Taken at the US National Arboretum
For more than a few years now, I have completed a review
of the successes and lessons from the year before and crafted an outline to
help guide me through the new year. A few of my words from previous years include: focus, serendipity, mindfulness and last
year, expansiveness. Looking back over
my year of expansiveness, 2014 was full of new
adventures in learning through workshops, classes and exploration to nudge me
out of creative stagnation and a feeling that I was adrift of my core values. I am not one that naturally looks back to fully
savor past experiences; I'm more of the kind that is always focusing on
completing the current adventure while looking ahead and leaning full tilt into
the next. So, through annual reviews,
monthly aspiration setting and quarterly check-ins, I am beginning to choose my
adventures more wisely as well as embody my experiences more fully.
For this reason, I have chosen embodiment as my word for this
year. For me, embodiment means to
embrace, incarnate and take in with the eye and mind...in essence - to enjoy
the journey. Some supporting words will
be simplicity, mindfulness (again!), passion and savor.
I encourage you to explore setting your personal core values,
conducting a year in review and guide for the new year. Although most of us
instinctively know our core values, we may not be able to articulate them
easily. Having them accessible for reference has helped me make decisions much more easily when testing an
opportunity against my values list. It's less painful to let an enticing, but inappropriate choice go when I can see how it's not going to work
with who I am and strive to be.
Here are the resources I used for both exercises:
Living Your Values free how-to by Steve Pavlina
Unravelling the Year Ahead free downloadable workbook by Susannah Conway
Tranquility Du JourAnthology beautiful memoir and workbook by Kimberly Wilson
Finally, I thought I would share some of the highlights of 2014
- my year of expansiveness:
Got dressed up and went to high tea at the Mandarin Oriental
with fabulous neighborhood girlfriends
Volunteering
through One Brick at the Capital Area Food Bank
Attended an intro and two 4-week Zen Photography workshops at the US National Arboretum
Enjoyed performing at local cultural festivals with fellow
dancers
Attended a week long Main Street Vegan Academy course
Said goodbyes to former coworkers when they put on a
vegetarian farewell potluck (they rock!)
Was greeted by new coworkers with a vegan welcome lunch (they
rock too!)
Posted some healthy cooking favorites:
collard green egg rolls and coconut peanut butter bites
Attended fantastic milestone birthday that included a scavenger
hunt in an historic mansion
Attended a beautiful milestone birthday/anniversary
party complete with jazz band and cabaret singer
Savored neighborhood cookie baking party and holiday caroling events
I hope your 2015 is off to a good start, and I look forward
to sharing my adventures during my year of embodiment.
Thanks for reading!
