because it's a tradition. and because goals are what motivate us to be better people. and because this year is an important one to me, in my continued quest to better myself, and my lifestyle.
so what will i do this year, to better myself? commitments to myself, above all others, first and foremost:
1. i will ask people what their preferred way of communicating and staying in touch is. i hate the phone. i'm not good with skype. i'm horrendous with any form of speaking communication (except coffee/drink dates - i'm EXCEPTIONALLY good at those). i promised myself i would stop promising, and setting up phone dates with people, only to let them (and myself) down. this year, i'll communicate in a way that works best for both parties... email, text messaging, coffee dates, postcard, whatever.
2. i will commit to continuing my quest for creative time to myself. ideally, i'd like to finish up my overall website (lofty goals), but if all it means is getting photography done, and a solid lineup for my etsy store, i'll be happy!
3. 3 more stores in 2013. i am determined to do more in store sales this year.
4. write more for me - not necessarily for this blog, but for myself. i noticed by the end of this past year (2012) i was losing my steam. i am 98% positive that this was related to the energy spent on other people in the last parts of november and december... which isn't a bad thing. it just meant that i didn't spend the time on me that i needed. since i love writing, and it makes me calm, relaxed, and all the things i need to be more of, i commit to spending more time writing. even if it's just words that come to me on a tuesday afternoon, in my moleskine. just more words.
so what will i do this year, to better myself? commitments to myself, above all others, first and foremost:
2. i will commit to continuing my quest for creative time to myself. ideally, i'd like to finish up my overall website (lofty goals), but if all it means is getting photography done, and a solid lineup for my etsy store, i'll be happy!
3. 3 more stores in 2013. i am determined to do more in store sales this year.
4. write more for me - not necessarily for this blog, but for myself. i noticed by the end of this past year (2012) i was losing my steam. i am 98% positive that this was related to the energy spent on other people in the last parts of november and december... which isn't a bad thing. it just meant that i didn't spend the time on me that i needed. since i love writing, and it makes me calm, relaxed, and all the things i need to be more of, i commit to spending more time writing. even if it's just words that come to me on a tuesday afternoon, in my moleskine. just more words.
i'm keeping it lite this year - native shoes has inspired me.
and, because no one does it better, i'll take a cue (or 18) from nora ephron. 
people have only one way to be // buy, don't rent // never marry a man you wouldn't want to be divorced from // don't cover a couch with anything that isn't more or less beige // don't buy anything that is 100 per cent wool even if it seems to be very soft and not particularly itchy when you try it on in the store // you can't be friends with people who call after 11 p.m. // block everyone on your instant mail // the world's greatest babysitter burns out after two and a half years // you never know // the last four years of psychoanalysis are a waste of money // the plane is not going to crash // anything you think is wrong with your body at the age of 35 you will be nostalgic for at the age of 45 // at the age of 55 you will get a saggy roll just above your waist even if you are painfully thin // this saggy roll just above your waist will be especially visible from the back and will force you to re-evaluate half the clothes in your closet, especially the white shirts // write everything down // keep a journal // take more pictures // the empty nest is underrated // you can order more than one dessert // you can't own too many black turtleneck sweaters // if the shoe doesn't fit in the shoe store, it's never going to fit // when your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you // back up your files // overinsure everything // whenever someone says the words, "our friendship is more important than this," watch out, because it almost never is // there's no point in making piecrust from scratch // the reason you're waking up in the middle of the night is the second glass of wine // the minute you decide to get divorced, go see a lawyer and file the papers // overtip // never let them know // if only one-third of your clothes are mistakes, you're ahead of the game // if friends ask you to be their child's guardian in case they die in a plane crash, you can say no // there are no secrets
(abridged from I Feel Bad About My Neck and other thoughts on being a woman, by Nora Ephron)