I’ve started 2021 with a single thought: less is more.
Normally I’d start the year with a giant list of goals, planning to make my year amazing by accomplishing a million things.
But if my years of writing have taught me anything, it’s that one rarely finds success by continually chasing after something new—more often than not, what we needed was something we already had… we just didn’t realise it at the time.
If you’ve been around a while, you’re probably familiar with the lists of 100 goals I’d write every year. And saying, “But you missed 2018!” And —2018 indeed came hot and heavy; I wasn’t in any position to commit to a list that ambitious. And I could probably say the same now—with a bigger and better Live from the 3.5 than ever, Chatting with Casey picking up steam and a slew of other things in the works, I likely wouldn’t be wrong. But if you’ve been around a while, you’ll probably know my Achilles heel—much like Marty McFly, I can’t turn down a good challenge.
Welcome to The 2019 200—Because When You Skip a Year, 100 Just Won’t Do!
It won’t be easy, but I’m working a lot harder than I used to—and smarter, too.
With so much going on in my life, slowing down ain’t much of an option, and my to-do lists are the things that keep me going. But I’ve mostly kept them to myself as I work on all the things—I think it’s time to make ’em public again so there’s a chance I can get everything done.
So without further ado, let’s dive into The 2019 200—because no one creates anything innovative without pushing some boundaries first!
The 2019 200—The List
So first things first—two hundred items make for a really long list, so I knew no one was about to read this thing if I just put them together without any order. What I needed to do was write the 200 items out first, and then find some way to categorise them so they’re easier to keep track of.
And the easiest place to do this? Excel. Not only could I easily keep track of how many items I’d put together with a simple numbering column, but when I was ready to categorise and prepare for the final list, it was a simple sort away!
But you’re not here for any of that; you’re here for the list. So let’s do this!
Unless my life sees some major changes this year, 2017 may mark the last list of 100!
It’s January 13th—I’ve spent nearly two weeks of my new year agonising over 100 items that matter enough to hit a list of goals and aspirations for the year ahead. And that’s a key difference from the lists that came before it.
Before it was a task list—I’d look around at everything that needed doing and jot it down, because my life would obviously be better with them out of the way.
But task lists aren’t inspiring. They’re not motivational. As a creative, that’s like dropping a pile of 100 things I dread on my lap and nagging myself to get ’em done by the year’s end.
Once I realised what I was doing to myself, so much so that I just went through my least successful year yet for my list, I knew I needed to make a change for 2017.
I’m particularly proud of the list I’ve put together for The 2017 100. I didn’t take any shortcuts—I wrote out 100 things that’d help me live the life I’d like to lead and prove instrumental along the path there. Rather than hurriedly scrawl out a list I’d likely ignore ’til December, I wrote one that I’d happily check off, knowing that each accomplishment would take me a step closer to a far better 2018. I feel like I’m finally getting it right this time, and I hope that shines through as you give it a look for yourself!
But that’s enough of my chatter—I’ve already made you wait long enough. Here for your consideration is The 2017 100—because it’s not what you do… it’s how you do it!
So somewhere in my crazy mind, I’d convinced myself it’d be a good idea to write my wrap-up for The 2016 100 all as one post, because I’m always so curt with my posts, of course. A few days of working on it quickly killed that idea, and here were are with the second part of my wrap-up, covering the things I didn’t get around to in 2016, but still plan to manage this year, as well as my reasons why.
(Note: You will see these in some form in The 2017 100, so you know—don’t be too surprised.)
What I Didn’t Do, But Still Want to Do Next Year
7) Stop biting my nails—Ugh. What I probably need to do first is reduce the amount of stress in my life to get a better chance of dropping this disgusting habit. I had a good run early in the year, but hey. Maybe I’ll have better luck this time! 8) Get rid of the wedding thank you cards I never sent—I don’t think those past thank you’s are getting sent. It’s just… not something I’m doing. Instead, I think I’d love to start sending Christmas letters with some personalisation. I’m not a complete jackass, guys, but there needs to be a point where we agree to move on. 13) Sort out my old TD employee RSP—Any outstanding finances in general, really: part of being an adult is knowing how much your insurance will pay out. What your benefits cover. What’s in your stock portfolio. 2017 Casey Palmer needs a better handle on all this kind of stuff!
