New Years Anti-Goals

New Years Goals

I have a difficult relationship with goals. I always make too many and then I push and push myself to reach them and if I fail by the tiniest margin, I can be ruthless to myself in my head.

One year, about a decade ago, I made a goal to not have any goals for New Years. I won’t say I failed miserably, but it wasn’t exactly a success, either. It did help me to have a better relationship with my athletic career, and it made noticeable improvements to my times because I wasn’t pushing myself every damned day. I woke up every day instead and decided what I would do for a workout based on how I felt. Including, on a very rare occasion three or four times a year, not doing anything at all.

This year I’ve decided to make a set of goals that are not very measurable or specific (one friend asked what I meant by silly and I will tell you, I have no idea). But these are fun goals and for me, I think not making them specific is actually going to be helpful. Instead of pushing and pushing, I’m hoping that I will instead think and ponder about them regularly. If I get even one done, I’m putting it down here, I will consider that a success.

1. Fiddle around more with drawing.

2. Buy new fun yarn.

3. Try some new alcoholic drinks

4. Go out to lunch with new friends

5. Do something silly (but not dangerous)

6. Celebrate a failure

7. Spend money frivolously

8. Get a daring haircut

9. Buy a slutty outfit

10. Eat until my stomach hurts