a new year

YES! It is a new year, and you know what that means... resolution time. 

YEP!

Everyone is busy making resolutions, planning for 2012 and taking stock of the previous year.

I have to say - I loved 2011 and have been sad to see it go. So much so that I think I have been hibernating in my bear cave in denial. For that reason, and that December usually makes me really sad. I have a hard time during December, and this past one seemed to be harder on me than usual, I really struggled through it. But, it is January now, and I am looking ahead. Regaining some optimism and slowly coaxing myself out of my cave and back into the light. 

Last year I talked about how my friend and I do something we call "Weekly Challenges" where we check in with each other at the beginning of the week and set one goal for ourselves. It can be anything, big or small. It is so fun and it is nice to break it all down and to be more realistic about making changes. I think it is also important to have the support of a friend, and it makes me more accountable if I tell someone.

In HT2 we did an exercises where we had to look into the future and write about what a day in our life in 2015 would be like. It was really interesting not only to do, but also to hear people read theirs aloud. David told us that he has seen so many come true. And part of what makes things manifest so quickly is sharing it, and writing it or speaking it like you mean it! With great authority and excitement! It is all about saying, "Ok universe! Here is how it is going to go...". And I really am starting to see that it matters how you say things, the feeling behind your words, and how powerful having a witness can be. So be brave, and share your intentions for the new year with someone. 

I took a look back at the goals I set for 2011 and was happy with how many I could check off my list, and I tried to be kind to myself with the ones I feel I am still working on, and excited about the ones I didn't get to that I can move to this years list.

So here we go... time for my 2012 Goals!

- take better care of my physical health - on the inside and outside (this is always on my list)

- have better self discipline

- drink more water

- start and finish the book I want to write and illustrate

- continue to nurture my intuition and deepen my spiritual practice

- create more balance in my life
- restore and learn how to play my grandmothers harp

- take tap or ballet classes

- read more
- take a trip to Big Sur
- finish my thesis

- organize and hold a retreat in the spring in the desert

- finish 11 new pieces for my new body of work

- spend more time in the studio

- continue to expand Spencer Studio

- save more money (always)

- complete Healer Training

- be more active outside with Ava

- volunteer

- work at MOCA for the Contemporary Art Start program - or start teaching 

- take a silver smithing class

- worry less

I think these are the big ones... though the list could continue to get longer and longer the more I sit here and think about things.

Thank you to everyone who made 2011 so special and wonderful!

I hope 2012 is even better. My friend Lili keeps telling me that 2012 will be full of magic and it will be a year when things blossom, so I hope you all have been planting seeds! 

Here's to a new year!

May we give thanks for all the amazing things already on their way!

xo

L