Mark Twain

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do ...
Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Increase, Decrease, Decrease 2016!

I am not much for resolutions!  In my experience a resolution is good for about 3 days and then it is broken.  I also hate starting anything on a traditional date when "everyone is starting something" - i.e. New Years Day.

It is just a trap, trap, trap!

But this year I am falling into the trap for 3 personal goals. Simply put - Increase, Decrease, Decrease.  I thought I would share them here, because a public admission (and a public flogging if needed) might help compliance beyond 3 days!  Ha!

Goals should be measurable.  Pledging to be a happier person is a wonderful life attitude to seek out, but as a goal ...  how do you measure improvement.  My goals are measurable and I have a tracking system set up.

So here goes with the public pronouncement.

Goal #1
I need to Increase my activity.  Man, I hate this goal.  I have started it over many many times on this.  But I keep trying.  The past year was my couch potato year.  I thought 2014 was miserable for me and 2015 was pretty much a loss as well.  2016 must be more active - mostly because this body I have must last me precisely another 38 years (more on that in goal #3) and at this rate it won't.

Goal #2
I need to Decrease the load my legs haul around each day.  Simply put - lose weight.  I hate this goal, too.  It is so trite and so common and usually so unsuccessful.  But my weight continues to creep up. Sitting on the couch in 2015 didn't help.  I don't care if I "look younger," but I want to feel more energetic.  And if I have another 38 years, it is a long time to feel this way.

Goal #3
Finally, this goal will make some of you smile.  I need to Decrease my yarn stash.  (the operative word is decrease.)  I don't actually hate this goal.  It is clear, however, that my yarn is secretly reproducing while my back is turned  I could not possibly be guilty of contributing to this obsession!  (I am going to have to answer to God at some point for all these lies!  But for now, lying works.)

Here is where the '38 years' comes into play.
  • About 5 years ago I did a yarn inventory, noting type and yardage on an excel spreadsheet.  I owned about 140,000 yards of yarn.  Using a typical measure of knitting up 5,000 yards a year - I could knit for another 28 years without ever buying yarn!  I was appalled!!  Embarrassed actually.  I went on a yarn diet in that moment.  
  • A few years later I updated my inventory and I was bouncing about 170,000 total yards of yarn.  Gads!!!  Epic yarn diet failure!!!  (That was when I decided that I should be buying only male or female yarn.  No more mixing up the sexes.  The yarn was showing no control!!)  I could now knit for another 34 years without buying yarn.  Unacceptable.
  • This fall I updated my inventory - (and by now no one should be surprised) the total was up again.  I now own about 191,000 yards of yarn - and this is with regular knitting and giving away yarn since the last inventory.  Now everyone, all together ... how many years can I knit without buying yarn???       "38 years!"   Correct!  You all are so smart.  :-)    
But ...
Let's get real.
For the record
 I will be buying yarn again!!
  I have a love affair with the stuff. 
It is a hobby that lights up my life. 

I want my yarn stash numbers to decrease or at least stay the same.  This goal will be the hardest one of all.  Like all 'addicts,' I am reducing my yarn temptations. I stopped all knitting magazine subscriptions, I have 'unsubscribed' from all on line yarn vendors, and I am avoiding yarn stores. It is going to be tough, but my hobby should not take up one whole room in my house - and it does!

So welcome 2016!
The year of Increase, Decrease, Decrease!

19 comments:

Michelle said...

Here, here; great goals! I'd love to join you, but that would require doing a fiber and yarn inventory.... ;-)

Una said...

Good aims. I'm permanently trying to keep fit and I have also vowed not to buy any more yarn until my current stock is used up. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Exercise and losing weight...yuck...but decreasing the yarn stash...well that's easy fixed..just knit faster lol.

A Day in the Life on the Farm said...

I have dishes in my storage room that multiply like that....I never thought to separate them by gender LOL. Happy New Year!!!

Retired Knitter said...

Oh my God! Do NOT inventory ANYTHING!! It is a very slippery slope and it does nothing but point out personal deficiencies!!! Hahaha. Happy New Year Michelle. I think it is time for some more bull dog pictures on your blog. :-)

Retired Knitter said...

Una, it appears that I too am "permanently" trying to get fit - as evidenced by how many times I start over with this particular goal. :-) Happy New Year Una.

Retired Knitter said...

Isn't it amazing the things that can be "discovered" when you are searching about for an excuse to camouflage a particular short coming. I am at my MOST creative when I am making excuses. But not my most productive. :-) Happy New Year Wendy.

Lois@Living In Denim said...

You have an addiction to yarn that rivals my addiction to books. :-) As you know I too have added the goal of fitness to this year, although I tie my goals to my birthday rather than New Years. Some how this seems to work better for me. I'll be joining you in the increase/decrease of activity and eating. I refuse to use that four letter word that begins with D. :-)

Good luck on your goals, just keep repeating, I can do it, I can do it. :-)

Happy New Years.

Michelle said...

I posted a cute one on Instagram recently; you can view it by clicking on the Instagram logo on the right side of my blog.

happyone said...

Goal number 3 did make me smile. : )

Paula said...

I have goals for this new year too. And a couple of them are the same as yours. But I am going to vow to eat better and move more. I am not going to call it lose weight or that hated word, exercise! Thank goodness I don't knit so I don't have to worry about that goal. I am going to try to decrease the amount of "stuff" that I own. Then I'll be all ready to move into a smaller house when that time comes. Happy New Year Elaine!!

Retired Knitter said...

Actually, the yarn stash is "fixed" by not buying more than I knit! It is the buying that gets me into trouble. Ha!

Retired Knitter said...

Yes, the D word always sinks my ship. Eating better is the way to go!

Retired Knitter said...

I thought of you when I wrote it! Happy New Year Karen.

Retired Knitter said...

And Happy New Year Lois. It is going to be a very good year for both of us. I can just feel it in my bones. Oh wait, that might be arthritis! Ha.

Retired Knitter said...

Excellent goals. And that de-culturing one was something I focused on during the last 2 years. And STILL, I could do better with that. I will say that of all the goals, de-cluttering gave me the most immediate positive feedback! It made life so much better once the stuff was out the door. Happy New Year, Paula.

Carolyn said...

LOL... I went through most of my yarn when I did some closet cleaning before Thanksgiving. (A bit overwhelming. Donated some. Set some aside to photograph and try to sell.) Despite all that I have a bag of new yarn purchased during my LYS's year end sale waiting by my ball winder and swift. And I just saw an email that told me my latest yarn order has shipped from Webs... Oh, and four lovely skeins were gifted to me at Christmas... Good thing I knit each and every day!
Happy New Year, Elaine! I have a feeling this will be a good year for you and your goals!

Retired Knitter said...

Found the picture. :-)

Retired Knitter said...

Oh my God, Carolyn, after the last 2 terrible years, 2016 better be great. I am totally focused on really great. Happy New Year Carolyn.