What is it about a new year that makes us reflective? Endings, whether real or imagined, help us make sense of what came before, neatly tidying the inherent randomness of life into coherent wholes. Smarter people than I have written about this elsewhere. Endings force us to look where we stand and to reflect on the path that brought us here. Through the lens of an end, we can evaluate the success of our actions and commit to do better, if we’re not happy.

In the early days of 2015, in the interest of making myself more accountable, I used this space to pledge personal goals around being active, creating, reading, and writing. And accountable I shall be, for it’s with a sense of 2015’s end that I can begin 2016 with a better sense of myself. Continue reading →

They say that the surest way to keep resolutions is to hold yourself accountable by sharing your goals with a friend. Rather than burden any one friend with my list, I’m sharing it here.

This year:

• I plan to read and to write more, even when I think I’m too exhausted. Reading at least one chapter and writing at least one full paragraph (here or elsewhere) each week should be entirely achievable, regardless of my work schedule.
• I plan to get back into my running routine. I miss it.
• I’d like to expand my arsenal of knitting skills so I can finally tackle some of the more involved projects I’ve been eyeing. Like this cloche here.
• I’d like to take a few day-long hiking trips in the GTA. The Escarpment is virtually at my doorstep, and yet I haven’t taken proper advantage of my location. I think I do a good job of being a tourist in my own city, but it’s time to extend my field of adventure.

Here’s to the start of a creative and stimulating new year!