Happy New Year!

"Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life.  The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can."  ~ Douglas Pagels

 



 

The new year always brings with it a feeling of new beginnings, a clean slate to dream and plan for the next 365 days.  A new year where new possibilities await and new adventures are looked forward to.  Do you come up with a plan for your new year?  Do you create resolutions or goals? 

For the past several years I've come up with One Little Word to focus on for the year.  It is always a fun process.  I think about the year before and where I've come from, what I've accomplished and then look to the year ahead.  I think and pray about what I feel God is moving me to do.  Often I feel like He brings me my word!  This year I've chosen:



I want to see new growth in my life this year.  Of course this is something I strive for every year; I want to be further along in life at the end of each year than I was at the beginning.  But this year I want to more intentionally focus on making aspects of my life stronger.  I want to really challenge myself to grow in my relationships, my spiritual life, my art, my business and my service to others around me.  I don't want to just be the "status quo" day by day, but to continually ask myself  "What can I do to GROW in this area". 

To help me do this I've set some goals to strive for.  For example, I love to read, but never feel like I really make the time for it.  I end up collecting more and more books; you should see my bookshelves and my Kindle...oh my!  I start them, but never really get around to finishing them.  This year I want to read books on marriage, on parenting and on creating that will help me to grow in those areas of my life.  I challenge myself to read one book a month covering these categories.  I also want to read some good fiction novels as well!!

This month I'm diving into the following yummy books:

Women Living Well: Find Your Joy in God, Your Man, Your Kids and Your Home by Courtney Joseph (spiritual, marriage, parenting)

Creative Thursday: Everyday Inspiration to Grow Your Creative Practice  by Marisa Anne Cummings

So, what goals or new resolutions have you set for yourself this year?  Have you come up with One Little Word to guide you this year?  Are you reading any good books this month?  I'd love some recommendations!!

My One Word

It is hard to believe we have already flown through January! This year is off to a quick start and as usual I'm running to catch up! I always love the beginning of a new year. There is a unique feeling that comes with it...that of anticipation, renewal, new beginnings and fresh starts. I always feel like I want to wipe the slate clean and start fresh! It is such a great time to take inventory and set goals.

One thing I really enjoy doing at the start of each year is picking my "One Word" for the year. I first heard of this concept through Ali Edwards' wonderful blog three years ago. My word for 2008 was "Create" and that was the year I committed myself to rediscovering my art. Last year I chose "Simplify" due to the big changes our family would be experiencing as we prepared for the arrival of our second child and I begun working toward my newly discovered desire to begin selling my artwork. I feel like I did well with Simplify; I focused on a few major areas such as:

• my home where I decluttered, purged, rearranged and tried to set up more simple systems and routines. Below are a few pictures of one of my biggest projects last year, my newly redone studio area.

I purchased new bookshelves and desk and purged a lot of supplies. I keep all of my art supplies here, except for my paints which I currently have in the laundry room off our kitchen. I do all of my painting in the kitchen (near a sink and where there is no carpet). That empty space on the wall above the desk is waiting for a painting that I recently finished. I'll share soon! :)

The bookshelves hold a lot of my scrapbooking supplies, stamps, art books, and albums. I keep my canvases, collage items, and sketch pads in the white cubes. Our kitties like it in here as well! That is Chloe catching a quick nap.

• my life by doing my best to say "no" when I really need to focus on other things. There are so many wonderful opportunities out there and different ways to spend my time. I've learned that it is okay to serve or help in some areas, but I don't have to, nor can I do everything!


• my art by reorganizing and purging my supplies. I'm trying my best to buy only what I need rather than "collecting" art supplies; they can be so addictive!!
  

• my ministry by stepping down from some much loved responsibilities.
  

I made a lot of headway...but still continue to look for ways to simplify this busy life even more so I can concentrate on and make time for the things most important to me!

So, my One Word for 2010...oh, it is a good one! One that I need a lot of work on! I'll share in my next post, but in the meantime, do you have a special One Word that you are focusing on this year?!! :) I'd love to hear all about it!