2013 and Me!

January 16, 2013

It’s the time of the year when we assess what we have accomplished last year and what we would like to accomplish in 2013. What are my goals and how shall I move towards attaining these goals? Other than the Internet, where can I go for assistance? The answer is right in front of me, the LIBRARY! I have to admit, I am not a self-help book reading individual, nor do I particularly enjoy reading nonfiction in general. I will scan through books of interest that cover specific areas. For instance, I am always endeavoring to improve my organizational skills; I discovered Emile Barnes while perusing the library shelves.

Some of her titles which addressed organizing are:

• The Quick-Fix Home Organizer
• The One-Minute Home Organizer
• 101 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter
• Simply Organized

For some reason, Emile Barnes appealed to me, and I have read many of her other titles not related to organizing.

Like so many people today, I am concerned about my budget, so I have scanned that area of the library shelves. I have read books by Larry Burkett, Suze Orman, and Dave Ramsey, all of which are at the Library. I have been a subscriber to Larry Burkett’s website, as well as currently with Dave Ramsey. I have, as a result, made some wise choices as of late and feel better able to cope with my finances.

Another goal is to complete my needlecraft projects and to organize the subsequent paraphernalia. My fabric and yarn piles are overwhelming! Fortunately, the Library even has books about organizing craft rooms! I can’t believe it, but it’s true. Try Organizing Your Craft Space by Jo Packham and Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Prato. I also subscribe to Ravelry.com, a knitters website. I can gather all my wools together and then list them on my account together with the information regarding each yarn. How cool is that!

I need to lose weight, and the Library has some great DVDs and nutrition, diet, and cookery books. According to my doctor, I eat healthy foods; I just need to control my portions (oh my goodness, he is so right!) and exercise more. I have hated exercise ever since my high school days. It’s so organized! I prefer a nice ramble in the country. Prior to working, I walked 9 to 12 miles a day in the summer, now I walk to my car! I need to make time for myself and walk more. Watch out for me when we have our walking program this year!

I participated in the NaNoWriMo program at the Boardwalk Branch this past November and really enjoyed the whole process. For those not in the know, it is a program for aspiring writers. However, I allowed my peripheral life to get in the way of completing the writing process. This year I plan on continuing to write at least once a week. When I'm finished, I'll explore the shelves of the Library to find books about having your works published. Click the link to see these books about electronic publishing.

I hope to also be nicer, kinder, and more understanding of my fellow human beings and not to participate in gossip. Gosh, that last item is really hard! How accomplished I will feel if I complete all my goals! In truth, just one goal scratched out is an achievement; my list is bottomless!

I hope you have fun working on your goals list this year.

Joyce D.
Boardwalk Branch