Reassessing my 2026 New Year's Goals
May. 1st, 2026 10:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
embracingcalmIn honor of my newfound sense of mortality I think now might be a good time to reassess my 2026 New Year's goal list. I made it when I was depressed and although I did plan to use it to inspire me to finish some percent of items on the list it was mostly an invitation for me to dream of "one day".
I'm over that bump though and I would like to celebrate today instead. So, I think evaluating and altering these to fit what I am actually physically capable of doing would be nice. Some goals I will leave alone, others I will reduce the goal number on significantly, some I will be replacing and others I will simply remove with no notes. It will be long and ramble-y so I'll put it behind a cut
Go to Crystal Lake --> Explore Ouzel Picnic area with John
I've crossed this goal off not because it's complete because it is wildly unrealistic given everything. This is a high elevation hike that's almost 10 miles in dangerous terrain. I get tired and dizzy from loading the dishwasher right now. A couple months ago, I almost fainted while picking up my shihtzu. It's just not going to happen. It would be dangerous and given my health issues sort of rude to emergency response teams? I don't k now, it's an odd thought but seems accurate somehow.
All that said, I still think it's healthy for me to plan trips to beautiful local natural areas where I can explore new things, record new birds, throw rocks, paint etc. So, I'm replacing it with simply exploring Ouzel Picnic Area. Clearly, this isn't the same thing. It's not a challenge compared to hiking an alpine trail to see some fancifully named lakes but it does get me outside, in the mountains where I can feel a sense of calm I don't elsewhere. It also allows me the option to spend the time with my dog without having to worry about him being consumed by a a mountain lion or falling off a cliff.Finish 25 paintings/mixed media pieces ---> Finish 5 paintings
This goal would be reasonable if I had painted a handful of things by now but I have only painted one thing and I don't want to beat myself up over it especially since i don't know how I will react to treatment. I would rather celebrate going above my goal than lament my lack of ability to meet something not withing my current capacity. With that in mind I have lowered the number of paintings by 20. I also removed the mixed media option as I would like to use all my cheap acrylics. Since I have finished 1 that leaves me with 4 to go.
Complete 100 hours of yoga/pilates --> Complete 20 hours of biking
This goal was always silly. I meditate as part of my spiritual practice and it's not constructive to time it. It's efficacy itsn't time based. Then we have pilates... which I hate. I must have felt self conscious about my little bit of tummy fat but making goals that insist I do something I don't like isn't helpful. I have a bike now though, I enjoy biking and want to use my car as little as possible as a form of protest so changing it to biking 20 hours should still help my health while supporting my other goals and being more realistic. We biked for one hour last weekend so I have 19 left.
Read 25 books --> Read 15 books
This goal was fine except I never really sat up the space and so my books which should be in a bookshelf with a light by my side of the bed has just sat in a pile downstairs next to my art desk that I don't use. I messaged someone on craigslist about a bookshelf though and I have a lamp to put on it. Since I'm in bed a lot I thin I'll naturally read more as soon as I have my books here. I lowered the number of books to reflect the amount of the year left.
Go Kayaking 15 times--> Go Kayaking 3 times
I don't know who I was kidding with this going three times would still be once more than last year.
Buy a bike
I did this one about two weeks ago. I got a early 90s bike with an awesome frame. I love it.
I'm at 8 on this one already. I had planned to make one sweet per month but I really love cooking and baking and since I feel ill I have been indulging in doing more of both.
Get my nose pierced
Complete 2 rugs --> Complete 1 rug
I'm enjoying the process of making one round braided rag rug but it's more time consuming and painful to my hands than I initially expected so I'm going to plan to just make one.
I still have some hope for this one. I made a bunch of squares in January and February then packed them up to work on... Well, I don't remember. I have a lot of yard I've collected from the thrift though and really enjoy making a couple squares a day. I'll get my supplies back out this weekend and figure out a decent place to put them so I can start working on them daily again.
I'm over that bump though and I would like to celebrate today instead. So, I think evaluating and altering these to fit what I am actually physically capable of doing would be nice. Some goals I will leave alone, others I will reduce the goal number on significantly, some I will be replacing and others I will simply remove with no notes. It will be long and ramble-y so I'll put it behind a cut
I've crossed this goal off not because it's complete because it is wildly unrealistic given everything. This is a high elevation hike that's almost 10 miles in dangerous terrain. I get tired and dizzy from loading the dishwasher right now. A couple months ago, I almost fainted while picking up my shihtzu. It's just not going to happen. It would be dangerous and given my health issues sort of rude to emergency response teams? I don't k now, it's an odd thought but seems accurate somehow.
