Choosing Not to Live an Unfinished Life

The above meme was meant to be funny, and it was.  But, at the same time, really got me thinking… do I really want to have so many unfinished things (and I’m talking about more than just knitting here)

The answer came to me, not like a whoosh, but more like smacking my face into.a brick wall.

No!

No, I do not want to live an unfinished life. No!

Maybe you’re like me and can relate?  Maybe you’re not there yet, or maybe you’re someone who is better at finishing things than I am.  I won’t lie, I’m a little jealous of those of you who can start and finish things.

Me, I have grand ideas, begin them, and then my mind goes to the next grand, or not so grand, idea.  Some people call this ADHD.  Others may call it a lack of focus or determination, while many simply call it lazy.  I like to think of it as a creative process, but after some reflecting, I tend to agree most with those who would call it lack of focus.

If you read the last blog post, you’ll remember that “focus” is one of the key words in my ‘phrase of the year’ for 2026.  What better way to bring it into play than the realization that I don’t want to live an unfinished life.

You see, my unfinished projects are just a symptom.  A symptom of thinking I can do it all.  2026 is already showing me signs that I can’t, nor should I.  And that’s okay.  2026 is showing me, better yet, guiding me to finish my unfinished tasks and projects – or letting go of them if they are no longer important – and that’s okay too.

It’s okay to let go of the things in my life that no longer bring me happiness.  It’s okay, instead, to finish the things that do.  I can still be creative without having to do it all.  I can notice a creative spark, write down the idea to give it life, and leave it for a bit while I complete the current creative spark.

Complete…

And in the honor of completing things, here are some projects that had been in the works.  The scarves were only a couple of months old, while the bookmark was started in 2004.  It felt good to no longer have that taunting me, and it feels better to have it marking the pages of a novel I purchased in November.  Both are now bringing me great joy.  I even finished a wreath I had the supplies to make for the last three years. This week I have two more fiber-related projects to complete, or should I say, that I can realistically complete – and that right there, inserting the word realistically is making me happy.

I have more projects to complete.  I will continue to work on them – both fiber-related – and the rest of the unfinished things in my world.

If you have some unfinished projects, maybe 2026 is the year you can conquer some of them too.  Feel free to join me in being focused and getting them done.  Yes, let’s make this year a little different, and the year we stop living an unfinished life.