One Word for 2013: Strategies

Oops! It's been a month since my last post!  How did that happen?  Oh well, let's look forward and not back, shall we?

A little pic from my getaway to Maine.  I love it there so much.

New Year's Eve for me is full of hope and comfort. It's about being with good friend, and thinking of the new year with positivity and plans. My plans for tonight are simple. Hanging with some good friends for a nice dinner and champagne. We'll probably watch a movie and we've all been given the word that elastic-waist pants are welcomed and encouraged. I think it sounds perfect. Tonight is not about trying to make it the best night of the year. It's about saying goodbye to the old and hello to the new with people I love.

Today on Instagram Mortal Muses give us a reminder to think about our one word for the new year. It's been in the back of my mind, but I haven't really been focusing on it. However as I thought about it this morning, the word I've been using lately about how I'm going to be able to manage my life this next year is Strategies.

"Strategies" may not be a froufrou, new age word, like hope or piece of faith or love. But for me, strategies means setting myself up for success, and what could be more spiritual and meaningful than that?  Success in my personal life, my work life and my health life. I know that last one doesn't really work, but go with me here.  There are things that I want for myself, but if I don't plan for them and ACT on them, they don't happen.  So in this new year I'm going to be focused on strategies to make sure that the life that I'm living is the life that I want.

I just accepted an offer for a new challenging and stressful job that starts on Wednesday, January 2. It's a wonderful start to a new year.  I admit, though, that I already feel anxiety about this job taking me away from things in my personal life. As Brene Brown would say, how do I manage the vulnerability I'm feeling?  (I'm reading her Daring Greatly right now, and it's amazing!)

When I am anxious or worried or just feeling not quite right, it's usually a sign that I feel that things are out of my control.  If, however, I create a plan or strategies to get things in order, when the things that are out of my control go out of whack I'll be much more prepared to handle them. I won't be focused on the things that I haven't been keeping up.

So what are my strategies? I'm not done thinking about this, but for example my Strategies may look something like this:

• Getting in to the gym at work by 6:30 am.  That way I can workout and shower and be at my desk by 8:30am. I'm putting that strategy in place because I really want my health to be one of my number one priorities this year. While it is definitely about losing weight, it's also about using exercise to start myself off on a good start for the day, and letting go some of the physical anxiety I feel. I also feel more confident after exercise, probably because I've accomplished something and that makes me feel good! Endorphins are churning and that makes me feel better all day long.
• One of the other thing is I'm planning to put in place is my meals. My plan right now is to be at the grocery store on Sunday with my list of meals for the week. Sunday night I will be cooking and prepping my daily salads, and packing my bag with chicken breasts, string cheese and yogurt. 
• One of my weakest points in eating right is the evening.  When I'm hungry and tired I have a hard time making good choices. So my strategy for that is to only have good things in the house, that way my only choice will be a good choice. 

I have more work to do on my strategies, but I think you get the idea. I hope you take some time today to think about what your "one word" for the year might be. There are some wonderful tools out there for you use to discover that word.  Just a couple suggestions here:

• Ali Edward's One Word Class
• Christine Kane's original One Word Discovery Tool and her updated information.

As I said, this year I didn't need any tools to think about this.  For me as I said it was pretty apparent this year what I needed. Strategies.  Now, how can I make the word Strategies pretty? :)

Words for the Year

I have three words this year.  Yes, I know. I'm supposed to be choosing just one.  But, that's not how I roll.  Have you heard about the "one word" movement?  It's similar to choosing your resolutions, but essentially encourages you to choose just one word to focus on for the next year.  It's a touchpoint, a cairn on the path to follow each day of the year.   As a starting point, I've been working on my hopes.  I know that nothing will change until I do, so I know that it is time. 

I don't have any specific goals about losing weight, paying off debt, or exercise.  I am opting for a kinder, gentler type of resolution. I am not beating myself up this year.

Instead, I'm setting out some guidelines:

And from those guidelines, I found 3 words that I really want to remember every day.  They are posted in several places in my house.  The bedroom, the kitchen and on the wall near my front door. 

I can't miss them.  And so far, they are working. 

What are you working on for this year?

I like your Red Coat

The little girl poked her head out of her window in a three-family house on New Years Day.  It was cold out, and you could see her springy black curls tied with ribbon bouncing as she looked up and down the street.

"I like your red coat." she called out happily to a woman on the street.  "Thank you." said the stranger.  "Happy New Year." said the girl. 

