Kninja Knitter

I’ve been away from this blog for far too long. And yet, I started hundreds of paragraphs in my head over the months. This year I’ve been investing time in several programs that help with goal setting, monitoring and achieving, as well as a few YouTubers focused on decluttering and organizing. While my efforts remain a work in progress, I am coming to terms with my fantasy self.

When I signed on for this particular blog name, I actually had quasi-fictional plans in mind for its use. Every so often, I feel the urge to write a novel. With the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge popping up every November, the urge to leap into a story and draft a book with 50,000 words or more.

Of course, I don’t have any experience with writing a full-scale story, and it’s been decades since I last wrote even a narrative essay. Plus, I get distracted easily. So the idea of writing a novel is very appealing to me. But putting in the effort to see it through isn’t really high on my priority list. So if anyone wants an idea for a story about a woman who knits a complex cable knit sweater in a challenge, please let me know!

Just the act of letting go of that “fantasy self” picture of myself as a novelist is instantly freeing. Then, as I have been working my way through the hundreds of items cluttering my house, I have taken a hard look at other fantasy plans I have fostered over the years. I’m lousy with plants, and yet I’ve purchased all manner of materials to plant and grow greenery that my inner voice knows I’ll eventually throw away after it’s died.

I’m still a long way away from clearing out all of the clutter in my house, but I’ve made some really good progress so far. I used tips from Dana K. White, Cas from Clutterbug and Dawn, the Minimal Mom. And my goal setting and tracking efforts are fueled by a combination of the MäksēLife digital planner and the 12 Week Year. Every step I take that moves me closer to my ideal, which is very different from my fantasy because it’s grounded in the reality of where I already spend my time and money.

One of the key points that a number of sources have reminded me of is that my procrastination stems from a desire for perfection. Heck, the dozens of empty journals I’ve already donated are a clear indication of this truth. I’m drawn to the idea of keeping a journal and writing down my thoughts and feelings. But I perpetually stall when it comes to setting pen to paper and writing! Thankfully the digital version allows me to craft my words and edit over and over as much as I want or need to.

With another calendar quarter coming to a close and a new one about to begin, I am setting a goal to be more intentional with this blog. I don’t have many followers yet, but perhaps if I can step up my game, that could change. I am noting in my Q3 plan a few topics to focus on, and considering a word count goal to add. I’m not a pithy writer like the Yarn Harlot, but perhaps a series of posts could lead to something bigger.

In the meantime, I will leave you with a sneak peek at one of my favorite “distractions” that entered my life this year: my grandson. 😍