This year I actually checked my resolutions list a few times, noticed I hadn't done some things, and decided not to do them. Just in a this year is going nothing like I thought and there's other stuff I'd rather do right now way.
Apart from the obvious unexpected things that we all endured this year, I also moved halfway across the country from a warm climate to a cool one and spent a few weeks on my own, all for the first time. It was really good, but I didn't expect that to happen for a year or two at least!
So this year was really unexpected and I'm not holding myself to last year's resolutions, nor making firm ones for this year. Life circumstances are changing, interests could change, opportunities could change - I no longer have 2020 vision after all!
Last year's resolutions:
Read parts of six books
Didn't do the parts of books or audiobooks that I planned, but I read maybe 11 books, most of them short, and a really long fanfiction series during lockdown (I cannot overstate how long it was). So basically did it!
Reread The Fellowship of the Ring
Nope lol BUT I just got my own copies of the books!! I really hope to do this soon.
Learn Latin prayers and songs
Prayers to work on - The Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, possibly Mass/LotH responses
Songs to work on - Ave Maris Stella, Ave Regina Coelorum, Dies Irae, Sanctus (Mass VIII), Ubi Caritas
Songs to have down - Adoro Te, Alma Redemptoris Mater, Attende Domine, Rorate Caeli, Veni Creator Spiritus
Last year I said I'd like to "become acquainted some common prayers in Latin so I can recognize them and keep up if the need should arise (unlikely but who knows!)." And then I went to an Extrodinary Form Latin Mass a number of times this year! I knew little about the liturgy but could recognize the Gloria/Our Father/Creed/when things would end with a Glory Be, and I learned "The Lord be with you, and with your spirit" and "let us pray" through the context (and the fact that we/the priest said them a million times lol). It was cool but I didn't do much Latin or chant work beyond that, though now I notice above that I did learn Ave Regina Coelorum and Ubi Caritas during Lent and got Alma Redemptoris Mater down during Christmas last year!
Regular Mass/adoration during the week
Joke's on me, there was no Mass for several weeks and I only had an opportunity for weekly adoration post-lockdown in October! Sooo didn't do this at all but it mostly wasn't my fault!
Get a solid wardrobe together
Also didn't get a chance to go clothes shopping until maybe November lol. So no, but I've been able to integrate long sleeve shirts into my rotation so it feels like I have more clothes now.
Improve at cooking
I actually did this!! Most proud of my white sauce and gravy. Still keeping to very simple things but learning a lot and pinning a bunch of recipes. If you have simple meal suggestions you like to cook, let me know!
This year's resolutions:
Read seven books
Might as well keep going up I guess! I'd rather just read regularly but I seem to go in bursts.
Do hobbies
Could be getting back into singing (haven't since lockdown basically), chant, writing, or something new, like embroidery or making paper flowers. Leaving this vague in case my interests or resources change.
Write fanfiction
Okay I am going to put this down though, because I've been wanting to a lot lately and know I have to do a lot of practice to get more comfortable with putting words down.
Regular holy hours
As of right now I have the ability to pray in a church most of the time, so although I'm still just getting back to doing a weekly holy hour, I'd like to do more.
Make friends???
Maybe?? I'd settle for a few people at my new parish knowing my name and face (or what’s visible above my mask)! This is one where if the pandemic stops it, it's not my fault lol.
You know, I think I'm going to leave it there. There are so many things I want to work on that it's probably going to be another interesting year of learning and trying a lot of new things and working to increase my functioning and peace. I very much wish peace and joy in 2021 for anyone reading this! Good has and will be brought out of the trials of this past year, even when we can't see it. God is in control.
If you have goals for the new year, tell me in the comments!
