Depth Year

Earlier this year or late in 2018, (I'm not entirely sure when) but I was watching a lot of Tarot Vlogger YouTube videos. It seemed that all of them started talking about a Depth Year, and whether they were doing one for 2019, their parameters, and such. Of course, I was like WTF is a Depth Year? Luckily, a few of them linked to this article. Go Deeper, Not Wider by David Cain.

I really liked the idea behind it. But of course, not being a fan of change, plus, it was too close to the start of the year, or it had already started. Whatever. I just couldn't bring myself to doing it.

I know, I know.

You can start a "Depth Year" whenever.

And you're right I could. But in typical Boho Ro fashion. I forgot about it.

That is, until those YouTubers started posting update videos about their Depth Year process. How it was going. If they were still following it. What they struggled with. And so on.

But I still couldn't quite figure out if I wanted to do one or not.

See, I've come to terms with one of my failings. I absolutely love self-help books, classes, workbooks on tarot, and various other things (ahem crafts) in life. Where I start, with all great intention, and end up just stopping. And this Depth Year thing is supposed to help you keep from doing that. By not buying more things, or more classes, you should be able to focus on what you already have. Complete the classes, you've already purchased. The workbooks. Books in general. Crafts. What have you. By not being able to chase the latest craze, or the latest tool, the latest idea. We can focus on figuring out what we already have. And using those things to the fullest.

Again, I love the idea, but was hesitant.

I am the Queen of unfinished journals.

Queen of dropping a knitting project half-finished into my WIP pile.

Queen of purchasing "ALL THE THINGS" for a new craft. Making one thing, and putting everything away and forgetting about it.

I know this about myself.

Which is why I've stopped purchasing new classes or workshops. I try to get new books from the library. Cause if I never read it, I just return it and I'm not out the cost of the book, or have it piling up with everything else.

In a sense, I guess I've been doing a cursory "Depth Year". Well, more of a moratorium on the new things. But one thing I've found, which I think is one of my issues with this Depth Year thing is that  not buying the latest class, hasn't made me want to revisit an old class I never completed.

Which is why I'm so hesitant about doing a Depth Year. I'm don't think it will really help me not be the Queen of Half-Assery.

Why am I still thinking about doing one of these though?

Probably because of the things it would very likely help me with.

Budget. Saving. Not accumulating. Not wasting.

Hmm, maybe that's why I SHOULD do a Depth Year. Not necessarily for all the things it supposedly "Will Help Me to Finish", but for the things it will help me avoid.

Ok, now bear with me here. To me, it seemed that most of the YouTubers were focused on not purchasing certain products. They had rules galore for what they could purchase, what they couldn't, and the like. Which are all fine, don't get me wrong. And while I do enjoy a tarot review, it does seem to lead to a lot of FOMO in people, I do like to see all the pretty decks. But, I stopped purchasing ALL THE DECKS when I realized that more than half of the ones I had, I never used. So I gathered up all the unused ones, and passed them on to others that might get some use out of them. They are being used, and are also not taking up space in my house. And since I started doing that, I've also become VERY selective in the new decks I purchase. I have come up with quite an extensive list of MUST's before I even consider a new deck. If it doesn't have ALL the musts. I won't use it. I know this, and I let it go. It's almost like, when I purchase a new deck. I start with the mindset of convince me WHY I need this. Which before, was always a given.

And thanks to all this meandering, stream-of-consciousness post, I think I've finally figured out what my "Depth Year" will look like.

I will:

• Consider WHY I need to purchase things*. 
• Look at what I already have and pass on what I'm not using. Or trash it. 
• Check in, at least Quarterly. (I'll add it to my calendar now, so I can't forget.) 

I'm hoping that this will help with:

• Budgeting/Saving
• Clearing out/reducing stuff.

And in all honestly, I do hope that this will become a permanent fixture in my life. Not one that has an end date. Like the difference between a diet and a lifestyle change. I'm hoping this will be a lifestyle change. Not just another "Stuff Diet". 

Believe me, I also hope that this does make me finish things. Or go "Deeper" on the things I really enjoy. I tend to be all over the place there, so taking time to figure out what I really want, before I hit purchase is always a good thing. 

I am more than willing to pass on, or even throw out the Queen of Half-Assery crown. 

Anyone want it?

* Yes, this will be for ALL areas in my life. Not just crafts, books, or similar things.