Happy New Year!
I had intended to post much sooner and more often. Like two weeks ago and at least twice, honestly. With five children and two grandchildren, decorating, baking, shopping, and creating, I suppose you could say I was a little busy (not to mention distracted).
I have been doing some reflecting this past week. I’m sure you have, too. After all, it is what we all do immediately following the holidays, isn’t it? Only this time it was a little different for me. Normally I am completely and wholeheartedly against (yes, you read correctly, AGAINST) New Year’s resolutions. Why, you ask? For the simple reason of not wanting to fail. Silly, isn’t it? Not if you understand that part of me.
Over the past year I have learned a few things about myself. One of them being that I am a perfectionist. I know, I know, how could that possibly be when I am a self proclaimed ‘disorganizationalist’? Let me explain. I have discovered that there is more than one way to be a perfectionist.
First there is the obvious. The ‘perfectionist’ is a browbeating maniac, demanding the task be completed with perfection to the ‘T’. No matter how long it takes or how many times it must be done and redone, the results must meet the highest of standards.
And then there is the not-so-obvious (me). This ‘perfectionist’ also requires that high standards be met. The approach, however, is completely opposite. The belief is that unless it can be done right and done right the FIRST time, it shouldn’t be done at all. Or at least not until certain conditions are met (and yes, by that I mean that all the stars and planets must be aligned ‘just so’). For example, let’s say I see a picture that I absolutely love and must have because I want to re-do my bathroom, and this would look ‘perfect’ with the new style I’ve chosen. Rather than going home and immediately putting it up on the wall, I would deposit the picture in a corner until all outlying conditions were met. And of course this ultimately means that first the walls must be painted, cabinets refinished and new fixtures installed. Reason? Simple. Because this is the natural order of things. Major/permanent work first and decorative touches last. And I would NEVER think of doing it any other way.
Until now. This year, for the first year in a very long time, I have actually made a few resolutions. But rather than referring to them as ‘New Year’s’ resolutions I have decided that ‘Life’ resolutions was a better fit.
Resolution: n. 1. the act, operation or process of resolving.
2. the state of being resolved, settled or determined; steadiness; constancy
If I am going to make a commitment to change, to resolve my perfectionist issues and ‘just do it’, I want that change to be lifelong instead of just yearlong. The definition itself demands it. Steadiness and constancy should last more than 365 days, don’t you think?
One of the resolutions I have made is to stop worrying if something I create isn’t perfect. I have been wanting to have fun with some mixed media on canvas. Well, since I have never done it before I can’t very well expect it to be perfect, now can I? So, I am resolved to just start. So what if it doesn’t look like it should be hanging in an art gallery? Practice, practice,practice. Isn’t that the age old saying? There are a few other things I have had the desire to do creatively but have been to shy or embarrassed to do them. I am looking forward to seeing where this takes me!
The second resolution for me is that while I have come to accept that I am and will always be (to some degree) disorganized, I would prefer to be a little LESS disorganized. Therefore, I am on a mission to de-clutter my home. I’m no hoarder, mind you. Dishes are done daily, floors routinely cleaned, etc… but there is the little matter of closets, cupboards and drawers being stuffed beyond max capacity. So this year and from here on out, I will be on a de-cluttering journey. I will be chronicling my successes and hopefully not too many failures. And maybe, just maybe, you will be inspired to do the same.
The funnest resolution I have is called ‘Pay it Forward 2012’. I participated in it last year and was so thrilled with it that I have decided to make it a yearly tradition. The concept is simple. You post as your Facebook, Twitter, or whatever social media you use, status that you will handcraft something in 2012 for the first five people that comment on your post. In return, these five people must also post this as their status and make things for the first five people to comment on their status and so on. I made a cake for one person and tamales for another. I also made a purse for my friend here in Arizona.
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