I've been laid off my day job.
Since my body (and my mental health) can't handle the rigours of fast food, I will not be going back, even temporarily.
My employers anticipate they will call me back in late March/early April. This gives me just over three months to sit at home and think about life, for the first time since I graduated college.
I have a couple of side hustle ideas. Neither of them will likely replace a full-time income, but if they work out, they'll at least slow the financial bleeding.
That said, this is now a glorious opportunity to work on all those creative projects I keep saying I don't have time for. I've been thinking about my goals for 2025, and I want to front-load the year either hitting those goals or at least getting myself well set up to hit them later in the year (keeping in mind that the summer months from Hell in this town are usually pretty uninspired and dormant seasons for me).
I am trying to frame this as an artistic residency sponsored by God. (And for the record, God may work through other people or through my own efforts.)
So without further ado, here are the goals for 2025!
DANCE
- At least attempt teaching two (or more) dance sessions.
- Make two dance videos this year.
I made this goal in 2023 and got it. Made the same goal in 2024 and didn't even manage one.
- Create a long-form dance work.
The plan is to use Nachmo/National Choreography Month for this (post with more details forthcoming).
- Submit to at least two dance/choreography festivals.
Notice I said 'submit,' not 'appear in.' While obviously I would love to actually present work, I can only control how many festivals I apply to, not how many actually present my work. I always consciously choose goals that I personally can control -- that way if they don't happen, it's on me, and I'm not driving myself crazy trying to check off two 'presentations,' when that facet is out of my control. I want to focus on doing the work and showing up every day and leaving everything I can't control to God. If I submit to two festivals, I will have done my due diligence, and whether or not my work is accepted, I will consider myself happy with the fact that I put my name out there.
- Secure a practice studio.
I have two potential options at the moment. I really just need to gather my courage and send a couple of emails.
WRITING
- Write some short stories/poetry to submit.
Could be tricky, as I have been in a writing dry spell for YEARS at this point.
- Finish the current Kyrie rewrite.
PERSONAL GROWTH
- Go for a walk (or some kind of exercise) at least three times a week.
This is a goal my husband and I have set together.
- Become more comfortable with using that Instant Pot that has been sitting on the shelf literally since our wedding.
This is another goal for both my husband and I.
- Read more.
I've got probably like 70 books in my Kobo wish list, and even a few that I've already purchased that I haven't read yet. I got a Kobo gift card for Christmas, so time to put it to use (as soon as I figure out which Michael Card book I want).
I did make this goal last year and read about six books, which is definitely more than I've read since graduating college.
- More Bible reading and prayer.
I made this goal last year as well and I managed to be fairly consistent until about August.
FINANCIAL
- Save at least $500 for a house.
- Get in contact with at least two people about selling my crocheted items.
- Run at least two dance class sessions.
- Promote my Ko-fi page on social media somewhere at least once a month.
- Apply to at least one job per week.
The hardest thing here will be finding jobs to apply to that 1. are within like 200 km of where I live, 2. pay enough money to cover gas for my vehicle at the bare minimum, 3. won't re-injure my back or my ankle, and 4. won't make me want to drive off a cliff.
It's still early in the pre-New Year week, so I might still tweak these. But this is at least my starting point, and since I'm already off work, I guess the creative residency starts now.
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