Since 2007 I have made a journal every year. I enjoy making them (my 2010 is probably my favorite), but I don't think to use them very often. December 31 comes and I find less than 1/3 of the pages are used.
What I've Learned
I need to write when I am overwhelmed. I use journals to process my thoughts and feelings and I use lists to manage my tasks. But when I don't need to journal, I don't use it. I would get more use out of one that could span more than one year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, January 1 is just a couple days away. It's time to put all this pondering about 2010 and blogging and such to use and make some choices. Stay tuned for what's next in 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A Year in Review - Part 3
Every January, I set goals for the coming year. This past January, my goals were plentiful, broken down into monthly and quarterly components.
It was a beautiful example of ambition and organization.
It was also ridiculously over the top - too many things, too much pressure, trying to change too much at one time. Within a month or two I had to scale it back. And I still hardly met any of my goals for the year.
What I've Learned
Simple is better. One or two goals to start the year is more manageable. (No goals at all would be even more manageable, but I don't know if I could pull that off....)
Also, if I don't revisit my goals - whatever they are and however many there might be - I will forget them and not pursue them. Maybe a creative/visual project would help like it has with my word of the year....
It was a beautiful example of ambition and organization.
It was also ridiculously over the top - too many things, too much pressure, trying to change too much at one time. Within a month or two I had to scale it back. And I still hardly met any of my goals for the year.
What I've Learned
Simple is better. One or two goals to start the year is more manageable. (No goals at all would be even more manageable, but I don't know if I could pull that off....)
Also, if I don't revisit my goals - whatever they are and however many there might be - I will forget them and not pursue them. Maybe a creative/visual project would help like it has with my word of the year....
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A Year in Review - Part 2
For the last several years I have tried to pick a theme word/phrase for the year. In 2007, I chose "balance." In 2008 it was "Lord of All." In 2009 I focused on a list of words - laugh, teach, move, create, learn, pray, write, play, hug, save, read, sing, listen and remember - things I wanted more of in my life.
As I started to consider 2010, though, I couldn't remember my word! That did not bode well for me. If I couldn't remember it, it was highly likely I didn't reflect on it, much less make it part of my experience for the year.
I think one reason I don't remember it is that I created no tangible reminder of it. The first two yeras I made scrapbook pages. I can picture them in my mind. I know exactly what they look like. In 2009, I stitched the words on a pillow. 2010? Nothing.
Turns out the word was SAVOR. Good choice, but I only recorded it here on this blog and then "poof," it was gone.
What I've learned
When I make something, the concept is better cemented in my mind - the time spent, the visual memory, the thought during creation, make a difference.
As I started to consider 2010, though, I couldn't remember my word! That did not bode well for me. If I couldn't remember it, it was highly likely I didn't reflect on it, much less make it part of my experience for the year.
I think one reason I don't remember it is that I created no tangible reminder of it. The first two yeras I made scrapbook pages. I can picture them in my mind. I know exactly what they look like. In 2009, I stitched the words on a pillow. 2010? Nothing.
Turns out the word was SAVOR. Good choice, but I only recorded it here on this blog and then "poof," it was gone.
What I've learned
When I make something, the concept is better cemented in my mind - the time spent, the visual memory, the thought during creation, make a difference.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A Year in Review - Part 1
I am a crazy woman when it comes to a new year. I am almost more excited about January 1 than I am about December 25th!
But when I think of January - new beginnings, fresh starts, blank slates - my chest swells with anticipation. There is so much potential, so many possibilities in a new year. I am almost giddy just thinking of it!
To bring a year to a close, though, I like to look back and see where I've been and what I can learn from one year to apply to the next.
Stay tuned for my 2010 in review.
But when I think of January - new beginnings, fresh starts, blank slates - my chest swells with anticipation. There is so much potential, so many possibilities in a new year. I am almost giddy just thinking of it!
To bring a year to a close, though, I like to look back and see where I've been and what I can learn from one year to apply to the next.
