2016 theme: ‘Bitches get stuff done’

Over the last couple weeks, I’ve spent a good number of days at the airport with my father-in-law, Ray-Dad, wrenching on airplanes. The Cessna 182 I fly is months overdue for its annual inspection and as a Christmas gift, Ray offered to assist me in completing the examination and repairs.

While I find the manual labor cathartic and enjoy spending time with Ray, this year’s annual has also felt like a bit of penance. Every few hours a friend will stop by, exclaim in surprise at seeing me and ask if I got my pilot’s license done yet. Nope. I still haven’t even taken the written exam. (Which is ridiculous, I am the first to admit, because I have 150+ flight hours and all of my flying requirements complete.) I’m utterly embarrassed.

And I’m mortified at reaching another calendar year having not completed my main dissertation article or my book proposal, or that lemon meringue pie that’s been languishing on my goal list for the last five years, despite having talked publicly about all of these things.

But. Like Tina Fey said, “You know what, bitches get stuff done.” And so I shall.

However, unlike previous years where I spend the first days of January plotting ALL THE THINGS I could possibly do–80+ goals across four categories in 2015–this year I’m focusing on finishing big goals from my existing list. At the very least, I will: finish the diss article, send out the book proposal, write the novel that’s been expertly planned, pass my FAA written exam and earn my private pilot’s license (finally).

And of course, I’ve got some low-hanging lingering fruit like making that (damn) lemon meringue pie, learning how to mosaic garden tiles, and taking my sewing machine out of the box. Anything else is gravy, as they say.

xoxo,
shawna

P/S I do feel compelled to mention that for the first time in at least five years “fit into my pants” is NOT on my to-do list this year. WOOT.

PP/S I just started a Bluest Muse facebook page: www.facebook.com/bluestmuse

Related links:

• Here’s to actually achieving goals in 2015
  
• 6 things I’m going to do before 2016, dammit
  
• I suck at resolutions and it’s okay
  
• Coming to terms with my seasonal selves
• New Year’s Goals: Thinking back, looking ahead (2014)
• 10 things I want to accomplish in the next 57 days of 2014
• Happy New Year! (On planting wishes and setting goals) (2013)
• New year, new list: Goals for 2012
• 30 before 30
• 30-before-30 progress report
• Zen goal setting and overcoming my strange relationship with time
• Happy list-making, I mean New Year’s! (2010)
• On lists and resolutions (2010)