The past few weeks have been a whirlwind for me. We've had my in-laws in town from NY and of course it was Christmas vacation which is always super busy.
During the midst of all this busyness, I tweaked my back and have been trying to get my back healthy. Unfortunately, I've had to take it easy, which meant putting off any organizational projects, crafting projects or Etsy store projects.
Because this injury happened around the beginning of the new year, it made me feel behind.
Last year at this time I was starting all of these cool journaling projects like......
.....One Little Word....
Last year, in January, I picked a word to focus on along with a bunch of other bloggers (part of the One Little Word movement). Mine was present as in being present. I even signed up for the Ali Edwards class on-line. She sent us prompts each month with suggestions for ways to live/examine your word. I think I made it to March and then got bored/busy. But I made this fun book to chronicle my journey. The book was fun to make, but keeping up with it was a burden. Some journey, huh?
....Project 52....
Last year I also made this fun scrapbook called 52 weeks and the idea was that I'd put a picture a week into it, to look back on the year. unfortunately, I at one point was 15 weeks behind. Right now, I'm at week 40....almost done even though the new year has begun. But I did have fun making the book.
Here's my Project 52.
......Gratitude Journal.....
And then there's my favorite project, my gratitude journal to keep track of a thing a day that I'm thankful for. Nice idea but I just got distracted and fell off the wagon about Feb.
Here's where I made my Gratitude Journal.
As I was sitting here on my couch with my ice pack, nursing my sore back, seing all of these other bloggers doing these really awesome, fun beginning of the new year projects, I began to realize, why do I need to beat myself up over this. Why don't I just embrace my personality, my style, and what I LIKE to do. I love making journals and mini-books. But I don't like a strict timeline.
I think the bottom line for me this year is to not start any new long-term projects that I have to keep up with over an extended length of time. Maybe just a simple journal that I can create and add pics, journal entries, and odds and ends that doesn't have a specific time line. That could be mixed media. Otherwise, I fall off the wagon and end up feeling guilty.
I will go ahead and try to finish my 52 weeks book and Gratitude Journal, but the Gratitude Journal might be over many years instead of just one. The 52 Weeks is actually pretty easy to fix. I just need to go back through my photos and pick them out. The book is already made, it just needs to filled.
So for me, this year is just to be who I am. To do things because I want to, not because everyone else is. And really just to take better care of myself (like eating healthier and my back care). That way, I can be a better mom, wife, teacher and artist.
2 comments:
First... Good for you!! I have seen alot of buzz about the calendar journaling- that might be fun. AND week 40 is really good- please finish that one! I am still doing OLW but not the whole album. I think you are in for a great 2013!!
That'a girl. We're not all meant to be followers and do what everybody else is doing. Being an individual is important. If it works out doing projects as others do and the kind they do is great if it works out for you.
I'll be going along doing what I "should" be doing when something else might capture my imagination and all my attention and off I go, hence not following along. Is that bad, no, it's being who you are.
What's the saying about while you're busy making plans, somebody else or something else has other ideas. Probably not the way the saying really goes but think you get it.
Take care of your back, that's whats' more important. Do as you can. End of story. Happy 2013
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