Oh holy fucking hell, what was that MESS???
If you’re just joining me for the first time, I’ve got a list of 10 Major Goals I want to accomplish before I turn 40 in 2016. That’s what I refer to as my Life Worth Living; it’s a DBT thing. If you don’t want to stay stuck where you’ve been in life, you have to figure out where you want to go and what it would take to truly make your life worth living.
To get there, I’m using the Building Rome setup from Green Embers to break those major goals into smaller, more manageable pieces that I tackle on a weekly basis. Every week I do a Creative, Stress Management, Health, Financial, and School goal that tie back to my personal Building a Life Worth Living project.
Last week was not good, not at all. I had too much stress, too many issues with my body, and I just plain wasn’t in a decent mood. But I did make some progress, so YAY.
I would strongly encourage anyone who wants a little boost in helping achieve goals to join Green Embers and the rest of the Building Rome crew as we reach for the stars.
Update from last week:
Creative – Brainstorm ideas for my “big creative project” goal and try to settle on one so that I can start planning.
Brainstorming is done, just need to make my selection. The candidates are:
- silversmithing
- knit a dragon stole
- Fair Isle knitting
- write a book
- sew decorative pillows for the bed
- learn to make lampwork beads
- make a painting
- learn to draw Celtic knotwork
- make a glass painting of my Green Man
- sew a garment I can wear to work
- learn leathercraft
- reupholster the gold chair
- make a needle felted cat (I have a kit for this)
Stress Management – Walk on the treadmill at least 15 minutes on Monday and Wednesday before dinner.
I walked on Monday but not Wednesday. I wanted to walk another evening, but my schedule was fucked and then my legs got bad again, so it just didn’t happen. But once is better than not at all.
Health – Keep up with the shower/brushing & flossing teeth, and tracking food via the app. Work to keep my number of calories for the day at or under my recommended limit, which means making smarter food/drink choices.
My teeth are looking AMAZING. I’m brushing twice a day and flossing at night. My next step with that is to floss in the morning as well. I didn’t do near as well with the food tracking. Stress during the day apparently does still influence my choices and then I feel ashamed.
Financial – Don’t spend money except for Rxs or necessary groceries.
When there’s nothing to spend, it’s much easier.
School – Turn assignments in early. Make a plan for working ahead again.
Done and done. And, for the record, I cannot wait to be entirely done with this fucking class.
Bonus Goal – The theme for this week is Love, so I’m going to see if I can’t find a way to spread a little extra love to those around me.
WOW, did I totally suck at this! I was grumpy and sarcastic and just generally shitty pretty much all week. All I can say in my defense is that I started the week with good intentions.

This weeks goals will be:
Creative – Finish that damn towel! And I need to work up a schedule for the “one knit/crochet project a month” bit. The list of candidates for that looks like this:
- vintage hand towel
- cabled socks
- basic socks for Mom
- Fargyle socks
- long sleeved sweater
- cabled mitts – my pattern
- shrug – use my pattern?
- entrelac something – ???
- filet piece to be framed – squirrel w/acorn
- filet rose doily
- stuffed squirrel – knit
- amigurumi love bugs – for the girls for V day
- mini monkeys
- crocheted flowers
- crocheted Hobbes (from Calvin and Hobbes)
- crocheted Minions (from Despicable Me)
- crocheted tea light roses
- knit dragonflies
- knit friendship roses
- knit catnip mice
- knit Deathflake
- knit vest
I have yarn and patterns picked out already for 90% of these. And in case anyone is wondering, yes, it is entirely possible for me to knit a sweater in a month’s time. The longest it’s ever taken for me is 9 days. For some reason there’s more motivation to finish a sweater than a goddamn towel.
Stress Management – Given the state of my legs, I’m going to hold off on the treadmill for a bit. Instead, I’m going to see if I can get my reading for pleasure time in. I’m aiming for at least two nights, 30 minutes each time.
I wouldn’t normally do an either/or goal, but this week I’m going to. If I don’t feel like reading, I can sketch or do something in one of my coloring books. I really just need to spend at least 30 minutes unwinding without electronics before I go to bed.
So actually, doing both the reading AND the sketching every night would be the ideal situation.
Health – Keep up with the shower/brushing & flossing teeth, and tracking food via the app. Work to keep my number of calories for the day at or under my recommended limit, which means making smarter food/drink choices. This has got to happen!
Financial – We’re planning a trip north in October, so I need to start figuring out how to take care of the bills that are going to start coming in and have some spending money. I believe a plan is in order.
School – Work ahead again. The only way I’m going to get through this alive is to stay a step ahead of her.
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