I’ve spent the last few days thinking about the new year. I am a fan of new year’s goals. (I like goals more than resolutions.) To me, it’s an opportunity to start fresh and re-energized, with a clear focus and full of optimism. Perhaps a little schmaltzy, but that’s me.

I think my mantra for the year is going to be “baby steps.” When I get an idea, I tend to think I have to dive in. For example, exercising. I have these grand plans for daily hour long walks. A healthy aspiration, to be sure, but for soemone just starting out it can be a bit ambitious. And easy to lose motivation. Last month, I read the editor’s letter in my fitness magazine and she said that she started jogging fifteen minutes a day and now she’s running marathons. I might be wrong about the marathons but the bottom line is, she started with baby steps.

My theory is that by starting small you gain strength and confidence. The better you get at it, the more you want to do it. The stronger you get the farther you can go. I think this applies to more than just exercise. I mentioned in my previous post that I needed to work on the guest bedroom, the wrapping room, the garage (which I didn’t mention but was on the list). So I tackled one project a day and I still had time for the other fun stuff I wanted to do. Baby steps.

While looking forward, I’ve been looking back too. 2009 was a pretty darn good year. We sold our house and I moved to California. I knit my first sweater. I knit my first triangle shawl (and second, and third, and am on my fourth). I read 42 books this year with 104 in my queue. I attended the inauguration of the 44th President. I did some of my most challenging hikes at Yosemite this year. I know there are other highlights but these are the ones that stand out.

As for what I want to accomplish in 2010…

1. Continue to try and live a more simple life. Get rid of stuff, eat local, use what I have, waste less, stop and smell the roses.

2. Use up my stash. I have bought a lot of yarn lately. I’m going to allow myself one more shopping spree (there’s a birthday special at my LYS) and then I’m going to work from what I’ve got.

3. Read more. I love reading. I’d like to get the number of books in my queue to under 70 by this time next year.

4. Spend more time outside. Knitting outside works, but biking, walking, or hiking would be better.

5. Eat more fruits and veggies. This should be pretty easy living in California where they are quite plentiful. It’s more a matter of choosing the fruits and veggies instead of the carbs.

6. Remember that life is a precious gift.

There could be more, but I think this is a fair start. I hope that 2009 was good to you and that 2010 is better! Happy New Year!

P.S. The photo is me and Bill, in the kitchen, preparing our New Year’s Eve feast of hors d’oeuvres. I think Bill looks really good in the photo.