A new year and the first step taken
Last night was New Year's Eve, the classic night when deals are done and promises made with the Universe. The night when we reflect on the past year and make pacts with ourselves to do more do less do things differently. The night when we are asked to decide what we want to change in the year to come.
What's your New Years Resolution? Get fit, lose weight, take up yoga, learn to meditate, get a new job, travel, have a holiday, learn a new skill, stress less, love more,...?
Where did the idea of a New Year's Resolution come from? According to Wikipedia it started in Babylon, was continued by the Romans and then the Medieval Knights, and is reflected in many religions and generally now regarded as an annual reflection on self-improvement. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_resolution
If you're anything like me you make resolutions on a daily basis - mantras replayed in my head, words of acceptance and gratitude repeated like a prayer or a plea bargain depending on the moment. Most of the time this year I have been able to live each day as it comes, practice mindfulness, breathe in breathe out through stress and take pleasure in the simple routines and unexpected joy of living in the country. Most of the time...not all the time.
As many of you have noticed I post endless snaps on social media of the incidental moments in my life; the river flowing, the countryside, weather, the beach, coffee - endless coffee shots, lots of moments I notice that pass in the blink of an eye. You comment that my newsfeed encourages you to stop and appreciate what's in from of you, to notice and take pleasure in your daily surroundings. So I continue to post. I post when I'm full of joy and I post when I feel flat. I post for myself to remind me of what I'm doing in that moment, to make me stop and notice and frame that second of my life, to hold it and breathe it and then share it. When Facebook shares my memories with me I stop and am reminded of a fortunate life. I see my moments from past years and I feel grateful not just for the travel and experiences but for all the moments when I am able to sit and enjoy a beautiful view or a coffee made by a barista who loves his or her work, or the pleasure of walking by a river or along a beach and I am thankful I possess all the senses to enjoy this.
Some days are dark and I resolve to change things. Relationships both personal and professional can be challenging sometimes and then I want to just to walk away and not look back. Sometimes I can do this and and other times the timing doesn't feel right. Some days I don't want to know what I'm supposed to learn, I don't want to reframe the negative, and I certainly don't choose to see opportunity in adversity or walk through another bloody open door. No, some days I want to kick the door shut, get into bed and wallow in my feelings railing against whatever didn't turn out as I had planned.
BUT and it's a big 'but' for me, I've come to accept that everything does indeed passe and I can change anything if I choose to. I choose to resolve to end each day with a positive reflection, a reminder of a life I am grateful for, and start each morning resolving to be the best I can be. Some days go better than others, I'm human, I fail at perfection. I don't wait for the end of the year to begin again though, I have a "New Year Resolution" every day.
So welcome 2017! I am excited to see what you have in store. I have ideas and a vision for the year and I know my challenge is to sow the seeds to bring plans to fruition, water the ones I planted in 2016 and then have the trust and patience to allow them to grow and develop in the time it takes not the time I want it to take.
I learned some wonderful lessons from friends and mentors during 2016. I was fortunate to attend an amazing day with like minded women 'Create Day' with Jade Wisely . I met Kirsten Roberts and Loretta Hart and was further inspired by these women and other women who have the spirit to follow their instincts and believe in themselves. The first step is always the first step. Take the first step and then see where the next step lies and take that one. In other words the whole path doesn't have to be laid out in front of you just the first step.
What dreams do you have for this year?
What step will you take towards making your dreams a reality?
In 2017 my first step is to post this blog post and then see what the next post will be.
Happy New Year
Karen xx