Can I be a True Me?

2015!!! You snuck up on me a little too quickly. Usually I join the masses in making a variety of resolutions that I have very little intention of actually keeping. Their purpose is to make me feel like I've developed some form of motivation to finally achieve those life-long goals I've been dreaming about for the past 20 years. In reality, I spend the year feeling more and more depressed about the fact that I haven’t ticked anything off the list and can’t seem to find where I belong. Sound familiar?

After much thought during these past two weeks, I've realised that the problem isn't with my lack of motivation, opportunity, or any other excuse I come up with. The problem is that the list is wrong. I've been writing a list intended for someone else. Perhaps it’s someone I've read about, or a quilter I’m following, or even just a fictional character on TV. The point is that the list is not me. It doesn't reflect my dreams nor my ability to achieve them. It’s a bit like trying to make a beef lasagne from roast chicken ingredients. Yes, you’ll still have a great meal, but it’s not what it should've been.

Toward the end of last year, I started to do a lot of research in to what a blogger should do. I was following the experts and signing up to all the big name blogs. After much consideration, I came to the strong conclusion that none of it was for me. It’s not so much that I don’t agree with the advice out there, I think it’s brilliant, I just don’t want to do it. I’m not having a ‘stamp my little feet’ moment and I certainly don’t think I’m better than those more (or less) successful than me. I just want to be me. I don’t want to write about the same things that everyone is writing about. I don’t want to sew patterns just because it’s from a popular designer. In fact, while I buy many patterns, I rarely actually use them because I like creating my own things…even if they’re not perfect.

Where am I heading with all of this? To be honest, I can’t really give a definite answer right now. I will still be writing patterns (yes, even with the EU VAT debacle that is now in place…but more on that in a future post). I will still be on Facebook and Instagram and joining in all the fun in The SewQuilty Workshop group, but I will be online less and physically doing more. You may now only see me morning and night, instead of all day long (don’t worry, I will still promptly answer any questions directed my way). I want to spend more of my time creating patterns than coming up with new ways to post on Facebook in order to keep my page alive. I have some plans for doing more work in the local quilting community instead of purely online. Most of all, I will be spending much needed time with my wonderful family and enjoying turning this house into a home.  

I hope you stick around to see if I really do turn into a True Me.

What are your 2015 plans?