a fresh start.

a fresh new year. untouched, overflowing with possibility, optimism. 

i have mixed feelings on resolutions. as an ever-changing person, i subscribe to the fact that change is good. we are on a continuum; what has come before, whether good or bad, has brought us to this place. 

i never want to resign to the feeling that i haven't done enough, felt enough, worked hard enough. even in a challenging time, the things we encounter, the choices we make, they all add up to who we are now, the situations we find ourselves in today. sure, there are things i am not proud of. there are decisions that could have been different, the extra brownie i shouldn't have eaten. but what is regret? something i certainly don't want to waste time worrying about, and honestly, that extra brownie was so worth it.

but, i do like to resolve to try new things, encourage myself to step out of the old comfort box (or jump out of my warm bed in the midst of a dark winter) and greet life with bravery and love. i won't get it all right, all the time, but isn't that beside the point? but i do know this: there are always things that we can do (and often they are little things!) to make our world (and the world we live in) a bit brighter, a bit more blessed, and a whole lot more fun.

i'm not going to sugar coat it; 2012 was difficult. too many big losses, struggling to find stability, too much rushing. but amidst all of that, there was beauty. a lot of it. i welcome 2013 with wide open arms.

i will encourage myself to:

feel better. for the better part of this past year, i've felt lousy. my stomach hurt, my head hurt, my heart hurt. sometimes you need a little TLC to mend a runny nose or the blues, but sometimes, you have to get up and face the day. this year, i aspire to eat better and listen to my gut. i aspire to continue going to bed at a decent hour. a good night's sleep makes all the difference. i want to use those 60 yoga passes i have. i want to be limber and light (in spirit and heart) and just feel good. i strive to be more intentional and carve out quiet time so that the rhythms of my spirit can be heard.

have a little fun. i tend to seek out fun most of the time, but this year, i want to inject more fun in more ways. i want to continue sewing, and find other hobbies to try. i want to travel more! and document more. i want to live in the moment (read: worry less) and just have fun. spontaneity is the spice of life!

be kinder. above all: to myself. we can be our own worst critic, hey? i also strive to be a better friend. it can be tricky to strike a balance. sometimes i can give my all, and other moments, i come up empty handed. i want to meet in the middle. if i don't have the energy for a call, a text or handwritten note in the mail can show someone how much you care. i want to continue to love this earth and delight in the beauty that surrounds us. i think the biggest lesson here is to not beat yourself up about it. just move on.

keep dreaming big. i've always been a dreamer, with an imagination as vast as the sky. but this year, nothing is out of reach. i want to dream bigger than ever, and not shy away from the scary monsters of change. change is good for me (repeat, repeat). i want to dream and dream and dream. who knows what may come of it? and the unknown elicits utter excitement.

so, tell me, what are you hoping to accomplish in 2013? whatever it is, wherever you are coming from: i am proud of you. and although there is always space to improve, you are enough, as you are.