Snowflake Challenge 2020 challenge 4

[meridian_rose]

Challenge #4

In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I have been waiting for this question :)


Previous years have made me choose goals that have improved my experience. I decided to leave more comments, as I've written about many times here and at Tumblr. I decided to write down more of my ideas, which didn't go so well that year but which I got better at last year.

Last year instead of a directly fannish goal I chose to be kinder to myself. It proved to be an amazing goal that manifested in ways I hadn't thought of and had benefits I didn't expect. I've talked a bit about that in my monthly personal posts, how not beating myself up over things like a low wordcount let me catch up later, how it led to me to try and tackle being overwhelmed with the two mantras: You don't have to it all at once (and sometimes at all) ; Just do one thing.
That thing might be check one email address or read/respond/delete five things from my DW inbox or write one sentence on a project or sort one box/drawer.

I've thought a lot about what my goal could be for this year and what could possibly be so beneficial as last year's goal, and also what goal would not infringe on being kind to myself.
I don't see these goals as one-off things but as something to build on, and so I didn't want to choose 'be more productive' if that would come into conflict with self kindness. I wanted 'do more of these things/keep doing this things' but not so wishy-washy.
I thought about being more brave but I've posted content anonymously to AO3 when I've wanted to, I've written about asexuality, I've found more peace in reporting and blocking assholes on social media than engaging.
Then in response to a political speech on levelling up, someone on Twitter snarked "what are we, Pokémon?" and I thought hell, yes. I love the idea of levelling up, of increasing stats, of the various abilities each Pokémon has. (I've seen people call birthdays levelling up on Twitter before)

Levelling up is nebulous enough, like being kinder to myself, that it can manifest in a variety of ways I haven't even thought of yet. It lets me say "more of the same" but in a way that sounds inspiring to me. It lets me be braver when I want to, but it lets me decide that being kind to myself is still a big priority that I'm still learning to integrate fully into my life. It lets me choose what areas I want to work on as I come across them; it's a commitment to build upon success and go forwards with a view to do better, whatever Do Better looks like in that moment for that thing.

I admit, despite all the forethought I don't feel I'm currently levelling up. This first week of wet miserable weather, back home after time with the rest of my family, with all the Christmas decorations taken down, where I'm having to catch up on things I let slide/that accumulated during my downtime feels more like keeping my head above water. But that's okay. Something last year's goal taught me was that things are constantly changing and a day of feeling low or a week being unproductive doesn't 'ruin' anything. Accept what you're feeling and keep moving. So long as you keep going and do the essentials, there's tomorrow and next week and next month and things can be better.



img source

Comments

[fadedwings]

♥♥♥ This is awesome!!!

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :D

[writedragon]

I really like the idea of "leveling up". It's similar in some ways to the "Depth Year" I'm attempting this year. As you said, it's an organic outgrowth of where you've been, adding to what you can do and who you are, but MORE (when you can).

I'm seeing a lot of people going for this gentler (and therefore more attainable) kind of intention, and it's lovely.

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :) Depth year sounds great! It is lovely to see people choosing gentle goals rather than strict regimes that lead to guilt/shame if they're not met.

[teigh_corvus]

I love the idea of 'leveling up' with so much flexibility built in to what that *means*. What a cool approach.

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :) I hope it works as well as last year's goal :)

[autobotscoutriella]

The idea of leveling up is a super cool one, and I may start trying to rephrase it that way in my head! (Also, I love the inspiration. Pokémon yay!)

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :D

[bethctg]

Accept what you're feeling and keep moving.

Exactly this. As long as we don't give up, we can improve on just about anything. I wish you all the luck. :)

[meridian_rose]

Thank you so much :D

[octahedrite]

Good luck :)

[meridian_rose]

Thank you :D

[under_the_silk_tree]

I loved your goal from last year of being kinder to yourself. That's pretty awesome advice we probably all could adopt. I least I could. This year's goal of leveling up also sounds good and doable because even with roadblocks or setbacks there is sill a way to move forward within that framework. I am rooting for you!

[luthien]

What a great concept! Wishing you good luck in achieving your goal!