Reflections on my February 2012 projects

February's a funny month, isn't it? Only a few days shorter than other months (one, actually, this being a leap year), it seems to go by so much faster than the months either side.

Or is that just me?

Whatever. The fact is, today is the last of the month and I haven't achieved as much with my projects as I had hoped. I could give various excuses for this - health reasons, being pregnant, being busy, dealing with the death of an old friend - but I suspect the main reason is procrastination, pure and simple. I just haven't felt that motivated over the past few weeks.

But you know what? I'm not going to beat myself up about it. The idea behind this year of purposeful action was to try new things - and that's what I've done this month. I may not have got very far with some of them, but at least I started.

Here's an overview of what I got up to:

1. Trying out Once a Month Cooking


What I liked: I truly loved this project. Although it was hard work, I got a kick out of all the planning involved. Sad, I know, but that's just how I roll. Of course,  the cooking was the best part :)

What I didn't like: Being my first time, the planning took much longer than I thought it would. Even though I enjoyed it, I'm not sure I could do it every month.

What I gained: Aside from a freezer full of food, I also got a perverse sense of satisfaction from managing to cook all 14 dishes in one day.

Would I do it again? Yes, although probably not every month. This is partly because of the effort involved and partly because I actually enjoy cooking most nights. However, I definitely plan to keep my freezer stocked with meals for those nights when we need something quick and easy.

2. Creating things out of papier mache

What I liked: Playing with paper and glue was fun, albeit messy, and brought back some happy memories of my childhood.

What I didn't like: It was really hard to get a smooth finish. My second attempt was even worse than my first (hence no post about it) and I got really frustrated with the results. Not sure if it was the paper I was using, the glue or just my technique, but getting the paper strips to lie flat was harder than I thought it would be.

What I gained: I definitely have a greater appreciation of the skill involved in papier mache - it's not as easier as it looks.

Would I do it again? Probably not.

3. Learning how to meditate

What I liked: Forcing myself to take time out certainly helped me relax and I felt more centred after each session. I preferred the active meditations to the ones focussed just on the breath.

What I didn't like: Sitting still was uncomfortable at times, which made it hard to concentrate. I also felt like a bit of a dill talking to myself (even though there was no-one watching).

What I gained: I did feel calmer after completing a session and I've learned more about being in the present moment, rather than fixating on things that might never happen. It's still a work in progress, but I think I know enough now to keep at it.

Would I do it again? Yes - maybe not every day, but certainly in times of stress.

Stay tuned for an outline of my March projects, coming up tomorrow.