2024. Once again, the new year begins. Once again, I have goals... or aspirations for the year. But before I can go into my goals for this year, a quick review of 2023 first.
A Review of 2023
On some days, it feels as if 2023 just started. Being extremely honest, I don't remember a lot from last year. There were several times that I mentally checked out - taking an escape through reading. For example, I read 94 books between the middle of January through February. Did I write? No. Did I read books that made me think? No. Did I cross-stitch or do another hobby? No. Was I truly present with my children and husband? Unfortunately, no.
After February, I put my Kindle away and was able to focus more on my life - family, work, and writing. I began working on the third draft of TLD, promising that I would finish it that year (to myself). I've gotten further along than I've been but, I am still working on it.
Summer came, summer went. Until then, I had been posting fairly regularly on social media (TikTok, Instagram) but once summer was gone, I stopped really participating in social media. It could've been because H started kindergarten and we switched to a newer school. While I love their new school, it's further away and between dealing with work, after school activities and school volunteering, I insulated myself and stopped really interacting online. I started reading on my Kindle again, and have yet to put it down. It's better, but, I still feel as if I'm caught in a hyperfocused episode of reading.
I also decided I wouldn't do NaNoWriMo for 2023 as the last several years I haven't truly enjoyed it, but rather, felt it was an obligation that I needed to do. I would stress over getting all the words, stress over achieving every badge that I didn't have fun or even like what I was writing.
But, a few days into November and my writing group helped me realize that I could still participate, but just write to write. So I did, and yes, I even "won" NaNo, but I didn't focus on anything other than writing. And, I started a new, fun, romantic comedy that I've had brewing in my head for a few years. It's not a YA book, so it's outside of what I typically write. I'm excited to see how it goes - it is very different for me and I've been plotting extensively. So, maybe I'll have an update on it sooner rather than several years.
Then it was time for the Christmas season. Normally, I try to do lots of homemade gifts - between goat milk soap, shea and mango butter lotion, cross-stitch projects, paintings, etc. but this year, I barely had the energy to make a cross-stitch for our book club exchange and soap for the teachers. To be honest (again), I felt like I failed this Christmas.
So, that's a quick rundown of my 2023. Do I wish that I could've had a more productive year? Yes, of course. But, I can only look at the past and do better for the future.
And while I know that I often set goals in the beginning of a year to not meet them, the point that I make while making these goals is that I tried. I have aspirations and eventually, one day, I'll achieve all of what I want to accomplish.
So what are my 2024 Goals? They have to do with everything I care about: writing, reading, personal life (family), health, and my hobbies.
2024 New Year Goals
If you'd prefer to watch the ASL overview, please click below or, you can keep reading.
Goal 1: Writing
This is my biggest goal - I would like to completely finish one of my WIPs (work in progress). Whether this is TLD (title will be changing soon - I've got some new ideas), or Deaf Fairy Tales, or perhaps the new romantic comedy I am working on - I will completely finish drafting and editing one.
To make it a little more quantifiable - my goal is to spend at least 200 hours this year on writing.
While I would love to say that at the end of the year, one of my novels will be published - if I can simply get it ready for publishing (i.e. fully drafted, edited, beta readers, etc.), then I will be on the path for publishing and starting the process.
As a quick note, here are all my current WIPs: Deaf Fairy Tales (editing), TLD (The Lost Daughter - 3rd draft complete rewrite), Magic Trials (2nd draft), The Gift (1st draft), and the newest: Love's Uncharted Journey (plotted).
Goal 2: Reading
Last year, my goal was to read around 60ish books. I read way more than that - mostly used as escapism and during some hyperfocused depressed times that I had during this past year.
I don't want to focus on the number to read; however, I would like to read books that I have in my house - already purchased. I am very much a mood reader and have a habit of wanting to read the book before I purchase but after purchasing, I don't necessarily want to read the book at that moment. So I put it aside for a while and then forget I have it.
Last year, I did start reading out of my TBR Jar. However, I only did it for about four months. Instead of simply doing the TBR Jar once a month, I plan to pick a book out once I am finished with the previous one. I can read books outside of the TBR Jar but I plan on picking a book more often than once a month.
