Snowflake Challenge #2

[kate]

In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private.

Hrmmmm. I'm not really a goals person, but I do strive to do stuff every year, so I guess it's like goals. I just don't usually formalize it because it freaks me out and I usually immediately fail (see every diet and exercise regimen ever).

* Same goal as the last many years: write every day. I've made it the last two or three years, and I expect to make it this year. But it's nice to have one 'gimme'.
* Take time to breathe, relax, get back into some spiritual spaces. My life is better when I have time to appreciate the woo-woo of my religion.
* EAT MORE VEG AND LESS SUGAR. I'm trying really hard on this, but I'm definitely going at it less hardcore than my wife, and I have guilt over that. But I'm trying!

I don't have any fannish goals for the year. I have hopes, though. I hope I can find some writing inspiration. I hope I am not too afraid of misstepping in my fandom to post. I hope I can continue to do new and fun things, and be in a fandom that I love a lot.

That's enough, I think.

Comments

[turps]

I think trying counts for a lot, so good luck on eating more veg and less sugar. I know it's a hard thing to do sometimes.

And that's impressive you've written every day for so long.

[kate]

Thank you! I'm trying real hard on the sugar thing, I just... like it. A lot.

Yeah, it's only a 100 word minimum wordcount per day, but I do try to also make 250,000 a year, so it's not 100 words every day.

[sperrywink]

Good luck finding writing inspiration! And yeah, eating less sugar is one of my goals as well. Stupid eating habits. >>:-(

[kate]

I wish it didn't taste so good. I really like it, damn it.

[velithya]

Those sound like good goals - and honestly cut yourself some slack over how hard you're going! Some progress is better than no progress at all - and imo it's better to have a smaller sustainable step than something larger that you can't maintain longer term.

[kate]

Hard agree! It's why my daily writing goal is only 100 words/day but my annual goal is 250,000. I seem to make both somehow. The sugar is harder but I'm trying. The more veg I eat, the less sugar I want, which is why I'm trying to up that. It's hard though, my kitchen is a pigsty right now. :(

[corvidology]

It looks good to me! :D

[kate]

<3 ty bb!

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>I just don't usually formalize it because it freaks me out and I usually immediately fail (see every diet and exercise regimen ever).<<

1) You have to figure out what works for you. I like a target-rich environment; I have friends who like one-word resolutions.

2) Diets don't work, and 95% of the time, make matters worse. Exercise that consists of wasting time to burn calories rarely works either.

Small, incremental changes work well and tend to be sustainable. Culinary lifestyles can be sustainable, like the Mediterranean or flexitarian approach, because they're not counting finicky details but just laying out broad strokes. Fun or productive exercise is much more sustainable. Why would I go to a gym when I have like 6 million things to do in the yard that I am never going to get all done? I'd be in there thinking, "I could be pulling weeds with this energy."

>>* Same goal as the last many years: write every day. I've made it the last two or three years, and I expect to make it this year. But it's nice to have one 'gimme'.<<

Go you!

>> EAT MORE VEG AND LESS SUGAR. I'm trying really hard on this, but I'm definitely going at it less hardcore than my wife, and I have guilt over that. But I'm trying! <<

Guilt is just going to screw up your relationship with food and your body. Possible approaches:

* Look for one thing to replace, such as using fruit as a dessert.

* Look for places where adding a plant will improve the results. My favorite more veg idea: when making ground meat filling (e.g. taco filling) replace half the meat with either mushroom or onion, or use one third of each. I'll probably never make plain meat again, the other versions are all way better.

* Taste test substitutes for refined sugar, like applesauce or banana. Zucchini milk can replace most or all the dairy milk in many baked goods. Different things excel in different recipes.

* Get some cookbooks or magazines, go over them with your wife, and pick things to make together. My partner and I do this; it's lots of fun. My best new recipes from last year are here.

>>I hope I can find some writing inspiration.<<

allbingo posts a new fest every month. All fandoms and formats are welcome.