Reflecting on how intention setting worked for me this year.
This post contains a remediated, curated, and heavily edited handwritten, personal journal entry from October of 2024.
What is in a home? How can I succinctly answer that? Is it the things that led me here? Is it the things I have? Is it what the future holds? Is it the potential therein, maybe the future of potential or potential for future? If future can I understand what that means? Like, I know what home feels like but beyond the emotions therein can I identify what is home? If home is the future and I have the power to shape to shape my future… what does that actually mean? Like I know fate is what we make it, I have the power to shape it anyway I see fit. (Handwritten, Oct. 10th ‘24)
Inspired by the myriad of lists I had seen on my feeds at the time I opted to try my hand at creating my very own. Initially I sought out to have an equal number of Ins and Outs and I quickly abandoned such goal.
Outs:
Caffeine
Doom Scrolling
Video Streaming Services
Amazon
Surrendering to the unknown
Each of my Outs had a goal I sought out or hoped to achieve.
Caffeine
I had hoped to find a way to reduce my consumption to the point of breaking dependency and although I have succeeded in some regards and no longer find myself consuming multiple energy drinks a day or sometimes not even one at all. I still am consuming upwards of two cups of coffee a day. A change I am happy to have accomplished and hope to continue pursuing further into 2026.
Doom Scrolling
Separating myself from my phone and breaking the cycle of vapidly consuming copious quantities of dreadful content was a goal I sought out through the act of erasing my social media footprint. Finding myself now in a place where I have recreated some accounts and am exploring a relationship with these platforms, beyond abstinence leads me to wanting to leave this one as well.
Video Streaming Services
Looking back I am truly uncertain what my end goal here was, mostly in the context that after canceling the ones I had I found very little difference in my behavior or content consumption patterns. I do not think this one will follow me into 2026
Amazon
Separating myself from using Amazon as my primary shopping platform has certainly been a change of pace and my budget certainly thanks me. However, I have unfortunately found that complete separation simply is not entirely possible as a number of goods I require especially for Lake lack a retail outlet. This one will continue into 2026 as I do hope to find other ways to acquire his foods and treats elsewhere.
Surrendering to the Unknown
Surrendering to the unknown has been interesting. Initially drafted as an expression of not allowing what I do not understand or do not know to dictate my emotions or feed my anxiety. As this year as progressed I’ve come to understand significantly more about how my anxiety spirals are triggered and ways to help break out of the storm that fuels them. Although the work behind this intention is something I do wish to continue I am not confident this phrase serves me anymore.
Ins:
Saying No
3D Modeling
Colored Pencils
DVDs
Books
Camping
Science Experiments
Fish Tanks
Staying Sober
Thrifting
Up cycling
Climbing
Mirror Selfies
Saying No
This was created with the intetnion of setting more boundaries and attempting to put myself first more often. An intention I hope to continue into 2026 as I aim to work more at expressing myself more directly.
3D Modeling
Not terribly deep more an expression of wanting to deepen my love of this artistic and design medium. I wish to continue putting this first as it is truly something I enjoy.
Coloured Pencils
Much like 3D modeling I thoroughly enjoy how these instruments allow me to transform a canvas. I hope to continue exercising this form of artistic expression.
DVDs
Loosely tied into streaming services being out. This one will follow me into 2026 as I hope to broaden and deepen my home media collection.
Books
This was probably the most impactful intention I set. I sought out telling myself one a month would be a lofty goal and potentially even challenging. As I have come to learn as the year progressed I was easily and happily completing at least 2 a month. This is something I hope to continue into next year as well as sooemthbing I have found particularly rewarding.
Camping
I was genuinely intending and hoping I would have been able to fulfill this intention more completely.
Science Experiments
I know what my intention was when I set this. I wanted to amplify my desire to acquire data about my day to day life without a goal as to what to do with said data. I may revisit this but I do not intent to keep it as an “In”
Fish Tanks
I hope to get around to starting up multiple additional tanks. However, to do space and financial constraints I don’t feel this will make it and as such I will be moving and making it a bucket list item for 2026.
Staying Sober
This indeed is something I truly aspire to continuing!
Thrifting
I feel this has become a huge part of how I shop nowadays and although I will continue to thrift frequently I don’t think it iis something I will be striving to do specifially and therefore it will fall off from 2026’s list.
Up Cycling
I think upcycling has changed significantly from my initial intention. Aiming to find run down or damaged items and improve them for myself I found that with increasing frequency I am upcycling for the love of the act and find many items I improve tend to make their way to various people. I do intent to continue this in 2026 and also wish to expand on it by Giving Back.
Climbing
I love doing this regularly but it is still an article of deliberation for me. I have to push myself to go and feel that if I do not set out each week to go I will miss out on my desire to keep with this hobby. It will continue into 2026.
Mirror Selfies
I intend to continue taking mirror selfies! I have genuinely enjoyed feeling proud of how I look and feel and how I dress especially when I don’t end up sharing those images with the world. I do very much wish to continue this.
Bucket List
Having had made a bucket list during the days of Awe I thought it made sense to merge these two notes for the sake of this post.
Solo City Trip (NYC or DC)
This never happened and as such I will carry it over into next year.
Go to an amusement park with Family
Technically a Theme Park but I did do this with my family when I visited FL to celebrate my mom’s 60th birthday.
Break caffeine dependence
I almost succeeded here! However, I found that I cannot function without stimulants. Maybe I’ll talk more about this at a later time.
Make a 3D animation
I only made 2D Sprite sheets this year.
Compose a Song
This did not happen, maybe one day.
Finish a Canvas Art Piece
I did this! I painted the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga at Sunset in Water Colour!
Go Camping
I did this too! I went camping with a number of friends in October and it was a delightful time! I hope to do so again in Spring!
Build a Tool Cabinet
This kinda happened! I sought out thinking I would build a full cabinet but instead I put together a toolbox that I can take with me. Although slightly different from the initial goal I feel comfortable saying I did do this.
Drive in Movie Theatre
This never happened and as such I will carry it over into next year.
Go Bra Shopping
I did this too! It was very uneventful and unremarkable and I think that made it more impactful.
Make my own couch cover
This did not happen but maybe it will I will be carry this over to next year.
Build a CNC Fabric Cutter
Eh idk if this will ever happen…
12 concerts
Financially this became infeasible. However I did attend 6 shows!
12 books
I read 25!!!
Sign up for hive
I did this too!
New
These were added on the New year of 2025
Publish a poetry zine before 30
I kinda did! All of my poetry is available online here for anyone to read!
Go to a swimming Hole
This did not happen but I will definitely be carrying it into 2026.