My goal for 2021 is organization. That is my only goal. I have a good workout routine (not great, but good), I'm reading some books (not a ton, but a few). My desire to strengthen my piano playing skills and re-learn Romanian have been moved to the backburner. I'm 36 and finally accepting that I cannot have multiple goals while also raising young kids. Raising young kids IS the main goal and whatever goal I pick has to feed into that. Especially while we homeschool. I have so many mixed feelings on homeschooling but that is a post for another day. (Short version: It's the best and worst. It's working but I'm tired. I burn out easily, but I'm learning how to better avoid that.)
Not only can I only work on a very few things at a time, I have also learned that I was often setting up competing goals. Dan often tells of a story he read about NASA. One year, NASA had goals to be more efficient, more frugal, and stronger that ever (I'm butchering this story but stay with me). But of course if they wanted to be more stronger, they would need to spend more money. This hurt their goal to be frugal. If they wanted to be efficient, they needed get rid of some of the programs that were making them stronger, but taking up more time. And so on.
That's me. I am NASA. Every year, it's like "I'm going to be so healthy and only cook meals with real foods and also we are going to save so much money while also spending more time outside." And then I remember how it costs more and takes more time to eat those supposed whole foods and that robs us of our outside time. And the vicious cycle continues, and I can't keep it up.
So this year. Organization. That's a broad topic, but it's my focus. I want to pick one facet in my life and organize it a little. No overhaul. Just a little bit. And not move on until I'm ready to.
So many of you have been unable to sleep, tossing and turning and wondering, "WHAT IS HEATHER'S GOAL FOR THIS YEAR?" And now you know. Aren't you glad I took the time to be longwinded and tell you every single thought that has ever occurred in my head?
School is back in full swing for us.
We didn't have church last week because of a snow storm. It felt great to go back this week, especially since I am no longer playing the organ at church. I actually love playing the organ, but our kids need two adults to sit with them. Beck is usually screaming, so Dan takes him out and the other kids are left to their own devices.
And their devices are juvenile delinquency.
You are a wise woman, Heather. We cannot do it all. My piano skills went dormant for about 2 decades, while raising a family. Remember how rough it was when I was the accompanist for middle school....Now I can do it more, but raising a family is no part time endeavor. I love and respect and admire what you are doing. Press forward knowing you have chosen well. The fruits of your labors will be evident in about 15 years
ReplyDeleteWhat makes you think you aren't better than NASA? I think you CAN do everything. Always. Everything.
ReplyDeleteOK... maybe I shouldn't be giving advice since I am the least goal-oriented person on the planet. If I copy your goal and organize even one thing this year, I'll give myself a few years off. That just sounds tiring. You're a rockstar.