Sunday Salon: New year, new start?
The new year is really just an arbitrary point in time, but I think a lot of us see it as an opportunity for change. That might be making resolutions, beginning new projects or routines, or just making promises to ourselves to be “better” in some way this year. I pretty much never make resolutions, though I do have annual reading goals, but I do tend to see the new year as a time to start afresh on good habits.
Well, we might only be 12 days in, but so far the signs aren’t good for my habits this year. I could blame it on the nasty cough/cold I’ve had or the fact I’ve not yet settled back into a routine after the Christmas holiday, but I’m still not happy with how my year has started. I have so far finished one book. I have done zero exercise. The to do list is longer than ever. And I’ve not been eating especially healthily. Hmm.
On the plus side, since my mother-in-law taught me to knit in December I’ve been practising a little every day and I’m really pleased with my progress. I might even treat myself to a second ball of wool soon! I find myself studying every knitted item I see to figure out what stitches it’s made up of and whether I think I might be capable of making it in the future.
Oh – and I have also ordered myself a comfy reading chair, which I look forward to snuggling up in when it arrives. That will – finally – complete our library, a mere three a half years after we started work on it. We’re not the fastest at redecorating!
Right, I need to squeeze in some reading and review-writing before the weekend is gone. It’s time to start asserting those good habits!
How’s your new year going? Do you have any special aims, goals or resolutions? If so, then good luck with them!
Good luck on your knitting! That’s what I did special for my new hubby this year- I put down my book and knit him a nice warm scarf! He loved it and it was simple! Also made him feel better about coming North until I can retire!
And don’t be too hard on your reading- sometimes the Holidays can just overwhelm us to get back on track with a lot of things!
Have a great week!
Suzanne (Chick with Books)
I agree with Suzanne in that you might be too hard on yourself, not just because of the holidays, though, but also that you’re sick. I know when I’m sick, I don’t feel like reading or doing much of anything…other than being sick and miserable. My wife can attest to that. 😉
I’m still working on the directions I want to go in this year. I figure I have until the end of January to think about it. I don’t do well with resolutions but I like to think of themes for the year.
I’m just trying for reading a book per week, sort of an easy pace but I think it’s working so far. Good luck with yours.
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Suzanne Yes, a few people have told me I should have started with a scarf, but I do like to be different!
Bryan Agreed, it can be hard to read while feeling ill. I do tend to be hard on myself.
Barbara Themes for the year sounds like a good way of working. Good luck with your plans.
Susan That sounds like a very good pace. I read at about a book and a half per week, but that’s very much an average. Sometimes it can take me just days to read a book, sometimes weeks. And it doesn’t always correlate to the length of the book either!