Alright folks, let me tell you about my “2021 colorful” project – a year-long dive into personal growth and trying new things. Buckle up, it’s a bit of a bumpy ride!
It all started with me staring at my reflection on New Year’s Day, feeling…blah. I realized I was stuck in a rut. Same routine, same habits, same everything. So, I decided, “Screw it! 2021 is gonna be different!”
Phase 1: The “Throw Spaghetti at the Wall” Approach
My initial strategy was basically chaos. I signed up for everything that remotely interested me. Online pottery class? Check. Intro to coding workshop? Yep. Learning to play the ukulele? You betcha. I was a busy bee, buzzing around with all these new commitments.
The pottery was a disaster. My “vase” looked more like a lumpy potato. The coding workshop was mostly me staring blankly at the screen, feeling like everyone else understood binary except me. The ukulele? Let’s just say my neighbors weren’t thrilled.
Phase 2: Realizing I Can’t Do It All
After about three months of this manic energy, I crashed. Hard. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and feeling like a failure. I hadn’t mastered pottery, coding, or the ukulele. I’d just wasted a bunch of time and money.
That’s when I had a come-to-Jesus moment. I couldn’t do everything. I needed to focus. I sat down with a notebook and made a list of all the things I had tried. Then, I ruthlessly cut it down to the things I actually enjoyed, not just the things I thought I should enjoy.
Phase 3: Doubling Down on What Worked
Turns out, I actually liked writing. Not the fancy, literary kind, but just putting my thoughts down on paper (or, you know, a Google Doc). So, I started writing every day. Just for 30 minutes. No pressure, no agenda. Just writing.
I also discovered I enjoyed hiking. Being out in nature, breathing the fresh air, getting some exercise. It was a great way to clear my head and de-stress. So, I started hiking regularly, exploring new trails and pushing myself to go further.
Phase 4: The Unexpected Benefits
Here’s the funny thing: Focusing on those two things – writing and hiking – had a ripple effect. My mental health improved. I felt more confident. I even started sleeping better. I wasn’t a pottery master or a coding whiz, but I was happier and healthier.
Lessons Learned:
- Don’t be afraid to try new things, but don’t try to do everything at once.
- It’s okay to quit things that don’t bring you joy.
- Focus on what works for you, not what you think you should be doing.
- Sometimes, the biggest benefits come from the unexpected places.
So, that was my “2021 colorful” project. It wasn’t perfect, and it definitely wasn’t always easy, but it was a valuable learning experience. And who knows, maybe I’ll pick up the ukulele again someday… but probably not.