Onward into 2024 - and Word of the Year
Another year, and I get to look back on whether I met my goal, to focus on Balance for last year.
Newsflash - it's never that simple ;) ...I did achieve a better balance of some aspects of my life. I had some altogether new challenges and roadblocks come up, and I sold yarn again, for the first time in a few years - so some of my gamble on putting up embroidery yarns paid off.
I launched those yarns at what I knew would be an introductory price (still more than 'grannycrafter' levels, but not a reflection of the skill involved). It was an experiment, and the market here is not always receptive to new things. Now that a few stitchers have given me feedback, (including that my prices are low, which I knew) I'll be making a bunch of updated tags for the New year.
Maybe they'll still sell at the new price, and maybe not - but I will only find out if I try.
I still find myself feeling out of step, though - with a world that seems bent on leaving me on my own, as everyone forges 'ahead' into the new 'Post-COVID' landscape... which is what led me to this year's word.
I intend to begin as I mean to go on, so I need to do something that builds a framework for my success down the road...
CULTIVATE is a word with very few negative connotations - it speaks of hard work, but not of harsh judgement... and it implies that there could be a worthwhile outcome, somewhere in the future.
Friendships, and business ideas, and the neglected plants in my window - they all need effort on my part, to build them into something that supports me, and those around me.
It started with a meme that went around Facebook in December - the cartoon about expectations for 2024... one character asks what the other expects in the new year, and the answer is:
When asked why, the response is "Because I'm planting flowers". Trite, sure - but oh so very true.
We can't expect to reap what we never take time to sow - sometimes you can have a lucky moment, when the wind brings you the seed you wanted, but for the most part, you have to put in some effort.
If you're reading this, you are 10000% worth that effort. So CULTIVATE is what I'll try to do - maybe not in any big sweeping way - but if I want to see flowers, I should probably scatter some seeds.
The World, with all its hustling, and getting 'back to normal' - may not find an opportunity to do it for me.
Newsflash - it's never that simple ;) ...I did achieve a better balance of some aspects of my life. I had some altogether new challenges and roadblocks come up, and I sold yarn again, for the first time in a few years - so some of my gamble on putting up embroidery yarns paid off.
I launched those yarns at what I knew would be an introductory price (still more than 'grannycrafter' levels, but not a reflection of the skill involved). It was an experiment, and the market here is not always receptive to new things. Now that a few stitchers have given me feedback, (including that my prices are low, which I knew) I'll be making a bunch of updated tags for the New year.
Maybe they'll still sell at the new price, and maybe not - but I will only find out if I try.
I need to CULTIVATE the things I want to see - in so many parts of my life.
I intend to begin as I mean to go on, so I need to do something that builds a framework for my success down the road...
CULTIVATE is a word with very few negative connotations - it speaks of hard work, but not of harsh judgement... and it implies that there could be a worthwhile outcome, somewhere in the future.
Friendships, and business ideas, and the neglected plants in my window - they all need effort on my part, to build them into something that supports me, and those around me.
It started with a meme that went around Facebook in December - the cartoon about expectations for 2024... one character asks what the other expects in the new year, and the answer is:
flowers
When asked why, the response is "Because I'm planting flowers". Trite, sure - but oh so very true.
We can't expect to reap what we never take time to sow - sometimes you can have a lucky moment, when the wind brings you the seed you wanted, but for the most part, you have to put in some effort.
If you're reading this, you are 10000% worth that effort. So CULTIVATE is what I'll try to do - maybe not in any big sweeping way - but if I want to see flowers, I should probably scatter some seeds.
The World, with all its hustling, and getting 'back to normal' - may not find an opportunity to do it for me.
