goals for 2008: the year of risk-taking
LJ idol topic 15: " My Biggest Challenge"
My greatest challenge is always the one in front of me. There's really no way to compare previous challenges, because I wasn't the same person when I faced them; the very act of facing them changed me. I also can't compare them to challenges others face, because they aren't me. What would be routine for them is a challenge for me, and vice versa. So in a sense, the only challenge that exists for me is the one I am facing at the moment. Old challenges and other people's challenges are good for learning from but otherwise irrelevant.
Right now, my challenge is connecting with the physical world. I have a strange dichotomy of bravery/cowardice: I welcome emotional risk, even seek it out -- hell, I spend all my energy searching for it. I'm an emotional skydiver. But when it comes to the physical world, I flee risk, even the slightest, most inconsequential, like walking in my neighborhood alone (logically, not a risk). I want to change. I want to seek out physical risk -- not inviting harm, but being willing to make small risks for the sake of being connected with the world. I want to make sure that this fear is conquered, so that I can find my opportunities. I need to stop treating my body like it is some valuable to be locked away in a safe while my inner self does the real living; I need to stop the obsessive caution and use my body like the instrument it is. It's not made of glass; if I get injured I can heal. So...
I've declared 2008 the year of risk-taking, and here are my goals (stars by the ones I have already taken steps in, bolded the ones I've done):
- take risks! when I have an opportunity that I am uncomfortable taking, take it!
--- ★ -- longer drives, less familiar territory
--- ★ -- meet more people; get involved with groups
--- ★ -- take the initiative to make plans with friends
--- find local events and go to them, alone!
--- take at least one long bus trip to visit out-of-state friends (I've never taken a bus)
--- go skinnydipping at least once
--- go to at least one concert
--- get passport, travel out of the States! (I've never been out of the US)
--- go to Scotland & Belgium, meet Kate and Meliae, spend time with Hannah and Nick!
--- maybe, just maybe, go skydiving. *eeeeek* - develop spiritually
--- grow closer to God/dess
--- ★ -- practice listening to my spirit and following my intuition!!!
--- write more about my spiritual journey
--- ★ -- go to church more & read more spiritual books
--- visit the Etowah mounds a few times, maybe once a month after it gets warm. - get stronger
--- ★ -- go to curves three times a week, stay active
--- take a self-defense class
--- do the nocturnal treetop excursion in April
--- dance more, maybe start taking bellydancing classes again. - create more
--- ★ -- make more jewelry
--- paint more (get an easel, maybe find a painting buddy)
--- ★ -- photography (take more and especially SHARE more) - decorate myself more; develop a wardrobe that is more expressive of me.
--- get streaks of violet in my hair when it gets to the right length
--- get at least one tattoo!
--- ★ -- get more 'me' clothing and go to the trouble of arranging outfits rather than wearing the easiest thing to put on.
--- ★ -- find more of my meaningful rings and fix my soul ring :-( - bring more love and joy into the world:
--- leave 'you are beautiful' notes, make trinkets to give away
--- ★ -- give genuine, full smiles to people rather than this wan thing I've gotten in the habit of
--- strike up more conversations with strangers - meet more of my lj friends!
--- ★ -- meet at least 5 4 new I haven't before! (met Katie, yay!)
--- visit Kat (once it gets warm)
--- maybe visit Megan & Dee, Ali, Katie, Vee & Nea? too many for one year probably but I'll aim for the stars.
--- meet Ava (and maybe Ry and Dani), maybe during a stopover in NY on May 27th? I may have a 3-to-10 hour stopover, so if you live near JFK airport and wanna meet me, let me know asap because I am (*deep breath*) BUYING THE TICKET THIS WEEK! It's a little cheaper to go through Toronto so if nobody wants to can meet me I'll be going that way instead.
--- any of you *points to flist* are welcome to come visit me anytime, as long as you don't mind sharing a bed or crashing on the couch. *sigh* hopefully this time next year we will have guest space. - Self-educate:
--- ★ -- read 55 books or 17,171 pages this year, keep a running list, and post updates!
--- keep at least a 1-to-4 ratio of non-fiction to fiction.
--- maybe take art classes? or ASL? I want to learn so badly! - ★ -- further develop my soulfriendship with Nimajneb
- create a new soulfriendship or restore an old one.
- find a girlfriend
- ★ -- post WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT, as often as I am moved to do so