Did I do the thing?

It was the end of December when I wrote this:

At least it sets me up for next year in getting me into the mindset of how I want to spend my hours.

Thus far what crosses my mind is:

• connect with friends, old and new on a more regular basis

• spend more quality time with chosen family

• put down more solid roots: volunteering, joining the co-op, etc.

• read more books for fun, and less for information

• make more art

• have more fun

• learn something new

Did I do the things in the last few months?

1. Connect with friends: I’m doing okay—it’s hard to make this happen on a regular basis, or at least in substantial ways. However, if I look at the time in small chunks, I’m thankful for my group chat of colleagues who keep me sane, make the time for coffee walks, water cooler chats and post-work drinks. In older friend realms, I’ve been lucky to zoom and phone call with old neighbors, long time collaborators, and former students. I’m also finding that when I’m out and about in town, I run into people who remember my name, which definitely feels like a growth point towards new friendships.

2. More quality time with chosen family: Today I spent most of the sunlight hours walking around town with C: going to a community clothing swap, exploring some new stores that have popped up on the commons, getting copious amounts of coffee drinks, and walking around a potential new neighborhood (more to come on that in #7).

3. Putting down more solid roots: I joined the Co-Op grocer. I’m committing to a CSA in the summer. I finally got a damn library card.

4. Read more books for fun….: I failed haha. The informational gobble gobble continues. I mean, it was fun…for me. I’m grateful for the local library’s collection, so I’m saving a few dollars and space at the moment.

5. Make more art: Honestly, also a bit of a fail. I thought January would be more of a break, but it turned into syllabus writing and course planning, which is artful in its own way, but that wasn’t the art that I meant when I made this statement.

6. Have more fun: Not a fail, but not a win either. Spring semester is always a bit relentless in its workload. But spring break is coming up so maybe there will be a moment of respite. Maybe my revised resolution is to stop and notice it when fun is being had.

7. Learn something new: I have learned a lot about the house buying process in the past few months. Maybe this is really why I didn’t read books for fun and artmaking was on the back burner. It’s been a lot of work and emotional ups and downs! At some point when it’s all over (fingers crossed that will be soon) I’ll write about it and this Substack will turn into a house blog…but I have a feeling it will become my whole personality for a while. Sorry in advance when I become totally insufferable.

So here I am. Sorta getting back to the point of this post, and maybe why you read this… I’m happiest when I’m making connections, spending time with loved ones, and creating—whether that be artwork, course plans, blips of writing, or a new system. Looking at my review above, I guess I’m happy?

A Revised Resolution: Notice the small things. Live in those happy moments—and realize they’re longer than mere moments. I’m doing okay. I hope you’re doing okay. The world may be on fire right now, but a connection (or the reminder of one) will remind me—I’m not alone. Neither are you.