Organizing the Legos

Fresh off some New Year energy, Chris decided to do something about the Lego jumble in our basement. He went to the hardware store and got some of those boxes for storing tools. Then he and the kids spent many happy hours sorting the entire collection by color and a little bit by design. It is nice having them off the floor, and it's more fun for the adults to play Legos now that we don't have to be the "searcher", digging through piles to find that one piece. 

I've been trying to organize some things too. I did my usual new years evaluation of what's taking up energy in my life, and if those things are giving back in equal proportion. I ended up quitting one thing (a women's group from my Meeting) and trying to start something new ( a writing group, we'll see.) It's always a good exercise, to be intention about the things on the calendar. The kids are campaigning for some changes in their extracurriculars  too,  so we'll see how that shakes out. 

I've added another part-time job to my freelance facilitating/ playing with babies gig, and I'm still trying to work out the childcare piece. Which is always a challenge, but something will come together. With all my various gigs, I'm now working outside the home four days a week this quarter, which is something new for me. I'm excited about it though. It's good to have different outlets. 

the new

It's that time, that finds me scribbling lists and plans, finding me thinking over the last year and daydreaming about the next one. Even though I truly feel more in tune with the school year cycle, and thus the Jewish New Year feels more accurate to me, the calendar year is always a good excuse to look over what I said I'd do and what I'm planning on doing.

It's also helpful for me that even though there are several goals/resolutions I make every year and then don't complete, there are many that I have done that have changed our lives for the better.

Last year I resolved to: write for six hours a week, add weights and abs to my workouts, continue my book journal, write in my paper journal once a week, and start Chinook book date nights. And the results are...?

Mixed. The writing didn't happen, for various reasons. I did spend the summer researching and plotting a new project with the plan of starting serious work on it once school began in the Fall. But then, transitions are bumpy and then Chris's accident and it all went out the window.

The exercise is a similar story. I still went faithfully to my weekly Zumba class but I have a hard time fitting in a new class or routine into my schedule. I would start something or go to a new class at the Y but I just couldn't make it stick.

But, I did keep up my book journal so now I have two years worth of lists of what I read and when. It's been fun to play around with the information, for example I learned I read an average of 7.25 books per month and that, strangely enough, I read a lot more in the summer than I do in September. This surprised me until I thought again about that beginning of school time and how it's a bit turbulent for all of us to get back into the groove after the more easy-going pace of summer. So, the book journal is a success and I'm totally going to continue it.

The paper journal, I did write in. Not once a week, but more often than last year, so that's a plus.

And the Chinook book date nights were a hit! We had a babysitter every other week and tried lots of new restaurants and saw some great plays, even a ballet. It was a good incentive for us to have some adult time together and try new things. Definitely one to continue.

So, this year I want to continue what worked while also working towards those elusive writing and exercise goals. I read an article that helped me redefine what I'm trying to do with this. The idea is that a goal is a challenge to complete, then go back to your starting point. National Novel Writing Month is a great example of this for me. I have completed the challenge at least once, but when the month was over, I didn't continue the schedule, I never even finished a full draft of that novel. But a practice is something that you build in to your rhythms, something that is never finished but always evolving and growing with you.

I have a reading practice, a knitting practice, a spiritual practice. I don't even have to think about it most of the time, they are just built into the rhythms of my days and weeks, the plan I don't have to plan, the thing I reach for without even forming a thought.

So, that's what I want for my writing and my exercise. Not a goal. Steady, deliberate practice.

No small task, clearly. But I'm going to take steps: keeping track daily, having accountability people, building patterns. I know things will happen. No system or routine will stop the kids from getting sick or holidays or just off days from happening. But it's inch by inch, right?

Crossing Over

 For me there are two New Years, kind of how Chris and I celebrate two anniversaries. Two kinds of fresh starts and passages. I still measure my years in school time that ends in August and starts over in September. This is the mark of aging and completion, of new pens and blank notebooks waiting for new ideas and doodles and letters. And then there's the calendar year that ends in the flurry of holidays and celebrations and starts in the gray incubating days of true winter. If small green changes are sprouting, it's under that bare quiet ground.

Some times it seems that I make the same resolutions every year to little avail but when I look back on it, I've been able to accomplish a lot of them since I've been home with the kids full time. I know it's not for everyone but for me it's really been a blessing. I cook 70-80% of the meals in our house now, I exercise at least once a week, I quit the commitments that felt draining and put my energy towards stuff that feels nourishing. I do fun creative projects with the kids, socialize with friends, have occasional date nights with Chris, worship with a great Meeting. The house is pretty clean most of the time, and we make donations to organizations we believe in. Staying home has been really good for getting organized and following through, making our home a better place for all of us. I loved my work at Real Change and sometimes I miss it, but I really love this.

So with that in mind, here are some 2012 resolutions.

1. Make writing a priority.
One of the things I've learned is that scheduling really helps me. My weekly meal plans help me grocery shop so we don't waste food and don't worry about what's for dinner every night. I want to take an honest look at my daily routines and see how I can make writing a regular commitment, not just for a month but for long term.

2. Get my drivers license. (yes, I don't have one. It's a long story.)
I'm really close, have my drive test scheduled so we'll see. I don't plan on driving a lot but there are a few times and places that it will really make a difference.

3. Explore my peace testimony.
Maybe this means taking some alternatives to violence classes or listening to speakers from peace making teams. I don't know for sure but it's something I want to give some intention to.

4. add weights to my workouts.
I keep reading about calcium and bone structure and being 30 something, and I was vegan for 4 years
so this is something I should really work on.

5. Update our emergency supplies.
We have our 3 days kit and First Aid kit but I need to get the water supplies ( 1 gallon per person per day) and maybe update some of the other stuff.

6. a regular technology Sabbath.
ahhhhh. combined with a walk in the woods- even better.

7. Keep a book journal.
I want an accurate list of all the books I read for the year, with maybe a sentence or two review. Seems do-able right?

Happy 2012! I hope it's off to a lovely start.