I hadn’t planned on making resolutions for the year. But I’ve recently had a few thoughts of things that I might want to focus on this year. Two thousand eight was a very busy year. Well, most of it was very busy. The last few months of the year were not very eventful, but that was most likely due to the insanity of the rest of the year. I have been in serious hibernation mode. Much of what I’d like to accomplish this year is based upon my desire to break out of my patterns, my circle of comfort, my self-imposed rut, whatever you want to call it.

Joining roller derby last year (coming up on my “derbyversary” in February) was pretty huge. I’ve never been a part of an organized sport before, and certainly never considered myself athletic by any stretch of the imagination. I definitely plan to continue with the sport, but it did overwhelm much of my life last year. This year, I want to make sure I also incorporate all the other things that make me happy: reading, knitting, taking photos, cooking, general craftiness,* making and listening to music, gathering with friends, etc.

I barely knit anything last year, I hardly took any photos, picked up the accordion only a couple of times, the house has been a disorganized mess (as opposed to its usual organized mess), I’ve barely touched any craft supplies, I can’t remember how many books I read (other than the Stephenie Meyer ones), and I ate the same things every week. When I wasn’t playing derby, I was sleeping or hiding trying to recover from the stress of the busy schedule and the physical stress of sore muscles and bruises. It’s worth all the stress, but I also think that tending to the other facets of my life would help dealing with the stress.

As a result of neglecting all those things, I didn’t end the year on a very good note. I became really homesick and sort of crawled into a cave, and have just been generally bummed out. I’ve started to re-emerge, though.

Today we flipped through a couple of cookbooks to figure out what we could make this weekend that would begin to break our food rut. I cast on for a blanket that I’ve been meaning to make for ages, using all that leftover and hand-me-down yarn in my acrylic stash. I went through the knitting basket to unearth hibernating projects. I’ve been keeping the accordion out so that I’ll be tempted to pick it up every few days. I have a whole list of books I’ve been meaning to read, but haven’t bothered to pick up, as well as a list of bands/albums that I’ve been wanting to download.

Change is in the air, and through it all I hope to hang on to the things that make me happy. I guess in 2008 I learned that all those eclectic things combined make me who I am, and when I neglect them, I become unrecognizable and unhappy. So, here’s looking forward to a year of renewal and growth!

* Every time I use the phrase “general ____” I have to add “reporting for duty” afterwards. General Craftiness reporting for duty, sir! Makes me laugh every time.