The end of year is sneaking up on me fast. It always does. First of all, I want to once again say thank you to a guy whose blog, The Art of NonConformity I've been following for a long time. He created a movement that is making a difference in the world. He is the reason I started reviewing my year and focusing on the next. Thank you, Chris Guillebeau!
Last year I chose develop as my word for resolution. In previous years I chose minimize and focus. This, in lieu of a resolution, is a concept that has served me well. I have developed in key areas I focused on and am pleased with the results.
Develop Friendships: Last year I kept up friendships with a few special people. Meeting for coffee, long photo walks, talking on the phone, thrift shopping, meeting for dinner and simply keeping in touch. My life is full with a high-maintenance husband, 3 dogs, 1 cat and a full time job. My friendships are like the sand that fills in between the rocks in a jar that appears it's too full to contain anything else. I love my friends!
Develop Better Eating Habits: This is a constant battle for me. Meal planning on Sundays and creating a system for freezing lunches that include vegetables has increased extra time in the morning to use in better ways. Pre-measuring and containing food has helped with portion control.
Develop a Reading & Writing Schedule: I can do better in this area. It is a guilty pleasure that, like a lot of other things in my life, I can really binge on and then I don't get anything else done. That's not a bad thing. I need to continue paring down the things I don't want to do to replace with activities I enjoy. I've filled an entire journal with "morning pages". This is a huge accomplishment for me.
Develop a Cleaner Home: I hired a domestic goddess to help me keep my house in order. Best decision I made last year! I've worked hard to get things picked up off the floor so when she arrives (twice a month) it makes her job easier. I hate clutter and yet I'm still living in it. It's a work in progress and I'm not done yet. My new rule to live by when shopping for clothes: If I don't love it, I don't buy it. I also have started taking questionable items in my closet and placing them to the forefront. If the item isn't worn that week, in other words if I avoid wearing it, it gets dropped into the goodwill box on Friday. Why hang on to stuff I don't wear? This is a very difficult process for me but I'm getting better at it every day.
Develop Photo Walking List: Several walks last year with select friends helped form an idea for keeping a list. Photo walking is very personal to me and I've noted that it is not everyone's cup of tea. I have a great friend who loves going as much as I do and we accomplished several walks this year. We drove to Walla Walla in October to a great old cemetery.
Last year I chose develop as my word for resolution. In previous years I chose minimize and focus. This, in lieu of a resolution, is a concept that has served me well. I have developed in key areas I focused on and am pleased with the results.
Develop Friendships: Last year I kept up friendships with a few special people. Meeting for coffee, long photo walks, talking on the phone, thrift shopping, meeting for dinner and simply keeping in touch. My life is full with a high-maintenance husband, 3 dogs, 1 cat and a full time job. My friendships are like the sand that fills in between the rocks in a jar that appears it's too full to contain anything else. I love my friends!
Develop Better Eating Habits: This is a constant battle for me. Meal planning on Sundays and creating a system for freezing lunches that include vegetables has increased extra time in the morning to use in better ways. Pre-measuring and containing food has helped with portion control.
Develop a Reading & Writing Schedule: I can do better in this area. It is a guilty pleasure that, like a lot of other things in my life, I can really binge on and then I don't get anything else done. That's not a bad thing. I need to continue paring down the things I don't want to do to replace with activities I enjoy. I've filled an entire journal with "morning pages". This is a huge accomplishment for me.
Develop a Cleaner Home: I hired a domestic goddess to help me keep my house in order. Best decision I made last year! I've worked hard to get things picked up off the floor so when she arrives (twice a month) it makes her job easier. I hate clutter and yet I'm still living in it. It's a work in progress and I'm not done yet. My new rule to live by when shopping for clothes: If I don't love it, I don't buy it. I also have started taking questionable items in my closet and placing them to the forefront. If the item isn't worn that week, in other words if I avoid wearing it, it gets dropped into the goodwill box on Friday. Why hang on to stuff I don't wear? This is a very difficult process for me but I'm getting better at it every day.
Develop Photo Walking List: Several walks last year with select friends helped form an idea for keeping a list. Photo walking is very personal to me and I've noted that it is not everyone's cup of tea. I have a great friend who loves going as much as I do and we accomplished several walks this year. We drove to Walla Walla in October to a great old cemetery.
I've been thinking about what I want to work on next year and I am torn. So many words come to mind: READ, WRITE, PHOTOGRAPH. Yesterday it came to me that what I really want to do is create. That's it! 2015 will be the year of creating. I can hardly wait!
How about you? How was your year? Did you have a theme word? How did it work out for you? Do you have a goal for 2015? Tell me!!!!
love, susan
#AnnualReview
My goal is TRUE TO MYSELF. I am not sure how I will do this but I need to do what I want and need and not what others want or like.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great resolution! I hope you come back here and tell me how that works out for you at the end of 2015!
DeleteOur year was awesome! We made two long trips and a couple of short ones. Visited many state capitals and did many, many Volksmarches.
ReplyDeleteNo theme word...have never had that concept presented to me before. I will have to think on what my theme word would be.
Goal for 2015: pay off debt!
Debt-free! That's a great resolution. So attainable! How are you going to attack that goal? I'd love to hear about it!
DeleteYou know what? It's interesting that as I was pulling up this page, my husband was saying to me, "You should write a year in review." I told him I just pulled up your year in review. Synchronicity? Great review, by the way.
ReplyDeleteI've loved following your blog since A to Z! An overview of all the places you've been would be super to read! Thanks a million for reading and commenting!
Delete