Goals for 2013

This year, I’m trying to keep goals to a minimum.
Sometimes I overwhelm myself with too many things.
It’s not that I can’t focus; it’s just I get a little distracted and can’t decide:

Which one do I want to do or focus on?

Well, I made it a goal this year to keep my illustrated guide to 2013 simple.

And I think I succeeded.
There’s only 6 sections on it!

• Work hard on my writing
• Stay on budget and pay down credit cards
• Stay healthy (sleeping enough, eating well, exercising a lot, and drinking tea)
• Make things that make ME happy
• Go to the ocean more
• simplify

Here’s my other goals:

I’ve been seeing that mason jar with pieces of paper in it
floating around on resolution lists.
I found it last year and I really like the idea.
But I tweaked it.

If you’ve ever had a conversation with me, you know I speak in stories.
At least one thing story-worthy happens to me everyday.
So I’m harnessing those stories and writing one up each day, saving them for later.

It’s also going to be a great use for the tons of paper I have around.
Since I don’t have a big enough Mason Jar, I’m using an amazing container
that used to house a bottle of Diplomatico Rum.

The man on the outside looks very serious.
He needs some stories I bet.

I’m keeping a drawing journal this year.
I love journaling, but I don’t like being COMMITTED to a certain type.
I have a journal that I just write in whenever.
But I wanted something simple and fun.

So I decided on this.
I’ll have the journal with me, and just take a moment, one moment a day, and draw what I see.
If I’m feeling ambitious, I can write something too.
Yesterday it came out as a string of words, ending with: “I should try surfing this year.”
See, revelations already!

Yes, I want to read a lot of books.
At first I was going for 2013, but I realized that’s actually a lot.
1007?
Not so bad.
To do this, I’m getting a lot of help from the hold shelf at my library.
I’m also joining the Novel Society at Hicklebee’s, reading one YA book a month.
That’s actually good, because if there’s anything I usually DO NOT read on my own,
it’s YA.

Good ol’ Goodreads will be helping me keep track of this one.
A widget should be appearing on the side soon so you can look at how I’m doing
and badger me to read more
OR
BETTER!
Recommend some books to read!

Ok this last one is an experiment.
I read up on some blogs that if you want to make  a habit, why not do it for one month?
I thought about it yesterday.
I sort of did that for November. I wrote every day.
I thought a lot yesterday about what my January one should be.
And, right before I went to bed, I figured it out.
Luckily, I already did it that day, so I was all set.

So, the January goal/challenge to do every day is:

I live four blocks away from the Pacific Ocean.
I have a little spot I like to go.
And it’s nice and sunny out most days.
So, every day in January, I will go down to the ocean.
We’ll see how that turns out.

What goals do you all have for the New Year?
Anyone else trying an every day thing, or focusing on something in particular?

As for Singe Singe (I know you’re all wondering!) his goal is to meet at least 10 authors and or illustrators this year, NOT including the SCBWI Conference.

Also, he wants his own pinterest board.
I told him I’d work on it.

Until next time, we’re enthusiastically yours,
Kathy Ellen and Singe Singe