best-laid plans

We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us. - Joseph Campbell

Happy 2009, folks.

The turn of the year is a great time to look forward, set goals and make plans for the upcoming twelve months; but it's also important to look back at what came before (or what didn't), to look at what we've accomplished, how we've changed... and to remind ourselves that plans don't always get strictly followed.

Luckily I posted last year's resolutions for posterity, so I have a pretty accurate yardstick of what I was hoping for the last time we reached this point in our trip around the sun. I took a quick look back just now, and I was actually surprised at how many of my goals I accomplished, or at least got a significant start on:

1. Update the blog regularly/introduce weekly feature - uh... OK, that one was a bit of a fail. But I'm trying to get back to it, now that I actually have stuff to blog about.
2. Get out! Socialize! Make friends! - I did this. It didn't happen instantly, but in early January I kicked my little butt to a weekly bellydance class, where (in addition to helping keep one of my other resolutions) I met wonderful women, some of whom have become like family, and in turn introduced me to other wonderful, interesting people and pastimes.
3. Treat my body better - Hmmm... yes and no. Over the course of the year I purged my body of over five years' worth of nasty contraceptive hormones and reclaimed my womanly cycle. This was an incredibly difficult detoxification process, but ultimately very liberating and necessary. I wanted to dance and stretch more, which I have definitely done. I took two weekly dance classes throughout most of the year, and got really fit in the summer, when I spent a lot of time drilling and rehearsing for performances. Now that it's winter I seem to have misplaced my six-pack, but I know it's around somewhere and I'm sure I'll find it again. My good eating habits sort of rose and fell like the Roman Empire; I can't seem to wean myself off chocolate. And sometimes I still forget to wash off my makeup... We'll call this category a draw.
4. Become a rock goddess - Well, a bit. I didn't really learn how to play the bass (and I'm thinking about selling it for business-continuation funds), but I did keep plugging away at the mandolin, went semi-regularly to home-town jam nights at the Trellis Cafe, and finished out the year with a string of holiday party singing gigs with Tidal Rhythm. We'll say, Acoustic Indie-Folk Minor Deity?
5. Look awesome every day - I didn't really reach that stage of effortless presentation that I keep striving for, but I think I'm getting closer to identifying what my true self looks like.
6. Start the business - YES.

I'm going to say, on average, 2008 was a successful year. I learned an awful lot about myself, grew substantially as a person, and accomplished a number of stated goals.

Here's what I'd like 2009 to look like:

1. I'd like to follow Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food mantra: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." And stop eating chocolate for breakfast.
   
2. Regular yoga practice, regular dancing.
3. Work on building and maintaining healthy relationships, especially the one I have with myself: communication, honesty, awareness, serenity, gratitude and appreciation.
4. Learn. Read more. Be curious.
5. Adventurousness.
   
6. I want creativity to be my job, my passion, my life. I want to grow my business. I want to support myself financially through my designs, my performances, and a willingness to take calculated risks.
7. Blog. Duh.
   

I wish you all the best for 2009!