The Five Year Plan.

Thursday, July 29, 2010


The other day I was catching up on some of my daily blog reads when I saw this post by The Missus where she detailed what I like to call her "five year plan." Even though I am trying to relax a little bit more on the "planning" part of my life, I think it is important to sometimes stop and take stock of where your life is heading, and to set goals that are attainable but also emotionally challenging. Of course over the years things can happen, and plans most certainly will change, but I like the idea of putting in writing (for everyone to see) what you would like to have achieved in a time period that is close enough in range that you can still remember who you were when you set those goals. I feel like one of the benefits of being in the place in my life that I am right now, is that for the first time I am in a position where I can take some risks. No more do I feel like I have to achieve a set goal for survival,  but rather, now I can work to become the kind of person, and mother, that I have always wanted to be.

So here it is, my five year plan. Some of these goals are pretty inane, but in the end I think attaining these goals them would make for five years well spent.

  • Have another baby (obvious, I know)
  • Finish my novel (I would love to say this will be done by the end of this year, but 5 years seems like a nice cushion at the rate I'm going.)
  • Learn to sew, or knit, or both.
  • Figure our how to cook salmon (I either overcook it or undercook it, which is why I now never cook it.)
  • Throw a "real" dinner party. 8 people, 4 courses. No, I won't be serving salmon.
  • Design (at least on paper) our next home. We plan to possibly renovate a single family in the area "someday" and I would like to one day live in a home when I (ahem we) picked out every single piece in it, including but not limited a bright red front door. And you just know there is going to be some serious navy in that house!
  • Go to the Greek Isles with my little Sis. (Yes, we may  have seen The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants one too many times, but no, that is not going to stop me from going.) 
  • Keep a plant alive for more than three months. Somehow I have been able to keep the LM in tip top shape for 3 years, but any plant that enters this home is dead within weeks of walking in the door. I'm like the Grim Reaper of the gardening world. 
  • Start a small business that I can run from home. I have an idea that involves styling and motherhood, but figuring out what to do with that idea is something that I seriously need to look into. 
  • Keep writing this blog. I know most writers who usually abandon their blogs do so within the first six months, but you never know what will happen when life gets in the way. I hope that in 5 years from now I will still get as much enjoyment out of what has become my very favorite daily outlet. 
  • Spend the better part of the next 1,825 days playing and snuggling with my Little (and Big) men. 
So there you have it. In five years I'll be 36, and I promise to check back in and let you know how I did. Hopefully you will all still be here reading along with me! 

(Photo Credit: From Here.) P.S. Don't you just die for that door? I don't know what it is, but give me a red door and I'm one happy girl. 

5 comments :

Stacie Jean said...

Hi! Can you please by a stylist? I love, love, LOVE your fashion posts, you have such a classic style mixed with a few modern/trendy pieces each season. Huge fan.

Polly said...

Lol at being a plant killer, we seem to have the same problem here!!
I hope that you are well YM.

Shari said...

I found your blog through a friend who also commented here. I'm new to the blog world, and have enjoyed reading yours. I must say I too am a fan of the bright red door. I hope to be following along with you once you finally get yours! Check out my blog at: chicagocuisinecritique.blogspot.com

Jodi said...

The biggest problem a lot of people have is overwatering their plants, which is easy to do I am sure in the middle of winter in boston. If you have any questions about what u r doing wrong/right etc u can ask me that is what I do at work. I use to have a TON of indoor plants until I went hormonally wacko when pregnant and pitched most of them because it was too much work lugging those darn pots around.

Anonymous said...

My 5 year plan includes retirement! Yes, I have only 4 years left to go and I have to say, time has flown by. My girls are now almost 19 and almost 16! It seems like just yesterday I was taking them to the McDonald's play land where they always lost their soothers in the balls and screamed (I never left the house without sanitizer). In 5 years, I hope to have a new front door, travel to Seattle and go on a Mediterranean cruise. I also hope to keep reading your blog as your stories are so inspiring and I love to hear about your travelling adventures with the LM. I still laugh when I think about one of your earlier trips to California. My salmon seems to cook evenly - I think if I don't try, it turns out but when I do try, it isn't as good. Maybe it's the lack of trying? Enjoy your week and stay cool in this heat.

Cdn Mom