We always celebrate Three Kings Day with my Phoenix daughter and so I was wrapping presents on Sunday when I realized that I am rubbish at wrapping. Really bad. I know why. I'm always in a hurry, always doing too much. I took a picture of my pitiful attempts!
The thing is that I love receiving a beautifully wrapped gift. So this year I resolve I will improve at wrapping. I'm sure there are Youtube videos on how to wrap gifts. I promise to study. And next year the ones with the perfect bows will be mine.
This has made me think of other things I am not good at and maybe could work on. Ironing, for one. No. I am not going to watch videos on how to iron. My motto is "if it creases, throw it out and get another". And Suduku. I am bad at suduku. I don't know why but I just can't do it. I watch other people on planes zipping through a puzzle without putting any alternatives in the squares. And I? I get it wrong three times out of four. "Oh look, I've got three nines in this square."
So now I'm thinking if there is anything that I should resolve to try or achieve this year that I have not tried before. I'm not going to emulate George Bush and try sky diving. I saw a Groupon this week for an axe-throwing class. I was tempted. How lovely to kill someone with a perfectly thrown axe. But I don't think that's me either! Actually can you picture me hurling an axe? I'd be sure to let it fly at the wrong moment and kill the person standing beside me.
But I would like to think of something that pushes me beyond my comfort zone. If my knees are okay maybe I'll hike to the top of Squaw Peak. I've always refused to do it before because it's scary (and steep and no hand rail up the side of a mountain). But I'll try to build up to it (if my knees hold up).
I'm trying to think of something less demanding that I should tackle. A new craft? salsa dancing? I think we should always push ourselves, don't you?
So Reds any resolutions? Anything you'd like to improve at? Try for the first time?
LUCY BURDETTE: I think I agree with you Rhys, that we should be always thinking about expanding our horizons. It’s definitely not going to be a gift wrapping or ironing for me, though I am not good at it either. I’ve even caught John ironing a few of his own things lately, having given up on me!
Aside from the book I am writing, definitely out of my comfort zone, I have been thinking about adding more yoga and more poetry to my life. I went to a new yoga class last week with my friend Steve and we liked it a lot. For poems, I have subscribed to a list curated by Matthew Ogle. (https://tinyletter.com/pome) Every day he sends a new poem. Some of them are impenetrable, but some I like a lot.
And last, my volunteer gig as the secretary and newsletter editor for the Key West Friends of the library will be ending this spring. I’ve enjoyed it very much, but I’d like to do something next that doesn’t involve sitting at the computer. Maybe volunteering at the local animal shelter? I’ll keep you posted...
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: ::sitting here thinking:: ::: sitting here thinking:: Well, I'm already surprisingly good at wrapping gifts and ironing, I must say. (Neither of which is going to get me very far, right?) I love the idea of pushing myself, but--well, you know? Here's what. I am going to try to be more careful about making time for friends. Getting OUT there. I always think everyone else is out there glamming it up, except for me. Still, I think writing books is pretty darn challenging, and becomes more challenging every time. If I can accomplish writing an even better book, I will count my self as . a success. And I don't even have to jump out of a plane, thank goodness, to do that.
HALLIE EPHRON: YES to gift bags. And to reusing them year after year. Because one of things I'd like to do in the new year is reduce my garbage footprint.
This year my husband will retire at the end of the fall semester. There's all kinds of major changes associated with that and my goal is not to get overly anxious about it. I like clarity. Systems! And sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Like driving in fog and only being able to see as far as the headlights...only it's not writing, its life.
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING; Gift bags. GIFT BAGS. Pop the present in, stuff a little tissue on top, takes ten seconds. Plus, they're reusable! At least they are in my house, where I snatch them away from the recipient within seconds of the present being opened and refold them immediately.
The pushing-myself thing I'm going to do this year (beside the ever-green resolve to start and finish a book within twelve months) is organization. Now, I'm good at home organization. My closets look, and work, great. My pantry is neat, and I can find things when I need to. But when it comes to work-stuff? I'm terrible. Because for years and years, Ross did it! He was one of those people who are naturally gifted at office skills: managing paper, tracking appointments, staying on top of communication. As anyone who has waited a week for me to get back to an email can tell you, that is NOT my skill set.
But I need to manage this side of things, for my writing life, for my new teaching gig, and for household and Youngest-related needs (I just spent a half hour searching for financial information to send to her university. It should not be that hard.) Anyone who has tips or tricks, I'd love to hear them.
JENN MCKINLAY: I loathe wrapping. Loathe it. I try to buy things that include a gift wrapping option. Yes, I'm that person who will pay others to wrap. In other self-improvement, I would like to work on finishing the home projects. I like DIY home improvement stuff - love it, in fact - the problem is life interrupts and then it takes me months to get back on task. I started redoing my kitchen cupboards over a year ago. I am 2/3 of the way done, which is stopping me from having a new counter put in or upgrading the appliances. I coulda woulda shoulda had this project done by now, but much like painting the outside of the house -- yes, I did that, too -- it took me over a year to complete. Gah! It's maddening but I refuse to give in. There is no feeling like finishing a major home improvement project that you accomplish all by yourself, at least I think so, it's been so long since I finished one...
DEBORAH CROMBIE: I can actually wrap (although this year Rick did all the actual wrapping and I just did the bows and tags--this is maybe because it after ten on Christmas Eve???) so that one is not going on my expanding horizon list. I think I am on Julia's page, otherwise. I want to do lots of things better, including being more organized, and I absolutely must figure out how to write a book in a year! While not a completely new horizon, that would be one not visited for a good many books!
RHYS: I loved hearing that Hank needs to get out there--come out of her shell a little! Right. Who does more speaking engagements than Michelle Obama on her book tour?
And Lucy, you'll have plenty to do trying to tame that new kitty who has just moved into your home.
I am personally so excited that we have just bought a new house in Phoenix and it's been completely remodeled--everything new, so no home improvement to be done of any kind, Jenn!
Now let's hear from you. What are you daring to tackle this year?
