around this time last year i wrote this post about what 2012 was going to be for me. so, let’s see how i went with my resolutions:
quality not quantity / more time with my kids / more things for me: WHAT A FAT LOAD OF CRAP. last year was easily my busiest and most insane year ever, mostly thanks to my book. then once my book was finished, raph was in the midst of building 2 new (quite expensive) trucks, and we realised that actually we were a bit poor and i had to do a bucket load of freelance to get us through. my ‘kid time’ remained the same, but i barely had time to sleep, let alone “time for me”. kids seemed to have survived relatively unscathed and happy though. and i will have time for me one day (maybe in my 70’s? or 80’s?).
get my license: EPIC FAIL. no i did not. not even close. in fact, i think my driving skills and confidence went backwards. i have a bunch of awesome and well-rehearsed excuses if you want to hear them. that’s the last time i think a public declaration will motivate me into something i am actually petrified to do.
becoming a domestic goddess: FAIL. our house is as chaotic and messy as it ever was. probably even worse.
how do i feel about all that? fine actually. yes 2012 was pure insanity, but it was also the most rewarding and exciting and amazing year to date. bring on more of that kind of insanity i say.
as for 2013 – do i dare make some more public resolutions? yes, i shall. i already know it’s going to be another insane year (on the list so far: 4 exhibitions – one solo; 2 more books), so i’m going to try and make them more reasonable:
1. waste less food - we cook everyday. we grocery shop almost everyday too (locally and organic whenever possible), but are guilty of throwing out quite a bit of food. we compost a lot of it, but it would be better if it was used instead of composted – wasted food is also a waste of water and resources, and that shit is not cool. it also feel outrageous throwing wilted carrots away when a lot of the world does not have enough to eat. so this year i’m going to enforce a bit of menu planning and making meals out of what we have in the garden, fridge and the pantry, instead of shopping all the time. we will see how it goes. (check out the foodwise site for more info on food waste in australian households. facts are quite scary. you can do your bit too!).
2. take better photos – you may have noticed – i have become quite lazy with my photos. i dont even get out my little auto camera any more – it’s pretty much all iphone snaps. i want to break this habit. although i definitely dont want to be a professional photographer, i do think after all these years i should be able to use proper camera, and know how to take proper photos. i’m also thinking of investing in a new camera – something in between a automatic and an SLR – recommendations welcome.
3. be less stressed – i’m all for being busy, but being busy and stressed is another story. i have been known to get myself into quite a state, and it can effect everyone around me. i’m on a mission to remind myself that if i don’t meet that deadline the world won’t end (and that i have pretty much never not met a deadline). and also it comes back to that “no” word – i’m going to try that out again. and maybe throw in a bit of meditation for good measure too.
4. getting out there – i am quite bad at making it to events: exhibitions, movies, lunch dates etc. i mean the intention is there, i’ve just been time poor. and unlike some other kids, cafes and exhibition openings are a form of torture for tyke and ari, so bringing them with me has not been an option either. i’m not making any outlandish claims that this year i will be magically plucking more time out of the air, but with ari at school i’m hoping i might have a bit more opportunity to see the things and the people i want too. quite possibly this time will also be occupied with a lot of work. like i said – no outlandish claims.
5. teach my kids to be more self-sufficient - sometimes i feel like my kids are heading into the over-privileged category. they get to go on overseas holidays, they get almost everything they ask for (within reason), they have exceptionally cool parents (ahem). of course – i want them to give them as much as i can, but i don’t want them to end up being spoilt brats who can’t fend for themselves. my mum was a working mum so from high school age my sister and i were washing our own clothes, cooking dinner and packing our own school lunches. i vaguely remember feeling a bit annoyed by these tasks, but also empowered, and it taught me a lot.
that’s it for 2013. i don’t think the above will be too hard to manage. in fact if i do follow them, they could aid our busy-ness. here’s hoping anyway.
what’s on for you in 2013?
