Planning 2012 Beyond the Mayan Calendar

It’s that time of year, the beginning, when we collectively tend to think with hope and purpose of our plans. I’ve learned that in spite of any predicted impending doom that I should not factor that into my goals beyond making sure I have some flexibility to allow for any mass panic or chaos that may occur. I’ve already survived the passing of Hale-Bopp (I didn’t realize until it was gone), the turning of the century and the turning of the?millennium (neither of which marked the end of technology), 6/6/06, 9/9/09, one version of the Rapture (that I’ve heard of), 11/11/11 (I may have made that one up), a planetary alignment or two, and now have the end of the Mayan calendar to look forward to. There may have been other doomsday?catastrophes?I missed due to my location and being poorly informed, but you get the picture.

Whether it will all end or not, I have to plan like there will be tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year because in all?likelihood there will be. With that in mind I looked back over last year’s goals which were either accomplished as is or with modification. I get to start this year without any unresolved goals dragging me down (one moment while I happy dance).

A new year with new goals!

This year many of my goals are tied up with the?Dark Jane Austen Book Club, and thankfully I have a partner in that project to help facilitate success.

My other goals are as follows:

• Prepare outline, and writing notes for #NaNoWriMo 2012, which I will be doing again this year. I’ve already got the seed of an idea that has started to take root.
• Edit manuscript from #NaNoWriMo 2011 to include rewrites and have at least two others read through it to offer suggestions and?criticism (I will not become?discouraged, but will rise to the challenge).
• Meditate twice a week at the very least. I lapsed on this most basic practice of mine, and have felt soul weary as a result. It is a healthy habit I need to reinstate into my life.

After last year, and taking into account some of the challenges that arose?unexpectedly, those are all I’m going to set forth for the year. In 2011 the biggest thing I learned is that with being a mother, a wife, a friend, and a freelance writer I have to leave room for responsibilities and love. Much of my stress arose from feeling overwhelmed, and that I didn’t have time for everyone, everything, and myself. This year, I want to make it a better year, and so I will.