2023 Goals

Hello!

Feel free to chime in or not. I just wanted to create a place to gather my thoughts & progress (or lack thereof) for my goals in 2023.

Last year my goal was to read 30 books & I ended up reading 80, so I wanted to hopefully ride that positive momentum.

This year my goals are:

1) use up as many of my notebooks, sketchbooks, & tablets as I can (currently numbering 53).

2) do my past years’ taxes. I’m not sure how many years I missed or if I’m still able to get the stimulus, which is why I’m doing it.

3) organize my death. I’m thinking about a binder that I’ll review yearly, but I also know there are kits you can buy (my manager is using nokbox, for instance).

Lose weight, get healthy. on my way down 7 lbs.

Checking in. Making baby steps. I’m thinking of updating this thread at least monthly with my progress, or lack thereof:

1) I ended up recycling one very small 3”x5” homemade notepad I made from scratch paper, so I’m down to 52 notebooks, sketchbooks, & tablets to be used up now.

I’ve been thinking of ideas for the rest, including copying my favorite coloring book pages onto them with some carbon paper I bought years ago at a thrift shop & never used.

2) I’m starting my tax goal by trying to get 2022’s taxes out of the way via freetaxusa.com. It was free for federal; state was $14.99. I’ve never used them before.

Last year I used TurboTax & it was perfectly fine (if I remember correctly). Federal was free & I think state was $50, I don’t remember. This was after trying trying & failing to do it for free from the sites either irs.gov or my state’s website suggested.

Well, I’m having a problem already. My federal return is getting rejected for an “Identity Protection Personal Identification Number” (IP PIN). I don’t know it. So I’m trying to get it from irs.gov & it’s a real pain in the buttocks.

I would be tempted to go back to TurboTax, but freetaxusa.com already charged me. Of course. My taxes are very straightforward though, so there’s that. I will try again tomorrow to get the IP PIN from irs.gov.

In looking through my accumulated tax documents, it could be I didn’t file 2018, 2019, or 2020? It’s okay I think, since I had no income, but I don’t think I got my stimulus checks either?

I have w2s & tax returns dating back to 2002. I think I can shred most of them. I had thought you were supposed to hold onto them for 7 years, but I’m getting conflicting information from the internet. Imagine that.

3) Looking at my library system’s website, I found 2 books about death planning & put them in my to be read pile. I already have a binder & (maybe) plastic sheet protectors I can use for this.

Geez its like you read my mind.

All of the above are kind of on hold as i de-hoard. Yesterday i did half of the foyer. It was kind of amazing.

So, my goals are:
I want to start a healthy diet
I want to go to the gym
Start reading more
To organize more pleasures for myself, to travel more

March update:
1) I’m currently reading a library book about different journaling techniques. Some ideas I’ve had are: copying coloring pages into empty sketchbooks (artprojectsforkids.org & supercoloring.com both have the fine art/famous painting coloring pages I love for free), a daily dream diary with room for notes & drawings, & a daily doodle book. I’ve made more in depth notes about format based on previous attempts of the last two ideas in my current dot journal.

2) I successfully retrieved my IP PIN from irs.gov & filed my 2022 taxes. Both federal & state refunds are showing in my checking account as of 2/28. I determined, of my previous years’ unfiled returns, only 2020’s needed to be filed in order to get my missing stimulus checks. I filed for 2020 & see that my missing stimulus checks are pending deposit in my checking account with a possible deposit date of 3/8. I shredded tax records from 2014 & back. A lot of feelings came up looking through the old paperwork, but I think this just about puts this goal to rest?!

3) I found & gathered together binder, plastic sheet protectors, and dividers I already owned so I didn’t have to buy anything. I checked out one book from the library about death planning, but I haven’t started reading it yet.

I’m feeling good enough about my progress so far.

I just remembered another idea for my first goal: keeping a work journal.

Good going, Float!

I have a million little things to do. So i feel pretty good about myself if i do a few things in a day.

• I'm hoping to lose weight (I've already lost almost 30 lb, goal is 50!)
• start exercising and improve my fitness (I've been exercising every day so I'm hoping I can keep improving)
• get back into art and painting again as a good calming activity
• spend more time outside enjoying fresh air
• get into a second-degree program

April update.
1) I’ve been keeping a work journal & I’ve filled 12.5 pages so far. I read a book about art journaling. I’m going to try some stenciling with homemade stencils in my sketchbooks. I’m excited about that.

