I completely fell apart on this project in 2011. It turns out that being a solo homeowner of quite an elderly home, a manager of a completely understaffed workplace in a time of big upheaval, and a family member in a time when death hits more than once in a 6 month period, is both emotionally draining, and time consuming. Things had to fall by the wayside. Other things slipped because I was so caught up in some of the bigger things that I didn’t get to them.
As well, some of the challenges proved unsustainable. For example – cooking an actual recipe that is new, and so not alterable, each week, leads to a LOT of leftovers when you’re eating for one. My freezer couldn’t handle the burden!
I did do some of my really big challenges. And, I’m really happy about that. I bought and moved into a house. I built a garden out of nothing, and enjoyed the flowers as well as the vegetables it produced all summer. I went to Alberta.
No, I haven’t read the Giller books or the Canada Reads books, but I will! I’m on the waiting lists for them at the library.
A lot of my small adventure challenges are rather pricey, and that became something of a consideration with the change in cashflow that comes with buying a mildly decrepit house (yes, I did have to buy a new furnace this year on top of everything else!). This is not to say that I’m destitute, but rather that I didn’t quite manage to renew my ROM membership, and didn’t quite get around to going to an Opera.
At any rate, now that I’m a bit more settled in the house, I’ve got (fingers crossed) almost a full staff again, the workplace renovations are almost done for now, and things are looking a bit up, I’ve decided to try again. I’ll carry over some of my goals, and create some new ones. Perhaps second try lucky is the way to go.
In no particular order:
Buy a houseMove out of my decrepit apartment- Run 10km
- Finally get around to visiting the renovated Art Gallery of Ontario
- Read at least one of the Giller nominated books for 2011
Visit Western CanadaTake a class in an area other than the artsWeed my home libraryalthough this will be an ongoing task for many years to comeGet rid of University notes (or at least some of them)- Reconnect with lost friends I’ve been wondering about
Wake up at a reasonable hour (and by extension, go to sleep at a reasonable hour)- Complete at least half of the unfinished craft projects currently languishing around my apartment
Get some of my thousands of pictures printed and in albums or displayed- Work on finishing writing the story that has been in progress for years
Try at least one new recipe a weekGo an entire month without take out foods, including coffee (and it is the coffee that will be the kicker)- Set up a weekly cleaning schedule so as not to cram all of week’s cleaning tasks into one painful day
- Go to the Ex
- Go to an Opera at the Four Seasons Centre
- Go to a play that is not a blockbuster musical
- Visit the Distillery District
Try at least 20 new fruits or vegetables- Read the Canada Reads books
- Go on at least 12 first dates (one per month)
- Learn some of the songs from new Gordon Lightfoot guitar sheet music book
Work in a gardenEat a vegetable that I planted- Become a responsible sender of greeting cards for Birthdays and Christmas, and Thank You notes for other events.
- Complete an entire cryptic crossword puzzle without assistance
- Learn how to make more informed financial decisions
- Learn how to crochet
Use up the crafting supplies I’ve got, before stocking up on further supplies, no matter how tempting the sale- Volunteer time rather than simply donating to charity (though don’t stop donating)
- Actively seek out new acquaintances and friendships
- Get a family doctor
Go through closets and get rid of clothes, shoes, etc., have not worn or used for over a yearGet paintings currently leaning against walls or in boxes framed and hungAttempt to get all fruits and vegetables locally when seasonably possible- Learn how to cook fish that is not salmon or similar – get over fear of cooking shellfish
- Take pictures of things that are not flowers and babies
- Go to see a Second City improv show
- Join a club or activity group of some sort
- Learn to leave early for appointments so as not to arrive late/flustered/anxious
- Become more politically active
- Take advantage of ROM membership by attending special programming
- Go to more concerts/live music performances
- Go to a professional sporting event
- Invite people over to home more frequently
- Play on my piano on a more regular basis
- Learn how to meditate
- Do a better job of keeping in touch with people
- Make sure that there is something special or unique about each day.