14) Consolidate everything down to a single notepad—I mean, you don’t see the magic happening, but my desk and dining room table are plastered with pages of notes as I draft out my posts. Will it happen? Maybe. Do I want it to? Oh heck yes ?
January’s a time for new resolve and resolutions—even for those of us who claim we don’t make any. Flipping the calendar to a new year does something to us, giving us a figurative reset button—a chance to do away with unneeded things holding us back and try once more to become the people we’re meant to be.
Netflix Canada was right on track with their January prompts, asking the Stream Team to outline some of their resolutions for the year ahead!
Now, if you know me, you might find this a tad problematic—after all, it’s already tough enough for me to come up with 100 new resolutions every year—so I thought up some ways I could still join my Stream Team peers as they geared up for a new year with new views.
First, I thought to give my family some resolutions of their own, little things they could do to make all of our lives easier. However, Sarah reminded me that unless I yearned for permanent residence on the living room couch, that might be an approach to reconsider. (Don’t think I won’t get you to stop throwing your toys, though, Little Man!)
Then I considered resurrecting an old blog idea of mine and repurposing it—”I Don’t Do Resolutions”, a tongue-in-cheek ode to those who believe themselves so perfect that they don’t need some self-reflection to see what they could do better… but my heart wasn’t in it, preferring to focus on what good I can do in my life over the ills people focus on in theirs.
Finally, I did the only thing I could—write a post about Netflix Canada and a little black box, telling the story of how they’re changing my life with far more than shows.
What’s small, comes in a black box, and can replace three consoles and fifty games with its Netflix app?
I joined the Netflix Stream Team at a strange time—twoposts in and it was Year Three, where the stakes were higher and our digital media benefactors aimed to immerse us even deeper into the sheer wealth of programming they offered. There was plenty right in line with my interests for a better 2016, like Soul Surfer which I’d seen before at a church retreat; and the Planet Earth collection, once owned on DVD (you know—back when optical media was the thing), but it was the Year Three Stream Team welcome package that’d change everything.
If you follow anyone else on the Stream Team, this’ll be far from a spoiler for you, but I don’t think you realize how happy I was when I came home to the 4th gen Apple TV released last October and a Sony HT-CT80 Sound Bar to give my TV a much-needed upgrade. Many would simply see this as yet more cool swag that’s par for the course with the #BloggerLife, but for a couple of parents quickly realizing that kids and really good at taking up space with hordes of stuff… every little victory we can get to reclaim some space is more than welcome!
41) If we’re just using it to watch Netflix ANYWAY, replace the Playstation 3 with an Apple TV or Roku 3 or SOMETHING.
It’s been nearly five years since we got married — five years since my baby brother got me a Playstation 3 as a wedding gift, thinking it was the best thing in the world. I remember making an EB Games cashier’s day with the stack of games I bought shortly afterwards, getting ready to game like the good ol’ days, where I’d bask in the TV screen glow well into the night.
But Casey the Husband is a far cry from the man I’d been as a bachelor, all that free time finding ways to fill itself, none of it including animated avatars trying to complete complex three-dimensional puzzles on my screen. And once kids came into the mix years later, my consoles, games and DVDs were little more than eyesores, eating up precious energy and space that could be put to such better use.
So while I’ve little to offer Netflix Canada as far as new resolutions, I’m happy that they’ve helped me knock one off my list that’s sure to keep on giving as this family keeps growing!
And as for you out there in need of a solid fix when there’s nothing good on cable, don’t fret—Netflix has plenty planned for the year ahead… but why not start with some of what you can expect this February?
That said, The Making of a Murderer‘s not going to watch itself, so I’d better get back to it!
Happy streaming, tout le monde, and I’ll see you when I look at you!
Until the next,
*Disclaimer: I’m a member of the Netflix Stream Team, a group of bloggers posting monthly on the new things Netflix has to offer, which often involves interesting monthly packages promoting their freshest shows and movies! I just tell my family I’m watching copious amounts of TV for work. They buy it. For now.
Tell your wife, tell your kids, tell your husbands:
