embracing_calm

In 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

( Here we go... )------------------------

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.  


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.  

I've been neglecting this space despite the fact that it has huge potential. I'd really like to use it more regularly. So, I think I'm going to use 3weeks4dreamwidth to set a habit of using the space. There are a few different ways I feel like I can work toward that goal other than just posting more regular.

1. Practice HTML and customize my page

It would be extremely helpful for me to reorient myself with how to use HTML via customizing my page layout, learning how to add cuts, insert photos etc. I honestly don't always have something to say especially with the news being so stressful but I would like to consistently use this space as a daily photoblog. Right now, because I'm rusty on HTML the task seems a bit intimidating. I know this stuff isn't hard, I've done it before, I just need practice.

2. Find Some Communities to join or make my own

The only thing that keeps pulling me back to these social apps that I hate is the sheer number of people using them and how that makes each niche community inevitably larger and more easy to find. Since Dreamwidth skews a bit more toward fandom than lifestyle blogs folks who collect houseplants, share photos of walks, or collect physical media are fewer and further between when looking via profiles. However, the community aspect of the site implies there might be hidden Physical media, walk, and collection communities hidden in plain sight. IF THERE AREN"T I think it would be easy enough to make a Physical Media appreciation community (maybe called "Let's Get Physical"), a community focused on sharing photos and entries about walks or hikes, and/or whatever else.

3. Create some personal theme days and events

I've been depressed and it's resulted in some severe anhedonia. I'm trying to push out of it. I've made a lot of lifestyle changes to support me being happier and more productive and I am feeling beeter but I don't have an underlying routine to help me practice doing things that bring me joy. So, since I enjoy painting maybe I could create for myself a month long drawing challenge. Elsewhere I shared the stack of CDs I accumulated from each week's listening prior to putting them away. Something similar to that even is a fun and low maintenance way to share what I've been listening to.

4. Set aside time once a day to look at my reading page and comment.

This one is probably the most important because what I like most about this space is the long form format. I really enjoy reading about people's lives and exploring what other people are doing. You can't do that elsewhere and because I have spent time elsewhere I feel like my mind has equated reading with work. Isn't that sad? So, I need to actively fight against that by changing my normal.

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I think these four ideas are likely more than enough to keep me busy and gain a habit of posting here. I'm really looking forward to finally embracing this space. I remember similar spaces being very good for my mental health.

That's all I have for now. <3

He fixed the carpet. After a long drawn out fight that may have damaged our relationship we found a way to fix the issue…. He feels sad and humiliated. I feel like a complete jerk for hurting his feelings. Let us never speak of it again.

We walked Alfonzo right before bed. He’s a bit afraid of the dark so but I want to get him over it. I also walked him when I woke up sometime before 6am. He was slow and a bit stubborn but he made a go of it. I walked him back. I’m fine with that. He’s a Shihtzu… and sort of a small one at that. My phone died in the middle of taking a photo of this morning’s sunset but I still managed to get a neat photo to inspire a bit of art. I have made the inside turn of four granny squares with the yarn I’ve thrifted. It’s fairly soothing. I like it.


We plan to finish rearranging the bedroom today. There were several pieces of memorabilia we had in the front hall. When we first moved here those items in that placement helped to make it feel more like home but now it’s now needed. So, either plan to move them into the bedroom where we’ll enjoy them more.

We have two large-ish matching chairs in the living room that we’ve decided to remove in favor of floor seating. Currently the chairs mostly hold clothes or are occupied by pets. We tend to sit at the kitchen table. My eventual goal with that space once the chairs are gone is to add a handmade braided rag rug and some floor pillows. That way it will serve us better as an art space, micro dance hall and yoga studio. Having the center open will also improve acoustics when we have music on.

After a bit of thought, I've recanted. I think it might be best for me to make some concrete goals for the coming year. This one was so hectic I barely did any reading or made any art. There were also plenty of things I wanted to do and could have done but didn't. Sure I made it through, but I think if next year is going to be more of the same maybe some challenge would help support my mental health.

So, with all that in mind, here is a list of goals for 2026.

Go to Crystal Lake
Finish 25 paintings/mixed media pieces
Take a photo of 58 sunrises
Complete 100 hours of yoga/pilates
Read 25 books
Go Kayaking 15 times
Collect fresh water from the fresh snowmelt in late spring
Grow Marigolds, Sunflowers, Sweetgrass, and Kale
Go on 17 hikes
Buy a bike
Make 100 pieces of paper
Write 1k words (poetry)
Make 12 desserts/sweets
Get my nose pierced
Complete 2 rugs
Make 1 granny square dress using thrifted yarn
Go to 5 local concerts
Make 10 new linocuts
Go with my husband and dog to the park 53 times
Have 6 picnics
Make 1 plein air painting
Complete 5 sewing projects

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It's sort of a lot. I think that might be good though. The pressure was all external in 2025 maybe some internal pressure will help me feel I have some small degree of control.