20 in 2020

It's that time of year again - to take stock of where I am and what I want to do in the coming year.  Last year was a bit of a writeoff, my old friend Depression took hold as I mourned the 20th anniversary of my mother's cancer diagnosis (at the same age I am today) while still suffering the PTSD trigger of the #MeToo movement. After a joyous, soul-filling and restful Christmas break, I am feeling stronger and happier as each day passes.

I've picked my word for the year. After revisiting some previous options, such as Focus, Complete or Joy, I have settled on "Thrive". The first two words seem to be more action-based, and this year, I want my word to reflect how I want to live as I start to enter the "Golden Years". Yes, this year I turn 60 and god only knows how I got here. I'm still single, and probably always will be, but I have a very close relationship with my daughters and three lovely grandchildren who fill my heart with all the warmth and caring I could ever need.

It's not been the easiest journey, but it could have been a whole lot worse. After my divorce 34 years ago, I was left with 2 babies to raise on my own, and had to go back to school to get a decent career in order to give them a good life. My parents, especially my mother, were my support and I was fortunate enough to be able to buy a house that backed onto their backyard, so that the girls had positive adult influences and supervision even through the challenging teen years. Mom passed when the girls were 18 and 15, and my father left his old life behind, but we had a strong base by then, and I am happy to say that my siblings and I have remained close and our kids and grandkids have a strong sense of family. What more could a girl ask for?

Now, my list of 20 (note: not all are crafty goals) in no particular order:

• Spend more time with my family
• Build and organize my new sewing/craft room in a way that makes me want to spend every day in it
• Lose 25 lbs
• Finish 20 sewing projects that have been languishing
• Journal everyday 
• Rebuild some friendships
• Pay off 1/3 of my mortgage balance
• Walk 1/2 hour at least 3 days a week 
•  Practice photography
• Complete at least 3 scrapbooking albums that have already been started
• Keep current with my photos 
• Finish my last course for work (no later than February 20th)
• Declutter garage and create a proper storage area (and only store seasonal stuff)
• Create a sanctuary of my new bedroom
• Once moved downstairs, create a new housekeeping routine
• Write in this blog at least 3 times a week.
• Process all my scrap fabrics a la Bonnie Hunter's way
• Watch less TV
• Read more books
• Live my best life!

Now these aren't SMART goals...yet. What are SMART goals? It is a technique I've used in my business life, and I have found success in all aspects of life, both in business and personal. It is time to revist that technique and expand my 20 in 2020 into:

Smart

Measureable

Attainable

Relevant

Time-based goals

I'm going to spend the next week sorting, refining and making a road plan for the next phase of my life!

Now for some pretty inspiration:

Til next time, Terri