Then she found her next victim.  A man in a striped scarf.  "I like your scarf."  she yelled, smiling.  The man looked up, and said "Happy New Year."  "You too." she said.

This went on for several minutes with random people on the street below her.  I like your coat.  I like your scarf.  I like your hat.  I like your dog.  She was a little elf.  Innocent and with no inhibitions about talking to strangers.  Just wanted to share some of her joy that day with whoever happened to pass by.

Such a small gift to give someone on this New Year's Day.  But, she smiled each time, and took a gift away with her too.  She had made someone else smile on the first day of the year.

I will remember her unselfish gift, and her lilting voice calling out into the cold.  Happy New Year to you.  And, I like your coat.

What's on the Horizon?

 

I had a talk with a friend yesterday about resolutions.  About how silly it is that people have to start their new lives on January 1st, give up their resolutions in frustration by January 16th, and then don't start them again until next January 1st.

I know I'm late, but I don't want to make resolutions or goals or decide a word for the new year until I've had a real chance to think about it.  So, I'm going to skip the "New Year, New You" post this year, at least until later this week.  I have so many ideas in my head I need some time to process and come up with my new plan for myself.

I really want this year to be different.  I want this year to define my future.  I want this year to be the start of my new life.


What does that look like?  What do you want your future self to be doing with her life?  

Good questions to think about, aren't they?

I'm off for a photo walk with my friend K today.  Maybe I'll have some answers when I return.

A Fresh Start

Literally.

 

Fresh beginnings for the new year.  Vitamin C by the bucket.  Tart, spicy and sweet.

My Mom's Five Spice Orange and Grapefruit Melange.  So easy and delicious.

Take Fresh Grapefruit (I used one white and one ruby red), slice and pull the pulp from the rind.  

Add one large can of mandarin oranges in pear juice, or it's own juice.  Whatever you can find at the store.

Warm in a saucepan together.  Add lots of Five Spice (I used a Tablespoon).  My Mom used to use Nutmeg and Cinnamon.  I love that, but am also a fan of cloves, cardamom and ginger, so the Five Spice makes it easy!

 

 Cook until the grapefruit starts to fall apart, and the aroma means you can't wait anymore.

Serve into 4 oz bowls with a spoon.  It's a wonderful warming way to start a winter day.  Especially the first day of the New Year. 

Thinking about you today Mom!

Welcome 2010!

We welcome you with open arms and big smiles!

I have so many things to be grateful for this past year, and look forward to many more hopes and dreams to come in the year ahead.

Thank you all for your love and support. I hope you enjoy!

Blue Moon

Did you know it's going to be the Blue Moon tomorrow? It's the 2nd full moon this month, which qualifies it as a Blue Moon.

As a Cancer, I am strongly ruled by the Moon. I always feel a bit "off" on the Full Moon day of the month.

To have a Full Moon on New Year's Eve? Watch out everyone!

Happy New Year!

It is Almost Here! The Happy New Year!

A couple of things for you today. I am feeling better mentally, physically and spiritually. Not sure why, but I am not going to question it too much! Props go out to my acupuncturist Lisa Farwell of Great Way Wellness in Cambridge for so much of it. I woke up today pain free.

There seems to be a movement around the blogosphere for picking a word to set your intention for the next year instead of sitting down and writing your resolutions. I like the idea of putting my intention out into the Universe to hear and to help me manifest. I'm not sure if it's the Universe or God that makes it happen, but I do believe it comes to fruition with some help from the world outside of myself.

Picking one word to set my intention is going to be tough. There are so many things I want for myself this next year.

• I want to live my life for myself, not for my mother.
• I want to find my happiness.
• I want to encourage others to find their own happiness.
• I want to walk down the street with my head held high spiritually, mentally and physically.
• I want to live with integrity.
• I want to share my life with someone.
• I want to take care of my body.
• I want to find my path.
  

Want, want, want... What I don't like about the word want is that although it is a verb, it is not an action verb and it doesn't seem to embody the potential for getting the things that I want.

There are others that are ruminating in my head:

• Move
• Share
• Care
• Exceed
• Transform
• Upgrade
• Establish
• Expand
• Create
• Craft
• Clarify

I'll choose it before January 1st. Maybe I'll be standing out in the cold at midnight at Copley Square in Boston on New Years and the word will speak to me.

What about you? Are you participating in the One Word philosophy this year? Any advice for me? I'd love to hear what your word might be.

PS, I just found this really neat download over on Christine Kane's website on how to "Discover your Word of the Year". Go check her out here!

Happy New Year to You and Yours!