Saturday 15 March 2014

Goals

One of my goals has been to blog everyday. I mean, of course I miss some days and prioritise tasks, but I have been averaging 25/30 days and I think that's pretty darn good! It has also served as  a reminder of how amazing the life we live is, searching out happy to photograph and share everyday has been glorious and lovely. It adds a bit of sunshine and gratitude to the mundane. So I don't see missing three days in a row to be a failure to my goal. It isn't a pass/fail kind of life we lead.

Another of my goals has been to empty the draft drawer, the one that has been growling at me for almost twenty years. Oh that's a long time! I did it though. Every last poem in that drawer has been either retired, revised and sent out, or formatted into a collection and sent out. It was a lot of work. Almost 40 hours of intense revision, another three formatting, and 2 hours entering data into duotrope. This has taken a lot of time over the last three weeks, but well worth it. I sent the whole collection to a book prize with one of my favourite poetry journals, photographs to Flyway, and followed through with that 15 year old revision request. Yes I did. Finally. It is done. Now, it isn't a regret that I get to carry with me and it doesn't get to push me around. I did it.

New goals:
  • Continue to send work out. At least a submission a week, researched and carefully selected. I can do this.
  • Create a work space at home. A just for me space, with my computer and my books. A corner of a sunny room. 
  • Blog food at least once a week. 
  • Clean up the porch and hang my swing. 
  • Make iced tea every day.  
  • Clean the baseboards and windows.
  • Take the kids camping and fishing as soon as it is warm enough.
  • Walk a mile outside everyday that the sun is shining, ride five miles on the bike inside if it isn't.
That's it. That's the list for the next three months. What are your goals? What are you doing to move towards your dreams?