Toying Around With the Idea

So, I guess I should mention that there are other long-term goals that have been established in our family.  We have an entire spreadsheet dedicated to our long-term financial goals and another spreadsheet dedicated to our long-term home/work/life goals.  I may be a bit obsessed.

At any rate, one of our goals is to become as minimalistic as possible.  I have read a few books on the subject (like The Happy Minimalist), for one. We can't expect to whittle down our lives to absolutely nothing, but we can learn to be very mindful about the things that we buy, and the things that we already have and choose to keep.  Everything needs to have sufficient purpose and worth in our home.  "Purpose" is defined in a number of ways, of course.  Things (like my cat blankie) hold great personal value, even if they aren't in regular use.  Other things (like my boots) are largely purposeful, even if there's no amount of attachment that I set with them.  We're trying to achieve a healthy balance of those sorts of things.  With that in mind, in 2009, we managed to donate (or get rid of) over 50 garbage bags full of stuff.  And, yet, our house is still overly-cluttered and frustrating.  Furthermore, I am not the neatest person in the universe (just ask my hubbers--he'll tell you), and so removing items can only help me to be more organized with the things that I have...

Enter Christmas and a one-year-old.  Now, Joe and I have tried very hard to buy gifts for Andy that have a purpose.  We love to give him books, we encourage him to play with toys that are clearly tools for learning, and we love to watch his imagination and sense of self develop even while he plays with regular household items like spoons, bowls, etc.  However, this Christmas, we were all overwhelmed with an abundance of toys.  Many are toys that would fit within the guidelines that we've tried to set.  For example, he received a farm with several animals that he has since brought up to us while making the correlating animal sound (or, barking like a dog, in some cases).  He has an entire play station (thanks to my parents) with colors, matching games, counting games, etc., and he has a set of "tools" like these.  The majority, however, are simply just toys.  There's very little redeeming value in them, and we would not have bought them on our own.  I don't know what to do about things like that because we've tried to make our feelings known on this issue, AND we want to show how grateful we are for the people who love our son.  It's a bit of a conundrum, especially in light of the fact that we're trying to slim down what we have in general.

Goal Tending

I am sort of excited about blogging.

I have started about 6 blogs, and actually did quite well with maintaining one of them for a little while.

My goal is to actually update this one with some regularity, and my hope is that someone might actually read what I have to say.

This goal, of course, is connected with my initial motivation to create (another) blog: to list my goals for 2010.  I don't really like calling them resolutions, only because I think "goals" sound more attainable.  Call me crazy.  Or, just call me Kristen.  Just don't call me late for supper!  (Insert chuckle and/or eye roll here).

I am hopeful that you, friend, will read this blog and can help me to achieve my (lengthy) list of goals.  Maybe you have a vested interest in one of the goals, yourself.  Or, maybe you just like me.  In fact, there are already a few people who I have in mind as potential helpers along the way.  I should mention that I'm not going to list every single goal that I've come up with on my official Spreadsheet Of Goals, only because some are far too personal and private to post on the internet.  I will, however, be sure to give fair mention to those things that are too important to not list.

With that, here is my working list of goals for 2010 (and, they're categorized, by the way, because that's just how I operate--I'm very John Cusack in "High Fidelity" when it comes to loving lists):

1. Hobby-Related Goals:

     a. Knit at least six items.  I just started knitting, so I think this is a manageable goal.  The time that I have to spend on things like this is somewhat restricted, but I think it's important to find some time in each day to do things that I want to do.  (More on that later).

     b. Write a book.  Maybe I have something interesting to say.  Maybe I don't.  I have a few friends who think I should publish my pregnancy-related thoughts, as they found them to be humorous and, hopefully, helpful.  My sister wants to write a memoir with me.  Another friend and I have talked about writing a children's book series.  Clearly, there are some options there.  I just need to pick and move forward.

     c. Go on walks with the goal of discovering, and documenting, nature.  I have a very good friend who knows (seemingly) everything there is to know about birds.  He frequently takes trips to various places in the area, and comes up with phenomenal evidence of the flora and fauna that he has seen.  But, also, he has developed great patience, a keen sense of attentiveness, and a greater knowledge of the earth on which we live.  I, too, would like to grow in all of those areas.

2. Environment-Related Goals:

     a. With the help of a couple of friends who are great at this stuff, I want to plant a raised-bed garden of produce in my yard.  Also, I'd like to clean up the landscape in other areas of the yard and plant some relatively low-maintenance perennials.  In addition, I want to start composting.

     b. Join a CSA (though I haven't yet decided from among those that are in my area).  I am becoming more and more aware of how important it is to support local farmers.  Not only does it make good financial sense, it's just the right thing to do.

     c. Finish the bedrooms and the porch.  This may not seem to be environmentally related, except that I plan to use all Low-VOC paints and repurpose a number of items, as able.  This will be a fun project, I think, but, as usual, I'll need some help.

3. Finance-Related Goals:

     a. Write and maintain a family budget.  So it is written, so it shall (hopefully) be done.

     b. Decrease overall spending by at least 10%.

     c. Save 12%, Give 12%.

4. Relationship-Related Goals:

     a. Plan one Family Day and one Date Night per month.  I'm always looking for creative ways to engage the kiddo, so any ideas will be appreciated.

     b. Plan two vacations: one week for the family, one long weekend for Joe and me.  Anyone have any summer cottages they want to let me borrow?

5. Education-Related Goals:

     a. Complete at least two books per month.  If I had the time for it, that number would be much higher.  But, I need to be realistic.

     b. Take at least 30 minutes of "me time" each day.  Maybe this is more a "sanity-related goal" than an education-related goal but, nevertheless, it's something at which I'm currently terrible and need to improve.

     c. Career Plan Development.  I have some thoughts about what I'd like a "career" to look like, apart from the ever-important roles and wife and mother.  I just need to figure out how those thoughts might mesh together with reality.  And, I need to not change my mind so frequently.

6. Spirituality-Related Goals:

     a. Read the entire Bible.  I've probably already done this, but I think it's a good thing to do with intentionality.  In fact, Christian or not, I would encourage everyone else to read it, too.  It's not the all-time best seller for nothing!

     b. Marriage Bible Study.  Joe and I believe that our faith is of the utmost importance, so we ought to explore it, ask questions about it, and grow in it (and, thus, in our relationship) together, too, right?  Here's the problem: a lot (most?) studies of this nature suck.  There are no two ways around it.  Any ideas?

     c. Stewardship Campaign.  I am in a position of leadership at my church, and I am also the only person who sees the Estimate of Giving cards that congregates submit each year.  Thus, I am motivated (perhaps in a way like no one else in my church) to present an incredibly strong stewardship campaign in the coming year.  I have until November-ish to plan.

7. Fitness-Related Goals:

     a. Achieve goal weight. (For the record, I have lost almost 30 pounds to date!)

     b. Exercise at least 350 minutes per week.

     c. Plan healthy, two-week menus for the family.  I am more and more excited about cooking, and am excited to incorporate lots of the foods I get from the CSA into our meals.  However, I still need help planning, especially as I need to cook for a very picker eater and a child (who isn't currently picky, but might become so at some point in the coming year!)

So, there you have it:  a mostly-complete list of my goals for 2010.  Comment as you wish, help as you will, and have a great day!