Setting (and Re-setting) Goals

By Frances Thomas

In our first blog post I wrote: "My hope is that this becomes a space where knowledge can be shared, successes celebrated, and failures viewed with humor." Well, here is a bit of humor...in one of our newsletters in early 2024, I stated the following two goals for the year:
1) Improve my sewing skills. I love making quilts and have made small items – bibs, aprons, simple skirts, and even a pair of lounge pants – but this has been the extent of my skill. I would like to learn to make some serious clothes – shirts, pants, dresses, etc. – and learn how to do zippers and button holes. 
 
2) Make homemade soap. We have a couple of friends who have been gracious enough to let me watch them make soap, but I have not yet ventured to make it by myself. I have been searching for a recipe that uses ingredients to which I have easy access (I love tallow, but cannot always get it) and that I can store for a long time. I think I found a recipe to try. Now I just have to be brave (I am a bit trepidatious about the lye) and do it! 

We are now well into 2025. Did I accomplish either of the above goals in 2024? No. Here is where viewing failures with humor enters. (Insert a chuckle.)

I did numerous sewing projects in amidst the gardening, canning, housekeeping, and starting a new job. I tried several new canning recipes and experimented with making more of our own cleaning and personal care products. I did not, however, attempt button holes or zippers. Nor did I make homemade soap. Should I view this as a failure or as an opportunity to learn something?

Setting goals is important. It gives us something to strive for. What do we do when we don't accomplish those goals? Perhaps how we react to not achieving a goal is almost as important as setting the goal. Do I still want to accomplish the goals I set? Absolutely. Did not accomplishing those mean that I didn't accomplish anything? Certainly not. Last year I took care of the necessities, experimented with other money-saving and health-promoting projects, and learned quite a bit while doing it. 

I did fail to meet those two goals last year, but I accomplished other goals that ended up superseding the two set at the beginning of the year. For example, we were unexpectedly gifted boxes of apples and pears and a bucket of tomatoes at various times last year. My immediate goals became taking care of these items and canning or freezing them so they would not spoil or go to waste. This had to supersede the two goals set at the beginning of the year. Some things, such as produce, simply cannot wait. 

In reflecting on my 2024 goals and my disappointment in not achieving them, I have come to realize that prioritizing is important. I don't regret the projects I completed last year and it would not have made sense to put off taking care of the produce so that I could learn to make button holes instead. This is my take-away from last year: do what is necessary and most needed first. Take care of the produce that will spoil if you put it off, take a meal to the friend who is sick and in need right now, spend time with those who could use a friend. Fit  your other goals in between those moments.

So, my 2024 goals are carried over into 2025. I still count those as goals I want to achieve, but I will not accomplish them at the cost of other more pressing or more important matters, nor will I beat myself up about not getting to them right away. I will simply re-set my goals with the overall aim of doing what is most needed at the moment.

Winter is a good time to review your goals



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