New Years Resolutions Rethink

Hello!


It’s been a bustling week with a return to teaching. No big reflections or thoughts at the moment. Though one thing that keeps percolating in my mind, this year in lieu of making sweeping new years resolutions, I have decide to focus on leaning into tangible ways to explore my values.


Last year I focused heavily on beginning new projects, that the “what” of my resolutions still just feels like a roll over from last year — and I’m fine with that. Starting a new queer periodical, learning drag make-up and creating a drag persona, continuing to progress as an educator, expanding my private lesson base, and building capacity into my community. Many of these endeavors could take years to fully actualize. Honestly, I find joy in that!


While I wait, it is a matter of stay along the path of my vision, to maintain my trajectory. I do not want to make it about motivation, efficiency, or productivity— though those are important qualities, and should be incorporated as a natural part of longevity and sustainability. As a person with ADHD, I am still learning to navigate my life and dreams. This wayfinding is something I’d like to do authentically. That has meant focusing on how I’d like to get things done, and also the emotions and feelings that come from being process-oriented.


Leaning Into My Values
To orient myself in a process-oriented way, I’m leaning on my values to guide me.


1)Authenticity:It is a matter of being willing to show up however I am that day, tired/ugly/hungry/energized/pleasant/grumpy/mellow all exist for a reason! Honoring how I feel that day is a matter of self respect, even if that is vulnerable.


2) Aliveness: is an interesting one, how to describe feeling alive? It’s a very felt sense of peace, joy, enjoyment. A friend once said it’s like those days where you’re setting in the sun and for some reason it just feels extra good. It is slowly becoming an integral quality which I seek.


3) Moving slowly: historically a weak point for me, but in moving too fast I chose to be focused everywhere but the present. This time around, I’d like to do a better job at seeing what’s right in front of me.


4) Adopting a beginners mindset: I’m still exploring this one. In situations that can feel so familiar, mundane, redundant, I try picking out the process again like it is the first time. Teaching provides this value with an advantageous perspective, many times for students it is their first time doing something! And in the space of the beginning is innovation, joy, and curiosity!


The Rethink
To all the projects ahead, I’m challenging myself not to focus on what I achieve this year but on the quality and authenticity of how I achieve it. It’s a bit of a rethink, and I’m curious to see how leaning into these values will shape the journey.


What values are guiding you this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts.


With radical love,
DG