Getting What I Need
Simple ambitions I’m shooting for in 2024...Jan-Mar anyway!
We’re a few days into the New Year - with 366 days! - so I’m seeing plenty of posts about resolutions, goals, vision maps and word(s) of the year. Dreams are part of our delicious human experience so I say get on with your beautiful self and keep them brewing, hot and strong like good coffee. As for me, after a WOY fail*, I decided to try something different: ambitions. But just for the first three months of the year! Ideas I am aiming for, not marks to hit. I need direction but not the false promise of glory that productivity and hustle culture offer. And since accountability is always a stalwart tool for me, I thought I’d plant some of those ambitions here.
Track my reading. I don’t set reading goals but I want to better track what I do pick up. What I read, what I DNF and thoughts (fun or smart words, what worked or didn’t, etc.) about those books. Goodreads isn’t really a system for that and I don’t use it regularly anyway. But last month I listened to a #AmWriting episode in December about Sarina Bowen's reading journal. This was a meaty mini episode with tips that I could apply to my own needs. I’m going to try it for these first three months in my (new) remarkable 2 tablet.
Systems. Systems is all about working smarter this year: more efficient +less distracted actual work. Honestly, I don't love how this sounds. The reality though is that while I don't watch anything, I dick around too much. In order to do that less, I need solid plans and tools. Oh- also likely a new laptop. Grrr...
yep, that’s old not-so-trusty with a missing four key, as in the last digit of our new year. I love paper and notebooks but I can’t get handwriting from my Leuchturms into Scrivener, the castle where most of my ideas and writing live. Nor can I port over any of my index cards notes. Ditto for my Morning Pages writing. Or my Smitten notebook where I keep caption ideas. Etc. All of this means I make extra work for myself on a regular basis with all of the paper I use/track/carry/store. Blergh! Enter my remarkable 2 tablet. I’m excited to see how that works.
70% of the email that I get is garbage. 20% is what FYI or CYA information. 10% is relevant, useful or wanted. Is it any wonder that email deserves my ire? I took email off my phone before Christmas and haven’t yet put it back. Not gonna. As of today, Jan 3, I’m also checking email (responding and reading) early am and evening only, at predetermined times.
Rough out the coming months now (early Jan); rough out the week out on Sunday evenings; the next day, the evening before. Rough out meaning it can change but that there’s a framework I can follow.
3. Strength. I’ve gone from a religious gym rat who went to Planet Fitness every morning at 5:30 to a sporadic house mouse who works out irregularly, at odd times. The plus is I’ve ditched the healthism focus of my mania. The minus is lost momentum and strength. That feels sucky. I love how working out makes my body feel. I love the endorphin rush and how much better I sleep on the days that I do work out. I also want to get back some of that lost strength. A new plan was needed! I decided on predetermined workouts on set days to minimize choice, get me into a routine and hopefully help me feel stronger. Stay tuned!
What about you? Any dreams, goals, ambitions this year or even the first few months? I'd love to hear them.
*I tried to discover a new word using Morgan Harper Nichols Reel but kept getting words like “authenticity” “aliveness” and “openheartedness” (three times). HUH? Unlike last year’s “transform”, using that same Reel, nothing felt like a reach or even exciting. Devastated is not an exaggeration of how I felt! My sister Caroline gave it to me straight, “Baby, it’s not for you this year,”. Alright, alright! Reluctantly, I succumbed to the idea that I needed something else.
What I’m Reading:
Author Jesmyn Ward talks about personal and cultural grief, love and writing (“…a process of discovery.. all she knew of Annis was that she was enslaved.”) upon the release of her fourth novel, Let Us Descend. I want this book to work for me but I’ve put it down twice. We’ll see.
I grew up walking to the gas station—a run down, pretty dingy Cumberland Farms not far from my house—and stocking up. Mambas, Little Debbies, A&W root beer. Not a restaurant like Jr Gas Mart but I still kind of get it. Kiese Laymon of course. Enjoy this one.
What I’m Thinking:
I feel conflicted about individual citizens solving real world problems but I don’t see that going away. With that in mind, here’s a piece about Mackenzie Scott has given away this year and wow. Also very personally grateful for 5million going to Maui Strong.
Again, I watch NOTHING so I had no idea who Greta Gerwig was before Barbie. Turns out she’s pretty fabulous. I watched this interview and then my daughter and I watched Little Women last weekend. Consider me now a super fan.
I hope this letter finds you strong, joyful and in comfy clothes you like and feel good in. Glad you’re here. <3
Love the title--get what you need! And ugh, systems. I feel that. The complexity of modern life is...unimpressive. Wishing you a great year!
Years of driving to do home visits as a social worker made me a fan of gas stations that serve food. As recently as 5 years ago there was a Marathon station in Mebane, NC where you could buy a white paper bag full of fresh homemade potato chips, served with a side of ranch. That wasn’t the only thing they served, of course. Loved that story, thank you for the link.