2) The tax stuff is all done. The returns & stimuli have all been successfully direct deposited into a bank account. This goal is officially complete!

3) I finished reading the first library book I checked out about death planning. I’ve got a list of documents to assemble. I’d also like to rollover a retirement account from a previous job into my current retirement account.

I’m an organ donor, & reading this particular book made me realize that in order to get most of my organs donated, I will have to die in the hospital. It’s kind of obvious now that I think about it, but that hadn’t occurred to me before.

I’m not into tattoos because I’m a commitment phobe, but this book also gave me an idea for a tattoo I’d like: DNR. It’s an acronym for Do Not Resuscitate. Also, my signature underneath. They have DNR jewelry, but I don’t wear jewelry.

That’s all, folks.

May update:
1) I made it to 16.25 pages in the work journal before pooping out. 24.75 pages are left in that notebook. I’m not sure if I’ll continue writing it. I haven’t reread what I wrote to determine the value of it.

I’m feeling inspired by a rug based on the artwork of artist Alexandra Grant for making stencils in my sketchbook. There are 47 pages left in that sketchbook. Cutting stencils is time intensive on the front end, so it’s slow going.

I used a couple sheets of notebook paper for my other goal, writing down account information for my death binder. That will probably use up a couple more sheets as well once it’s complete.

I dug out a composition book I had just started to document my knitting projects years ago that has barely been used. It has maybe 98 pages left. I like to rewrite commercial patterns to make them easier for me to follow.

2) The death binder is coming along at a glacial pace. As long as I’m moving forward it’s all good, but if I would just buckle down, I’d knock it out! I’m not feeling motivated though. That’s why this thread is a helpful reminder…

As the year 2023 nears the halfway point (already!), I’m feeling a desire to renew my dedication to my remaining 2 out of 3 goals. Part of which is restating for myself why I want to do them in the first place:

Goal # 1) I want to use to use up all the tablets, notebooks, & sketchbooks already in my possession because these are objects I have over bought in the past. So my aim is twofold: use what I have, and hopefully curb this desire to hoard more.

Goal # 2) I want to create a death binder to prepare in a practical way for my death. I want to make my passing as hassle free as possible for my potential heirs. I want to take care of the bulk of it now, just in case, and then do updates as needed.

I will continue working throughout the week, but then dedicate Saturday mornings, after running errands & before lunch, as a time to focus on my remaining 2 out of 3 goals as well.

I will also start making a weekly post here, updating my progress or lack thereof. Today I spent 1.5 hours on my goals. I filled one page in my knitting notebook & I wrote out a list of 15 more things for the death binder.

A quick update:

1) The only pages I (started) to use are for my second goal. I did do some knitting yesterday & today, but not enough to use any pages of my knitting notebook. I checked out 4 audiobooks from my library’s book lending app to listen to when I do work on this goal though.

2) I crossed off two things on my list for the death binder, leaving 13 things, total. I’ve started on several more tasks & I have some follow up ideas for a couple more.

So, not bad. Chipping away at them, slowly but surely.

Another quickie update:

1) I finished one hand drawn/hand cut stencil & so far have drawn one more, with plans for a third. I have a plan for 12 sketchbook/art journal pages for June. I’ve done a lot of knitting today, but not enough to fill any pages of my knitting notebook.

2) I didn’t work on this at all this week. I’m stuck on asking my siblings for their ssn’s, email addresses, & ??? to be able to list them as my beneficiaries on my accounts. We’re not estranged; I just feel awkward because we’re not close. There are other things I could be doing in the meantime though.

Update time.

In summary, I’m stalled (at best), but I’m not freaking out about it. That would be a waste of precious energy.

Goal #1) I’ve gone backwards a bit. I “rescued” 19 sheets of pristine white gorgeous card stock from going into the recycling bin at work. I have a weakness for paper, I know. Once I complete this goal, I’m thinking I won’t even bother buying another tablet, notebook, or sketchbook again. I’m so good at finding quality random papers for free.

I reread what I wrote in my work journal and decided at this time it’s not helpful to me. I can definitely see where if there’s a chronic problem at work, it would be helpful to keep, as far as establishing a chronology though. I’ll try using the rest of that notebook for other work notes. Specifically, prices will be going up soon & I can never remember them unless I write them down.

Stuff I’ve been learning about myself so far in regards to this goal:

I prefer wide ruled paper to college ruled because I like that extra room. I should probably wait until I’m finished with a tablet, notebook, or sketchbook before I add page numbers because I like to rip out pages and then the page numbers don’t make sense. Any sketchbook smaller than 9” x 6” is too small for me.

