2011 Goal Setting

I am not much of one to determine on December 31 how I should change my life on January 1. Not that I think it's a bad idea. I believe we should be ready to do this regularly in our lives. It's important to stop and evaluate where we are and whether we are headed in the direction we aimed to. Besides it is often necessary to redirect our course as we go, not once a year...

When the kids were little I would often tell them that before they made a decision they should choose a destination and make their choices accordingly. I would often simply ask them which direction they should go if they wanted to go to Logansport from our house. Ultimately there was more than one way to do this of course but the shortest route was to turn right on Main Street and keep going West. Of course they could have turned left on Main Street but they would inevitably have to change direction to head West if they ever intended to reach their destination.

Many years ago I learned how to set goals while working with the Young Women of our ward. They used a Personal Progress book that divided goal setting into categories:
Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works and Integrity
There were short-term goals as well as long-term goals. They had to be realistic so as to make them reachable but they also needed to make me stretch so as to help me really grow.

We don't often think about this but it is a fact that writing down one's goals helps us actually achieve them. Otherwise we can easily lose track of them and thus never reach our destination.

So... what do I want to accomplish in 2011?

Sherri and I have been talking about setting up a booth at craft shows. That means I need to get busy knitting. What I would really like to do is to invest in a knitting machine and take the classes to learn to make the most of it.
Now what does that entail?
Making a phone call to the Knit-Knack Shop north of here - that is a HUGE thing for me because I don't like making calls.
Of course I could just drive up there. Hey I took a step in the right direction... I found their website! If only I could do all this online... ok... got to get out of my shell, I know...

I should really also set a monthly number goal for FamilySearch Indexing this year. The last time I did that I got sick and have not been able to get back to it as productively.
Having 2 logins does not help much either but I have no control over that part as one is my official login and the other for the Belgium Project. My preference is with the latter but I should not look like a slacker as Indexing director since the stats won't be combined, so it looks like I may remain divided for a while.

What else is on my mind...
- learning new recipes. - I am far from being short on recipes, that's for sure!!!
- transcribing Stanley's war letters
- translating Papa's letters into English
- transcribing Bobonne's letters
- transcribing Marraine and BonPapa's letters - with eventual translations
- scanning the old pictures that came from Los Angeles
Big elephants... all of these projects are... One bite at a time...

Of course there is also a wish to renew and strengthen friendships and family ties.
Maybe find a special service project to get involved in too. I really enjoyed making those 2 scarves for the upcoming 2012 Superbowl in Indy, and found that there are many other opportunities out there to help others. I might even knit a couple more.
AND I almost forgot: I would love to participate in recording audiobooks for people to download for free online.
Bottom line... I have a few ideas but need to sit down and write it all down...
Might be good too to take another look at those other categories I made no mention of and help ensure balance in my goals...
And maybe they will become reality by the end of 2011.
For now I had better close... maybe finish this later...

Bicker Bicker Bicker

I can't believe I got myself pulled into the crazy Wives reality show!
But what else can I watch while knitting doll clothes!?
It's absolutely crazy to watch these women nit-pick at each other, say they're best friends and yet do nothing but hurt each others' feelings, giving their very subjective and edited version of events.
I don't even remember my High School years being this bad! and I went to an all-girls school!!!
I do know that girls can be horrible to each other though and not just to each other.
They can crush a young man's ego just as easily as they can a girl.
I guess there is not enough drama in my life...
In the latest show some of these women attended a private evening at Saks Fifth Avenue and I got curious and checked out their website. I found a gorgeous outfit I would love to have - if found in my size! - then I checked out the price tags!!! Who shops in these high priced stores!?
These are chic clothes but wow... what salty prices...
How do these stores stay in business?
Obviously there is still a lot of very rich people in this country.
or maybe it's just me. I can not imagine spending $1,000 for a sweater! In fact, I looked closer to see if I could see what stitch was used... might be able to make one for myself...
Do you think I could find the right yarn somewhere online?
Do you think I could sell High Fashion hand-knitted doll clothes online?
I'm building an inventory first... besides knitting cocoons and slings for Bethany's Photography budding business.

Cocoon

Fun thing to do while watching tv... eases the guilt of not doing three things at the same time...
I hope Bethany can use this in her photography.
If not, maybe it'll make a nice gift for someone's baby.
It really didn't take long at all.
And the variegated yarn really made a nice pattern.
You be the judge.