I started out writing this post just thinking about 12 things I wanted to do and achieve in this new year. But I'm not sure whether or not 12 is too much. Doubt sets in. Can I even think of 12 things? Can 12 things be achievable after a few months of coasting by and treading water as best I can?
But I am resolved. I find myself needing and relishing a bit of a challenge. So here are my 12 things to work on for 2012. There isn't always a real 'goal' in each of these but rather a resolve to work on the particular relationship or the activity. You'll see what I mean when you read through these.
When I had charted these out, I also find myself feeling satisfied and happy.
MAKING GOALS MAKES ME HAPPY.
And I am looking forward to a year of working on these things. Reporting and recording progress as I go and being accountable to myself to see these things through.
I created a layout recently one of only a handful from these past months, and I feel exhilarated in the 'enormity' of our family's achievements in 2011. We had set out to return to Canada and we have. It is certainly a huge achievement and a huge undertaking at that. Weighing out risks, financially or otherwise, making decisions about family and friends, schools, home location, everything needed to have it's own 'list' of considerations. It was exhausting.
But we did it. We achieved.
However, the activities and 'stuff' relating to the transition has somehow overwhelmed my life in many ways. The stress of dealing with extended family health and other issues, along with the everyday routine things and a very very active baby toddler, just takes over. In achieving a very big thing, I forgot to achieve the small things. And I'm grateful for the very big thing. But I wanted to conquer the small things too.
So 2011 is now behind me, and with it the dust has somewhat settled around here. Literally and figuratively. And for that I am grateful.
And now I am looking forward to 2012 with new hope, new joys and new resolve. Being settled in mind as well as in place. And I feel better positioned to achieve new things, small things and big things for me and for my little family.
Here are my 12 for 2012.
1. Enjoying this love. I feel safe and loved. Everyday. Maybe I forget to show it somedays when things are tough. But I want to always make sure I enjoy this love. And show it back. That he is wonderful and loving and strong. A great father, a wonderful husband. I am so fortunate.
2. These children. My two. They are my life. My hopes and my dreams now are tied to them. I worry so much about them. And I love them so much and I'm so proud of them every single day, with every step they take. I learn so much from them everyday. About them and about myself too. Lara grows so fast, and is a precocious, serious and imaginative seven year old. Lucas is going into his next phase of life - the 'I am aware' phase. He's so aware of himself and starting to assert himself more than ever. I am so excited to get to know this little dude.
3. Blog. Yes, I have not blogged enough. Life and its many twists and turns had gotten me in its grip and I wasn't able to find the energy and time. Excuses, maybe, but it has been a tough few months indeed. I want to blog more this year. I will make sure it is a priority more than it has ever been. I've enjoyed blogging. Sharing photos and words and even when the comments are scarce, it's my way of 'counting' my days. So you can count on seeing more words here :).
4. Photos. I have taken some photos but by no means my normal number. Partly because I've had no real motivation and partly because I've not felt like I've done anything 'fun' to take photos of. This year I'm reverting to my former photo craze. It may not be with my Nikon any longer, but I'm fast falling in love with my iPhone's many photo apps, thanks to my lil sister's guidance to fun apps out there to use :). Thanks JJ! Now I'm so looking forward to playing some more. And it's so EASY to snap pics on the iPhone. Seriously.
5. Scrapbooking. To give an example of how much I couldn't scrapbook this year, I had to stop my December Daily 2011 project. I have all the pages ready to go but as December took off, I was not able to focus, not able to juggle, not able to stop to scrapbook. No energy at the end of the day. So I had to prioritise. Rather than stretch myself even more thinly, I had to prioritise and put all the other things first. On the upside, taking off the '1' and putting a '2' means I have a December 2012 album all ready to go.
Seriously though, I am a wreck without my one stable hobby. I love paper, paint, mists, and all my scrapbooking things but I got lost somewhere between the bedrooms and the kitchen and the couch I collapse on at night, I never made it to my scrap desk. And just these past three days, I've had a 'return to scrapdesk' revelation. It has been heaven.
This fun ski photo from last year was waiting for me to scrap it. And with Bella Blvd's Winter Wonder collection, I wanted to get into it :).
Pretty, cute, LOVE it! Bella Blvd papers and things are so bright and fun :).
I am also looking to complete my Project Life this year. I have gotten some products ordered and I'm looking forward to playing. It's been too busy a year in 2011 and I hate not catching up. But 2012, I hope will be better. I've done it all before and I'm hoping to achieve again. :).
I really want to streamline my scrapbooking to make it a lot more manageable too. I hope I'll be able to do this as part of my taking on Project Life this year too.
6. Writing. Hello words! I love words! I have been doing some writing and I want to continue doing loads more this year.
7. Health & Fitness. I finally caved and joined the gym like I wanted to. And I feel even more committed to a healthy body and lifestyle. It has been awesome just starting to go to zumba last year. And I'm looking forward to doing more of it again this year. That and swimming. Lucas has started going and LOVING the water too. And we are going to go together starting next week when he goes in for classes. It will be so awesome.
8. Knitting & Crocheting. I love my needlework and this year I want to complete three projects that I've started for a few years now and this is it. I've been distracted by other projects to complete, but that's okay. I'm determined to complete them this year :). More on this soon.
9. Settle in home. All good here really. I really love the home we live in, the place we live in. And we're slowly settling in. And I'm looking forward to doing more. But part of our big 'settle down' picture is to move to a more permanent home. And that will require some planning too. I'm so looking forward to that. There will be loads of sorting before we do that. And that's going to be a real big job. I know this. But I'm so excited about it.
10. Calgary. I've not lived in a more beautiful place. It has such character. I love getting to know the city, enjoying all it has to offer. And that's what's so wonderful. It has so much to offer to us as a family. The children has activities, and I have some opportunities too and we're all exploring the winter stuff together :). Banff is a haven for winter fun and we've just started to play - what an amazing place to live. All I can say is I want to keep on doing more. And keep the children encouraged and happy doing more!
11. Organised life. Yes. I'm working towards this. Still. Every day.
12. Happy. This is a big thing for me this year. Promising myself I want to stay positive and happy. Enjoying these 12 things and embracing these 12 things make up the core of what my life is right now. And I really hope that keeping to these core things will help me towards happiness and help me find myself further. Devoting my strength and focusing my energies towards these. So important. And I'm resolved.
So here's to 12 wonderful things. Have you got 12 things for 2012? Link back and let me know.
xoxo,
Sue
1 comments:
Lovely blog post Sue xxx
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