Welcome 2016

It’s a bright, sparkly New Year full of resolutions that I haven’t yet broken and goals that I haven’t yet failed to meet. When it comes to goals I find I’m rather like Jane Austen’s heroine, Emma, "Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. I have seen a great many lists of her drawing-up at various times of books that she meant to read regularly through—and very good lists they were—very well chosen, and very neatly arranged—sometimes alphabetically, and sometimes by some other rule. The list she drew up when only fourteen—I remember thinking it did her judgment so much credit, that I preserved it some time; and I dare say she may have made out a very good list now. But I have done with expecting any course of steady reading from Emma."

I’m great at writing goals. Thanks to my current work environment, I understand all about SMART goals. (If you don’t know that that means, take a look at Amy Johnson Crow’s wonderful blog post on the subject.) My goals are set up in ways that I could achieve them, but then I don't.  I think one reason is that I like to make grand goals for the whole year. 

So, instead of my usual detailed list of the numerous things I intend to accomplish in all of 2016 I’m taking my cue from Thomas MacEntee’s Genealogy Do-Over and I’m slowing down. I started participating in the Do-Over last year and, as you can see by grand total of 3 related posts, I didn't get too far.  Then life intervened in various ways so I’m going to try again this year. I’m liking the idea of a monthly vs a weekly format. While I’m more of a Go-Over vs Do-Over type, that’s what I appreciate about this adventure. It’s totally customizable.

In conjunction with that I’m Finally Getting Organized with Dear Myrt. I think the two ideas go well together and after reviewing the first week’s checklist I like the additional suggestions geared toward those of us trying to be more digital.

My idea for goals this year is to look no farther than the month I’m in. For January I intend to:

• Participate in the January portion of the Do-Over
• Work through each of the Finally Getting Organized weekly checklists
• Attend SLIG and learn tons of cool things about DNA
• NOT buy any genealogy related book or product

That's it.