With 2013 well in hindsight now, I’ve been pondering the last couple of weeks on my theme for 2014. If you’re wondering what I mean about a theme, basically it is inspired by the practice of an ex of mine and takes the place of resolutions in the new year. The focus is a concept or idea as a (roughly) year long enquiry. If you’re curious, I blogged about this in more detail last year.

Unsurprisingly, it was lunch with @dilettantiquity that yielded the needed insight into what the last loose ends of Bravery were, and what 2014 was really about, at the heart of it. We have a knack for this with each other, and this year was no exception.

As I write this, I’m sitting on my balcony in my beanbag with my laptop. I’m looking out on my view, appreciating the beauty of the city lights while I contemplate what to write about my theme for 2014, Expedition.

Expedition draws into it all my uncertainty for the new decisions I’ve made for my future and new paths I’m taking. Additionally, it also takes into account that this is something of an adventure, and plotting a brand new course into the unknown, and yet is very firmly goal oriented. I also think that Expedition extends on what I began with Bravery last year, such a challenge and yet left me stronger. In the wake of 2013, I feel like I’ve been forged anew, undergone some kind of transformation and rebirth, with all the messy painfulness that implies.

2014 is about action  more so than feelings as an exploration. For me it’s acting on the emotional intelligence and self knowledge I’ve gained and continually seek out and taking on more goals outside my comfort zone. The discomfort of acting outside my comfort zone is something that was very much a part of last year, but this year rather than just trying things and saying ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’, I’m going for things that I’m much more invested in and passionate about. I’m not trying things on this time, I’m out and out going for something.

What I get from this thought process so far, is that I think it likely that this enquiry will be more specifically goal oriented than other enquiries – but that some of this may only be apparent down the track once I start to check in with things. Meaning, I may add more goals as I go along through the year – we’ll have to see, this is all new to me.

So what does the focus list look like presently then?

• Study Midwifery full time
  • Improve scientific knowledge
  • Improve mathematics knowledge
  • Improve practical skills for science and maths
  • Increase confidence in the areas of maths and science
• Explore employment options while studying full time and internally both short term and long term in addition to midwifery
  • Explore options to get a counselling or psych diploma qualifying me for counselling
  • Explore options with community organisations part time, especially on contract working away from the office
  • Make inroads into doing casual first year tutoring online for university students
• Co-convene a sex-positive furry convention my partner and his fiance
  • This includes assisting with budgeting and programming as well as assisting with discussion moderation
• Pass P-plate test
  • Go on a road trip outside of Melbourne by myself
• Nurture and grow my personal relationships, particularly with my partners
  • Facilitate getting K and Adam over to visit me here in Melbourne
  • Make time and keep making time, and remember to message and call in between
  • Revel in time spent and enjoy each moment with loved ones as much as possible
  • Take care of loved ones and let them take care of me without guilt
• Participate in the Australian Women Writers Challenge for 2014
  • Read 6 books and review 4
  • Additionally, try and read at least 75 books and review some extras
• Discuss and review the media I’m watching including all the critical analysis in my head about it
• Make time for adventures, even if they’re tiny ones
• Blog more, not only in my personal journal as a chronicle and for remembrance, but also here on things and issues that are important to  me
  • Post more links and link salads with commentary
  • Participate in the Down Under Feminists Carnival
  • Blog about exploring Melbourne, with pictures
• Connect with my local community
  • Volunteer with my local Greens group
  • Join my local CWA group
  • Keep  meeting new people in the furry fandom
  • Keep joining in with poly community events
  • Volunteer with Melbourne Supanova
• Attend my graduation for my BA in Gender and Cultural Studies and take pride in having achieved completion of this degree after so much work and dedication
• Cooking adventures!
  • Cook for people to spend time and show care
  • Try new recipes and new cooking techniques
  • Explore cooking in new cuisines
  • Blog about cooking, with pictures
• Grow a balcony garden of greens, herbs and other tasty things and record it using GrowStuff

I think that about does it for what’s in mind for the moment, we’ll see what happens as I check in – I get the feeling that I’ll be doing this much more often this year, but we’ll have to see how that actually works out. I’m both daunted and excited by the prospects for this year and all the things coming up for me!

If you’re also taking on a theme for this year, I’d love to know what it is so either link me to your post or comment about it. Or, if you do something else like keeping resolutions or something else entirely, I’m also curious to know what and how you go about it.

Here’s to a very busy and full on year ahead! I am so ready for this, bring it on.