Search

2017 Intentions

Becky Goddard
Dec 30, 2016
4 min read

It is the end of 2016, one more day left. I have stated before I am not really one for New Years resolutions; don't get me wrong, I am a proactive person, for example I am always writing lists and I like to keep busy. September aka 'back to school time' feels like my new years time (despite being out of education for 4 and half years)! However I do have a few things that I want to explore, improve on and try to break the habit of:

Travel internationally: I want to visit one new country next year, this year I did and it took me by surprise of how different I thought it would be to compared my conceived ideas that I had in my head of what I thought it would be like. I would love to say visit more than one new country but financially at this stage I won't commit to that. I still have yet to visit North America...

Visit places in London that I haven't been to before: When I go to London, I tend to visit the same parts I love and that inspire me again and again, whilst there is nothing wrong with this I do have a hunger to explore other places. I want to visit smaller more niche museums such as the London Cosmetic Museum, The Grant Museum, The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and Natural History, Apsley House & Wellington Arch, I have never been to Kew Gardens which I am a little ashamed of and there is ...also The Barbican Conservatory and Kyoto Garden look like they are definitely worth a visit. The Chelsea Flower show sounds like a dream too but I am sensing that is one for 2018...

Looking at my phone too much: In 2017 I want to spend less time looking at my iPhone. I do not need to pick it up to read my emails constantly or look at Instagram... or Pinterest. When I see friends and family, I will make an effort to keep it in my bag and not get it out. Enough. Alternatively I aim to use this time to read (good magazines, books and newspapers and draw) more on that later.

Sketch books and drawing: I will be honest, I have actually started this one over the last few months. But I want to continue it and try and keep some momentum: I want to be properly creative again how I used to be when I drew every day. It is no secret that I love to draw, I am mesmerised by pattern and I just like making things in general... However since University I have been detached from my creative 'doing' side. On the occasions that I have drawn, I found that I have had little patience and not really felt inspired which is ironic considering I feel like I am constantly looking at other peoples creative outputs and there is plenty of inspiration. Am I over stimulated? Is the internet and all the imagery it holds stifling my own ideas? Any how, it started with drawing and pressing leaves a few months ago and in 2017 I will make pretty sketch books and reclaim my creativity that has been hiding or trapped.

Move about more I am not naturally athletic and I only really like swimming out of the sports, I noticed recently that my iPhone has been tracking my steps. We are supposed to do 10,000 a day, in an office job (unless you walk to work) this isn't going to happen. If I walk my dogs and perhaps go shopping I hit 10K steps or over if not I don't. I would be setting myself up to fail if I declared that I am going to take up running, no chance. Yet what I will strive to do is walk more, taking the dogs further that their 45 minute generic walk, I will also park in the furthest space at supermarkets and walk if possible to avoid the tube. Additionally I want to try something like Yoga or Pilates that I have previously dabbled with but could *** maybe grow to like***.

Continue to read a mix of books: I find it so frustrating when people tell me they don't read or don't really have time to read or have only read 50 Shades series or Harry Potter series. If you have time to watch TV or look on Facebook you have time to read. I understand that it isn't always easy to find books you like and some books you just don't click with (A Level English Literature compulsory reading A Scarlet Letter, comes to mind for me personally). This year I have read widely; a mixture of voices, experiences and places. Some high brow, respected award winning works or other lighter fluffier reads. From each book I have read this year I have learnt something, a new perspective or feeling which has opened my eyes a little wider to the world. In 2017 I want to continue to read in this manner, I already have some great books lined up to read.