All that said, I still think it's healthy for me to plan trips to beautiful local natural areas where I can explore new things, record new birds, throw rocks, paint etc. So, I'm replacing it with simply exploring Ouzel Picnic Area. Clearly, this isn't the same thing. It's not a challenge compared to hiking an alpine trail to see some fancifully named lakes but it does get me outside, in the mountains where I can feel a sense of calm I don't elsewhere. It also allows me the option to spend the time with my dog without having to worry about him being consumed by a a mountain lion or falling off a cliff.
This goal would be reasonable if I had painted a handful of things by now but I have only painted one thing and I don't want to beat myself up over it especially since i don't know how I will react to treatment. I would rather celebrate going above my goal than lament my lack of ability to meet something not withing my current capacity. With that in mind I have lowered the number of paintings by 20. I also removed the mixed media option as I would like to use all my cheap acrylics. Since I have finished 1 that leaves me with 4 to go.
This goal was always silly. I meditate as part of my spiritual practice and it's not constructive to time it. It's efficacy itsn't time based. Then we have pilates... which I hate. I must have felt self conscious about my little bit of tummy fat but making goals that insist I do something I don't like isn't helpful. I have a bike now though, I enjoy biking and want to use my car as little as possible as a form of protest so changing it to biking 20 hours should still help my health while supporting my other goals and being more realistic. We biked for one hour last weekend so I have 19 left.
This goal was fine except I never really sat up the space and so my books which should be in a bookshelf with a light by my side of the bed has just sat in a pile downstairs next to my art desk that I don't use. I messaged someone on craigslist about a bookshelf though and I have a lamp to put on it. Since I'm in bed a lot I thin I'll naturally read more as soon as I have my books here. I lowered the number of books to reflect the amount of the year left.
I don't know who I was kidding with this going three times would still be once more than last year.
Grow Marigolds, Sunflowers, Sweetgrass, and Kale
We were offered a community gardening plot! So, I should be able to grow marigold, kale and sunflowers. However, I have done a good degree of looking and cannot find a local retailer for sweetgrass. I could order it from another state and might someday but for now I have been preferring only purchasing from Colorado retailers to safeguard what projects my sales tax funds. Maybe I'll grow lemongrass instead.
We were offered a community gardening plot! So, I should be able to grow marigold, kale and sunflowers. However, I have done a good degree of looking and cannot find a local retailer for sweetgrass. I could order it from another state and might someday but for now I have been preferring only purchasing from Colorado retailers to safeguard what projects my sales tax funds. Maybe I'll grow lemongrass instead.
I did this one about two weeks ago. I got a early 90s bike with an awesome frame. I love it.
Make 12 desserts/sweets
I'm at 8 on this one already. I had planned to make one sweet per month but I really love cooking and baking and since I feel ill I have been indulging in doing more of both.
Get my nose pierced
I'm enjoying the process of making one round braided rag rug but it's more time consuming and painful to my hands than I initially expected so I'm going to plan to just make one.
Make 1 granny square dress using thrifted yarn
I still have some hope for this one. I made a bunch of squares in January and February then packed them up to work on... Well, I don't remember. I have a lot of yard I've collected from the thrift though and really enjoy making a couple squares a day. I'll get my supplies back out this weekend and figure out a decent place to put them so I can start working on them daily again.
Go with my husband and dog to the park 53 times
Make 1 plein air painting
Complete 5 sewing projects
------------------------
After reassessing my goals here is the updated list. It's a much more realistic set of goals that I actually might finish this year.
Get my nose pierced
In addition to these I have been thinking about visiting my 43Things goal list via the wayback machine to see what I have completed in the 20 years since it was closed. I have been missing 43Things since it closed in 2015. I was a very active member of the community and still miss the friends I knew there as well as the format. I have looked many many times but no website ever opened that had the same energy or concept. With that in mind, I may choose to attempt to create a 43Things community here. I know it might not be the same but I would like to honor the spirit of the space because it made me feel so hopeful and invested in living. ------------------------
After reassessing my goals here is the updated list. It's a much more realistic set of goals that I actually might finish this year.
Explore Ouzel Picnic area with John
Finish 5 paintings (4 remaining)
Complete 20 hours of biking (19 remaining)
Read 15 books
Go Kayaking 3 times
Grow Marigolds, Sunflowers, and Kale
Make 12 desserts/sweets (4 remaining)
Get my nose pierced
Complete 1 rug
Make 1 granny square dress using thrifted yarn
Make 1 granny square dress using thrifted yarn
Make 1 plein air painting
Complete 5 sewing projects
