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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

well hello 2013

I am excited about this new year!  I have never really paid much attention to the passing of a year and the gaining of a new one, but I am feeling the need within me for a new beginning.  I'm greeting today with an eagerness, a readiness to start anew.  

I read recently that instead of focusing on areas of failure in the new year and trying to recreate ourselves by fixing ourselves, that we should focus on the things we are already good at, and try to sharpen those skills.  I love this way of thinking!  I feel like growing in areas that I am interested in, in areas that I feel called to, will in a way take care of those areas that need some re-shaping.  Maybe {ahem} my time management needs improvement.  Instead of focusing my energy on being better at something I clearly stink at, and feeling down on myself for it, I can fill my time with things I love doing.  Knowing that I get to journal or sew or make a batch of soap, will hopefully help me to organize all of the have to's a little better.  

My focus this year? 

GROW

I want to grow in:

relationships- I do not see my friends enough outside of play dates.  I want them to know they are important enough to me to set time aside for them.  I want to feel important to them too.  This goes for my husband too.  We do not feel like Birdy is ready to be left with a sitter, but she goes down at 7 each night.  Surely we can get an hour or two of date time in there somewhere!

hospitality-  I am ready to have more people over, more often.  John built me a beautiful fire pit in the backyard for my birthday last week.  It has six tree stumps around it ready for action!  We have had two s'more spectaculars since he built it, and I can't wait for more time around that fire with friends and family (once the burn ban is lifted, of course).

skill-  I had planned on learning soap making last year, but it never happened.  This year I want to delve into this and test the waters.  I would also like to fulfill my decade long dream to find pottery classes and learn how to throw on a wheel.

self care-  I am not proud to say that I am awful at self care.  There is no bragging martyr here.  Self care is important and I fail at it daily.  My self care routine right now?  Brushing my teeth and splashing water on my face.  That's it.  I haven't had a hair cut in eight months.  Shoot, I don't know when I've even last applied moisturizer to my face!  This needs serious improvement, people!

journaling-  2012 sent me to prayer and journaling like never before (you can read a little more about that here and here).  I want to continue in this and take my journaling to another level with art journaling.


Today we will sit together as a family and set some goals.  I want each person to feel like they have a fresh start this year too.  I want this year to be about growth for all of us.  I want us all to learn how to open up time and respect for one another enough to allow each of us to pursue what is meaningful to each person.


What about you?  Do you have a word, or a purpose set for this year?  Or do you find that it works best for you to just keep on trucking?  I'd love to hear about what you are hoping the year will look like for you.


Happy New Year, friends!





5 comments:

Kim said...

Such a great word for the year, and some well laid out plans. Wishing you success in your growth this year.

I will be sharing my word later this week :)

Happy New Year!

Rosie_Kate said...

Happy New Year! Your goals sound great and I wish you many blessings in them!

Personally, I'm sort of in a "keeping my head above water" phase, so I feel like goals are more than I can think about. So instead, my new year focus is on thanking my Heavenly Father for the blessings of this past year, and praying for sustenance in the next.

(And self-care? Oh, I hear ya on that. This morning I scrubbed my face with a hot wash cloth and I thought "Wow, that's awesome! Why don't I do this EVERY morning?") :-D

Rosie_Kate said...

Oh, and you have a burn ban in December/January? Wow... I think you do live in a foreign country. :-P

Pam said...

love your word for the year. I wish you the best in your goals. they are all great. Soap making is fun and pretty easy at least what i tried.

Becky said...

Happy New Year to you! I needed this list so much, especially the friendship item. When I was sick it was all I could do to take care of myself and my family...and I let so many of friendships slip away. I am going to make an effort this year to reconnect and get out of the house more often...which will force me to wear non-pajama clothing - another goal of mine this year :)