year! ♥
textillian on 01 Jan 2008 at 11:24 am #
Happy New Year, Opal!
As long as you are healthy and happy, you have all you really need. Although I must admit that I have set goals of sewing a shirt and a pair of pants for myself, as well as weaving more. We shall see what happens.
Aim on 01 Jan 2008 at 11:35 am #
A clean slate is a good idea! I feel much the same about resolutions: I don’t want any more rules to follow, but just a gentle reminder of where I’d like to go this year, so my resolutions this year are general in the extreme. Not much specific info there, but then, that’s the point!!!
Happy knitting, Opal. Keep on inspiring other knitters like you always do :)
Lauren on 01 Jan 2008 at 2:52 pm #
Congratulations on the small victories and happy new year!
Carol on 02 Jan 2008 at 6:17 am #
Sounds like a great way to start the year! Clean slate….yeah.
A very healthy, happy and prosperous new year!
nova on 02 Jan 2008 at 6:56 am #
I feel like I did a pretty joob with my goals from last year, but I figure this year I am just going to get on with it. I make to many to do lists for work, I don’t want my life to be one big to do list. So yeah, I am with you. Happy New Year, Opal!
tiennie on 02 Jan 2008 at 9:41 pm #
Happy New Year to you!
Jane on 03 Jan 2008 at 5:54 pm #
Beautiful socks! Very subtle. I think you did great trying to meet the “spirit” of your goals. I thought you did an amazing amount of really beautiful and fun knitting. I hope 2008 will be happy and productive for you !