New year, new blog post! Finally! I’ve been um-ing and ah-ing about what to write, given it’s been several months since I last made an appearance here (not counting the making and selling of items on the shop, of course). I didn’t want to write the a big cliché “setting goals for the new year” or “how to kick goals this year” pieces – mainly because I didn’t have anything particularly new or inspiring to say and there are dozens of other writers with fantastic advice out there already (like this one, by my mate Karen Kieves, who’s just started her journey as a blogger/writer. SOOOO happy for you Karen!).
Also, I don’t know if I’m really any good at kicking goals. I cringe at the “successful entrepreneur” advice that keeps telling me to wake up earlier in order to be successful. I’ve tried. It doesn’t work for me. I love sleep, so I am obviously not cut out to be an entrepreneur. It probably also doesn’t help that I always struggle to spell “entrepreneur”.
Love for sleep
+
Constantly feeling like I don’t get enough sleep
(thanks a bunch Mr 1, Mr 5, and husband-who-snores)
=
Not many entrepreneurial goals kicked in 2017
Now that I think about it, this makes sense because I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur in 2017. I just wanted to earn some money while I was on mat leave so hussled like crazy and ended up starting a creative business because the opportunity was there. It worked out well… but I still couldn’t bring myself to write the “setting goals” and “how to be awesomely successful” post. I consider myself maybe just a little bit successful, which is actually fine by me. (Hmm… maybe I should write about how being just a little bit successful is perfectly fine?)
I think I spent a lot of 2017 growing out of my need to compare my self/life/body/accomplishments with others. Maybe it’s something to do with being in my 30s and not having the time and/or energy to care? I know now that comparison takes away from who I am and what I’ve done (which if I’m honest is blessed and lots). The jealousy still happens, but I guess I’m now conscious whenever it does and remind myself that “comparison is the thief of joy” and tell myself to just get on with it.
Which, thanks to the amazing Pip Lincolne (who wrote the original Taking Stock post on her blog Meet Me At Mikes, and encouraged every blogger to do the same) and supremely generous and talented author Allison Tait (who, inspired by Pip wrote one on her blog, shared it on Facebook, and made me aware of it), is what I am going to do.
Get on with it. WRITE. Write something, write anything. JUST WRITE.
Um, so yes. Here it is. Writing this quick “taking stock” post, to get me into the groove of writing on this blog for 2018. Which I promise to do much more often this year.*
Taking stock – January 2018
Making: Art! My word for 2018 was “create” and boy did I ever! I opened a shop online (here and on Etsy) and have had the pleasure of lettering special presents and cards for people all over the world (I can say that because I sent one of them all the way to the UK!). So happy!
Reading: About 10 books at once (if you also do this, please tell me so I don’t feel like such a weirdo). Currently on my pile next to my bed: Writing True Stories by Patti Miller, Is this my beautiful life? by Jessica Rowe, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, Dames and Divas by David Leser, Confessions of a Misfit Entrepreneur by Kate Toon, and Storm and Grace by Kathryn Heyman.
Next read: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, Ransacking Paris by Patti Miller (and about 15 more titles but those are the ones I can see on my shelf).
Drinking: Coffee. (See note above about young children and husband who snores). Water (because I need to counter the coffee and because +35°C days in Western Sydney require constant rehydration).
Wanting: One of the Home Ice Cream ‘Gold N Sun’ bars that are in the freezer. When I’m done with this post I’m going to eat one.
Looking: Bloated. Because I can’t control my ice cream intake and because we ate an absolute feast at Braza Churrascaria (all you can eat Brazillian BBQ) last night and then ate some more at The Grounds of Alexandria today. It was amazing btw, no regrets.
Playing: Beyblade Burst. Mr 5’s grandparents bought him a whole bunch of Beyblades for Christmas and he’s obsessed with them. The day normally begins and ends with Mr 5 trying to negotiate the number of matches we will play.
Deciding: Whether I should a) finish this post and start on some lettering orders b) finish this post and eat some ice cream c) finish this post and go straight to bed.
Wishing: I could eat all the ice cream in the world and not care about people asking me if I’m expecting again. 😬 (I’m not, for the record. This belly is 100% summer holiday food)
Enjoying: Summer holidays. Being at home with the boys for most of the week is so much fun. Exhausting yes, but the laughs and memory-making make it worth it.
Waiting: For our house!! It has a roof, they just need to get going with the insides. We’re only a few months away (I hope) which is nothing because it’s been about three years since we bought the land. THREE YEARS.
Wondering: What’s hotter, lava or fire? This is the question Mr 5 asked me before falling asleep today.
Loving: Life with three hilarious, inquisitive, gorgeous boys (husband counts as one – he’s basically just a big version of the other two).
Pondering: Will I ever feel like a “grown-up”? I am responsible for two little humans but still feel like I’m a kid.
Watching: The Marvel movies, in order. This was never a “thing” for me – I’m not a Marvel fanatic nor am I particularly fond of these movies. I think this started when Mr 5 got an Avengers read-along set from Costco late last year and after hearing Iron Man 1 on repeat in the car about 482 times I had the urge to watch Iron Man 1, 2, and 3 (I don’t know why). But then I realised I couldn’t do that and not watch the first Avengers movie, but couldn’t do that without watching Captain America: The First Avenger or Hulk… and now here I am.
Next watch: Guardians of the Galaxy. Also, catching up on Jane the Virgin and The Good Place.
Marvelling: At my children. Everyday. I stare at their little but growing hands, feet, eyelashes, smiles – everything – and try to take note of the funny things they say and do. I find myself totally in awe that these little people didn’t exist a few years ago and, miraculously, now they are here. With their own personalities, idiosyncrasies, and beautiful way of filling my heart to the point of bursting with something as simple as a smile, a laugh, or an “I love you”.
Questioning: Whether I’m really going to have enough time or energy to do the things I’d like to do this year. Wanting to be at home with these kids a lot is not really making it easy to reach the financial goals I have (because a new house can’t magically fill itself with furniture) but I also have personal projects I really want to make progress on (namely, writing memoirs).
Knowing: That it doesn’t really matter what I think or plan or wish for; God’s got this. I just need to trust him and let him do his thing.
Hoping: I don’t forget that. ☝🏼
Coveting: This gorgeous skirt from Modcloth because a) those pencils 😍 and b) pockets!!
Hearing: The fan whirring behind me, and the tennis which is on in the living room.
Feeling: Relieved that I have finally written a post after months of not really knowing what to write about.
Admiring: You, if you got this far! High-five man! If you did, leave a comment (would love it if you chose a few of these and answered some, or linked me to your “Taking Stock” post too!).
Ok, that’s it for now. If you want to have a crack at this yourself, you can check out Pip’s full list here (I skipped a few). I think it’s time for that ice cream.