Giving Up Goals

When making my list of resolutions this year, a couple of items showed up on the list just as they have for the last decade of my life: “learn to (really) play guitar” and “become a better visual artist.” I’ve puttered around with music and art/design for several years on a project-by-project basis, but I’ve never really dedicated any reoccurring time to improving my skills, always feeling vaguely guilty that I am not any more proficient.

Screw that. This year, I am giving up those two resolutions; I will not become a better musician or artist this year. I’m tired of having these looming life goals that persistently degrade my self-image, especially when neither is particularly important. Naturally, if I have to create something because of a job I’ll do it, but I’m going to specifically avoid trying to create any art or music for the entire year.

Giving up is highly underrated. (Of course, this does mean I’m going to have to fully accept that these guitars are hanging on my wall solely as decoration. Rock!)