Each year I put out a list of goals. Some years I do pretty well, others (2020, for example…) are laughable. This wasn’t a bad year. Three of my four areas show improvement, and the remaining one was such a problem that I am taking steps to fix it now.

Area 1: Health and Fitness

I have lost 40 pounds this year. It’s not a huge number, but I feel SO much better than a year ago. For the specifics on this list, other than using the basics of WW and working toward increasing my steps, I haven’t hit the nail completely on the head.

• Weight Watchers
  • Track
  • Eat breakfast
  • Prep food
• Yoga
• Hit 10,000 daily

Area 2: Mental Health

This year was a bloodbath as far as this goal is concerned. There was my medication switch this spring. I did not do well on boundaries and paid the price. I’m still recovering from all of it.

• Remember that alone time is an important part of my mental health.
• Do NOT overextend yourself (be on boards, volunteer too much.)

Area 3: Painting

• Put out 12 newsletters in 2022 (3)
• Keep my website current (didn’t do as well as I could have on this)
• Write at least 52 posts (43)
• Enter these shows:
  • WSO Spring (yes)
  • WSO Fall (yes)
  • Enter the Equine Art Show (Emerald Downs) (yes)
  • AAEA (yes)
  • NWWS Spring (yes)
  • NWWS Fall (yes)
  • Western Fed (yes)
  • Emerald Art Center (yes)
  • ISEA – International (yes)
  • ISEA – member (yes)
  • Salem Reads (yes)
• June-July Keizer Showcase (yes)
• Apply for Alaska AIR (yes)
• Learn to appreciate my marks (yes, or at least strides)

Area 4: Everything Else

• Stay employed (yes)
• Visit the beach house 12 times (Well, I moved here. Does that count?)
• Reading: Goodreads 2022 Book Challenge – 73 books (87)
• Nosework with Key
  • Practice once a week, outside of class. (Terrible)
  • Work toward:
    • NW3 (got 1.5 legs)
    • L2C (no)
    • L3C (no)
    • L3I (no)
    • L3V (no)
• Participate in the 2022 NaNoWriMo; consider doing some editing on past projects (I chose not to do this)
• Visit the #1 birding spot for each county in Oregon (This is a good goal, but it didn’t happen this year.)

Area 5: The Blog – How’s the Blogging Going (2022 version)

A few people may spot something… Area 5 wasn’t in the 2022 Goals blog post. But each year I’ve ended the year with a post about the blog. This year, I decided to move that separate post into this “big” post.

Nine years, with a decade in view. In 2013, when I started the blog, blogs were all the rage. Facebook had gone big in 2009, and I had joined in 2011. Twitter was around, but not TikTok or Instagram or many of the other social media platforms. Honestly, I think 2013 may be the year, technologically speaking, that I peaked. Like a stereotypical father, I stopped buying new clothes and now me and my blog are terribly unfashionable.

I can live with that.

As with previous years, here is the geeky post about progress and numbers. I like it and it gives me perspective.

Posts and Other Numbers

I’ve decided to incorporate the newsletter into this area. The two areas are related, and it seems like a good idea to review them together. In 2021 I lost a bunch of subscribers because I actually sent out newsletter regularly. This year, with poorer performance in that area, my numbers are back up. It seems (shockingly) that people will sign up for something and then not want it.

Most popular posts (by month)

This was a light blogging year. And though the analytics program I installed this year was an improvement, it still has limitations. Still, I enjoy looking back, so here is what I consider the best posts of the last year.

• January: It Was An Accident
• February: Alaska Application
• March: Significant
• April: Concept
• May: Jean Pederson Workshop – Day 3
• June: Brush Buddies
• July: Flow
• August: The enemy of the good
• September: What I meant to write
• October: Layers
• November: Fallow
• December: Spuddle, Double and Chuckle! Oh, never Subtle.

Conclusion

A few minutes ago, I posted my last blog post of the year. It was pretty reflective; and so, I will leave you to read that post if you need my thoughts on the year.