Goal #2) I’ve been rehearsing in my head asking my siblings for the information I’d need to set them up as the beneficiaries of my accounts in the event I cross the rainbow bridge before them. Maybe reading another book about death planning will help reinspire me to want to get back to making headway with this?

Updates:

1) Used up a few pages in my work notebook making myself some cheat sheets for some upcoming price changes. I didn’t do most of the sketchbook pages I had planned for June in my art journal. I’m having a real block in regards to that, but I’m staying curious about it rather than feeling discouraged.

2) Checked out another book on death planning from the local library system that is giving me more ideas of stuff to work on. Already one of my accounts has changed. My credit card informed me it was going to start charging me 8 bucks a month for the privilege of using it, so I shut that down. I got used to that cash back though, so looking for a new one is on the to do list.

August update:

1) I read a book about how to make your own art journals and it inspired me to start using up some of my larger sketchbook paper. I’m thinking 9”x6” is a good size for me. I have several sketchbooks that are 9”x12”, so I can use the paper as is: you fold it in half and sew down the middle. I don’t see myself ever sketching on large sheets of paper ever again, so this might be a good way to use it up? I’ve already folded 15 groups of 4 sheets each for a book of 240 pages. Next, I sew…

2) Taxes! Here I thought I was done, but the IRS sent back an electronically filed 2019 return for a lack of signature. I thought that was interesting since I didn’t file a 2019 return (I was unemployed). They 1st sent it back April 2022, but they sent it to my physical address where I don’t get mail delivered. This month they sent it to my P.O. Box (the correct address). It doesn’t affect anything for me, I already got all my stimulus checks, I just thought it was weird…

3) I finished reading the 2nd book about death planning. It’s really been educational—I had no idea how much goes into it, even for someone like me with a very uncomplicated life. I’ve been working on writing out more of my financial information. I’ve got envelopes and self addressed stamped envelopes for when I write my siblings for their information to set them up as beneficiaries. I still haven’t done that yet. I’m thinking of buying myself a treat when I do, because it’s been such a sticking point for me.

In general, I think I’m going to go back to making only a monthly update on my goals rather than weekly updates. Weekly updates are just too much for me. So, see you in September!

My goal is to at least start on my estate plan. I have already paid an estate planning attorney who is a friend of mine and who gave me a F&F discount but I have not begun working with him, in part because there are some uncertainties that need to be resolved for us to start the work. I did write a will, had my psychiatrist and a former roommate sign as witnesses, had the psychiatrist write a letter saying that I had testamentary capacity in his professional judgment, and sent both documents, the handwritten will and the psychiatrist's letter, to my son. The will is a stopgap measure until I have an estate plan. I am in good health and this is in case I get run over by the proverbial bus.

I am very interested in death planning and will be reading your thread @FloatThruThis as you progress.

Thank you for posting Tart Cherry Jam!

Well, I finally wrote out a letter to send my siblings to be beneficiaries on my accounts. I usually clean Sunday mornings, but a family member I live with has been ill and was lying down in another room, so I didn’t want to be making a bunch of noise; it was a perfect time to just get this done, finally. I’m copying it here for future reference:

“Dear [sibling name],

How are you? I am fine. I am writing to ask if you would be a beneficiary on my retirement accounts & bank account?

I have 2 retirement accounts: an old one through [financial institution] from when I worked at [former employer] & a current one through [defined contribution plan] from [current employer]. My bank account is at [bank name].

If you would be a beneficiary, all I need from you is your social security number & your email address. You can think it over; there’s no rush.

Thank you very much.

Love,
[my name]”

I will also include a self addressed stamped envelope & sheet of paper where they can just write their information & drop it in the mail.

Hi FTT, I smiled to see you offered a choice to your siblings to be a beneficiary. I guess they might decline if they don't need or want the money.

It's a very smart move, because pay on death beneficiaries get their money directly without any interference by the executor or probate courts.

This thread reminds me to keep plugging away at my end of life, seriously ill papers. Next up will be my medical directive and medical power of attorney. The model I found was quite detailed, and as I have developed a love of methods the medical profession looks askance at, I want to provide my POA with latitude and permissions, even specific specialists, for various scenarios.

My future worry is finding an attorney to look it over. It's enough of a risk to write this out, I don't want to have to struggle with an "expert" (and pay for the privilege) nor do I want derision (and pay for that, too!).