I've already picked the first book: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Both my husband and his cousin J have recommended - and really want me to read this book. My husband also said that once I finish it, his brother can then read it. So, that is the first book from the TBR Jar for 2024. I only have 150 more... not to mention how many I'll add in 2024.
But, to help with tracking this goal, I plan on picking at least 24 books to read from the TBR Jar (which is 2 per month).
Goal 3: Personal Life (Family)
This goal is a little different. It's about being intentional - about being present - when I am around my family. For me, this will be spending less time on my phone just mindlessly scrolling (or using my phone as my Kindle).
This will be very hard for me as it is easy to simply scroll or open my phone to read when I'm sitting down after dinner and we're all mindlessly watching T.V. This also means that we will have less screen time (TV) so that we can spend more time being present as a family.
This is an important goal because family is special but all too often, I choose to escape into a screen (cell phone/TV). I escape into a good book, or a common show (Doctor Who, Eureka, Bones, etc.) or into social media.
This goal is harder to quantify - but, I plan on trying to track it via my phone and the "screen hours".
Goal 4: Health
A few months ago, my back started hurting and cramping. I ended up sleeping in our recliner (previous nursing chair) for several days and working from that chair. It helped but honestly, I realized my back was hurting because I have been so stagnant. During the work day, I rarely get up unless I am getting the kids from school. I don't walk around, or exercise very much.
So, this goal is about moving. Yes, maybe exercising more, but really, it's to get me to move: to take a daily walk, to go ice-skating more, to bike on the trainer - or on the trails, to hike, etc. Just be more active. To help with tracking my progress, I've made a quantifiable target of completing a "Couch to 5K" (it's 8 weeks) with a some cousins and family. Mostly, we starting this active running because we plan on participating in the Disney 1/2 Marathon in 2025.
Goal 5: Creative Hobbies
My last goal is a little different. I've enjoyed learning how to cross-stitch and there is a week in June where there are free art workshops - from using ProCreate to painting to cutting fun shapes. It's a great week and they are all free. I enjoyed that these past two years and I want to spend more time being creative.
So, that can mean cross-stitching, or painting, or even building a mini bookshelf and making miniature books of what I've read for the year - just do something fun and creative. To help with tracking my progress, I've made a quantifiable target of 100 hours.
I would like to be further along in my cross-stitch project; it is a visual representation of TLD complete with the heroine, a lighthouse, and a castle in the mists. My goal has always been to have that complete at the same time that I finish the book, and I am very behind.
I'd also like to finish the stockings that my best friend Katherine had started for H and E before she died. The past two years I've just not had the mental readiness to complete it. So, this one is only a possibility. Eventually, I will complete them.
Other Continuous Goals
I do have some goals that have continued on from previous years:
Practicing Patience
In no order, but here are some things that I want to practice patience with: my children, my husband, ASL, and publishing.
Just to add a little more detail: I need to have patience with my children. To be less touched out, to want to listen to their songs and jokes 10,000 times a day, I need to have more patience with my husband - with cleaning, with agreeing that his hobbies are just as important as mine, and more. I need to have more patience when helping my husband and children practice ASL and not get frustrated when they don't immediately understand me. And, I need to have patience with hearing people who don't understand that I am Deaf - even though I can speak. Finally, I need to have patience and belief that I will get published.
Signing
I've realized recently that while I sign with friends and for my social media (making it accessible for other D/HoH), I'm very lazy with my family. My kids pick up the signing easily but because I'm not consistent, then they aren't either - and aren't learning as fast. My husband needs to practice. Often it's just easier for me to read their lips. My brain hurts though, so this one is purely selfish for me. I want them to sign with me.
The church that we have been attending had me help teach a sign class over the summer; we've mentioned restarting and I think I'll ask them to join. After all, it's never to late to start signing.
So, I have many goals, many things that I want to achieve in 2024. This year, I am also following my husband's lead on his bike training goals - I am getting a friend to be an "accountability coach" - meaning, I'll check in with them weekly on my more quantifiable goals.
What about you? What are your goals? What are your dreams?
Keep writing!
May your year be filled with lots of adventures that take you everywhere - even if it's only through stories you read.
#ktjamesauthor #newyeargoals #writing #reading #cross-stitching #ice-skating #signing
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