I blogged in January, that 2012 would be my year of finishing undone projects. I blogged in February that if I expected to finish anything, I should probably make a list. Now here I am in April, and I’ve made very little progress on anything other than setting up my gorgeous new planted aquarium.

Which was not on the list.

I could trot out some of my favorite aphorisms to inspire myself to do better. Journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. Definition of crazy is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Etc.

Or perhaps, I could look more deeply at why I say I want to finish these projects but then fail to take the steps to completion.

I don’t need to finish my novel. I don’t think the world is pining for it.

I don’t need to lose 20 pounds. I weigh 160, and the world’s not going to confiscate my privileges if I stay 160 pounds.

I could leave my mosaic projects undone forever. The only fallout from that is that when people visit the house and see exposed wallboard where window sill should be, they probably wonder about me. But honestly, I think people wonder anyway, regardless of what you do.

On the other hand, I have a high-stress job in an industry in turmoil (journalism), so if I write good stories on deadline, treat my family with a reasonable amount of respect, and generally keep my yard up enough that the neighbors don’t call the city on me, haven’t I fulfilled my obligations?

Couldn’t I cut myself a little slack?

I don’t know. I do want more, but I can’t figure out what to do next.