New Year's Themes

So, I actually got a request for a new blog post, and never being one to disappoint my fan (Jeff), here's a little treat for ya'll, and by ya'll, I mean Jeff.

As we come to the end of 2010, I decided that instead of setting new year's resolutions, I would instead develop a list of words or themes that I wanted to emulate in the new year. My words included: clarity, focus, sustainable, listening, etc. Of course as I was listing these words and feeling very conceptual, the structural thinker in me insisted that I create projects and yearly goals, because my words were too fluffy to actually have any impact on my life. So, always a slave to my structural brain, I started writing down projects like, hang/frame all the pictures and art in our house, clear out the upstairs, take the GRE, apply to PhD programs, update and publish material from my thesis.

You can see the conceptual jutting back in again as this list went on. I then thought to myself, "Self, what will happen in the new year?" and began that list, which then made me wonder, "Self, what did I accomplish in 2010?" As I started that list, I decided it was too narrow, and instead chose to construct a Naomi timeline starting in 2005, which I will share with you (you're welcome).

2005
- finished MA
- Started teaching for UCOL
- Met and started dating Brian

2006
- Started working for AI

2007
- Got engaged

2008
- Got married

2009
- Job/title shift
- Bought a house
- Designed a couple courses for UCOL
- Joined the FMC leadership council

2010
- Built up AI's customized workshop branch
- Started UCOL's Diversity & Inclusivity Committee
- Joining Conflict Center Board
- Got a puppy

As I finished my Naomi timeline and forecasted happenings in 2011, it occurred to me that I had no idea what Brian was hoping to do or wanted me to do in 2011, so I put my spastic planning on hold and announced at dinner that I had a great couple's exercise that we should do together for the new year. You can imagine how excited he was about this. He insisted that I share my random lists with him, which I conveniently had outlined on notebook paper in my purse. So, I shared with him my conceptual word list, and he only laughed out loud at the word sustainable, since my idea for sustainable for 2010 had been for him to start a composting bin in the backyard, which he didn't want to do...

At any rate, I think tonight we are going to set our couple's conceptual words and goals for 2011, so I'll let you know how that goes. Or not post another blog until the end of the year (more likely).

I hope you've enjoyed your glimpse into my mind. Now you all know why it's so difficult for me to make decisions. - Naomi