Stay tuned for my 2010 in review.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
To Blog or Not to Blog - final
I am pondering some format changes to my book reviews and I feel pretty good about those. So it looks like whatever else I do, I will keep blogging about books.
Stay tuned - by January 3 I hope to have made some sort of decision about where I go from here....
Stay tuned - by January 3 I hope to have made some sort of decision about where I go from here....
Thursday, December 16, 2010
To Blog or Not to Blog - Part 3
Option One is to leave things as they are.
Option Two is to go to one blog (then, which domain do I keep?) and focus on books on certain days and have other days for random things.
Option Three is to change platforms and go with something that has multiple pages like typepad or wordpress. But those likely cost money.
Again, I come back to - why do I blog? What is the appeal? I think it comes down to connecting with people I may not already know and share something book-ish (or crafty, etc.) with them that enhances their lives, or makes their lives simpler.
Option Two is to go to one blog (then, which domain do I keep?) and focus on books on certain days and have other days for random things.
Option Three is to change platforms and go with something that has multiple pages like typepad or wordpress. But those likely cost money.
Again, I come back to - why do I blog? What is the appeal? I think it comes down to connecting with people I may not already know and share something book-ish (or crafty, etc.) with them that enhances their lives, or makes their lives simpler.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
To Blog or Not to Blog - Part 2
If I could only blog about one thing, I would choose books. Books are my passion. And I need an "outlet" for my book energy. When I read a good one, I want to share it with others. Whether 1,000 people read a review or just 1, I can send my thoughts "out there," and expend some of that energy.
But sometimes there are other things I want to share - links, pictures, etc.
If I only blog about books, where do I put those other things?
Why do I blog at all? Could Facebook or some other medium meet my needs better?
But sometimes there are other things I want to share - links, pictures, etc.
If I only blog about books, where do I put those other things?
Why do I blog at all? Could Facebook or some other medium meet my needs better?
Saturday, December 11, 2010
To Blog or Not to Blog - Part 1
When 2010 started, I had three blogs. Two posted three times a week and the other posted five.
By the end of 2010, I have two and each posts three times a week, if that. What happened?
The blog I dropped started because of a suggestion from a mentor. It was a great idea, but I couldn't put the time into it to make it worth writing much less reading.
This blog is hard to maintain because sometimes I have nothing to say. If I'm not being crafty, I don't have pictures to share. It's hit or miss.
With my book blog, I realized I had less time to read when I started working again. The backlog of books I had to review dwindled to the point where I was scrambling some weeks to have a book to write about.
December is a good time for me to re-evaluate and see what will be best for the new year.
By the end of 2010, I have two and each posts three times a week, if that. What happened?
The blog I dropped started because of a suggestion from a mentor. It was a great idea, but I couldn't put the time into it to make it worth writing much less reading.
This blog is hard to maintain because sometimes I have nothing to say. If I'm not being crafty, I don't have pictures to share. It's hit or miss.
With my book blog, I realized I had less time to read when I started working again. The backlog of books I had to review dwindled to the point where I was scrambling some weeks to have a book to write about.
December is a good time for me to re-evaluate and see what will be best for the new year.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thankful for... Legos
Such a simple toy, around for ages. Legos are the toy-of-choice at our home on every gift-giving holiday (and any random day, really). I have noticed that now Legos are packaged more as specific sets/figures rather than the box of random pieces (although those are still available). I think the sets can be skewed a little toward male builders over females, but the company seems to be working on that.
I love the imagination that can be engaged by Legos - either in the building of an item, or the play that comes after an item is constructed. I know of classrooms that have time during the school week when the whole class spends time building. I think it would be fascinating to research what skills and brain areas are tapped and stretched when kids dig into a box of Legos.
Legos engage the imagination and can provide hours of entertainment - and I am thankful for them.
I love the imagination that can be engaged by Legos - either in the building of an item, or the play that comes after an item is constructed. I know of classrooms that have time during the school week when the whole class spends time building. I think it would be fascinating to research what skills and brain areas are tapped and stretched when kids dig into a box of Legos.
Legos engage the imagination and can provide hours of entertainment - and I am thankful for them.
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