It's on, 2014!

Here I am.  I’m ready.  I’m showing up for 2014. 

It’s January, dearies … JANUARY!  2013 snuck out the back door real quiet and quick-like. 

I threw a handful of seeds into the air late last year.  Now, I suppose, it’s time to start cultivating and propagating.  I am feeling a great sense of possibility on the chilly January winds.  Do you sense it, too?

Okay, so I know I owe you some reporting on my Spanish adventure, and I do still plan to get to that before too long.  But, right now, I’m feeling like I need to take a few moments to clear my head and get a little organized.  And it being January and all, I’m going to participate, once again, in the age-old tradition of resolution setting.  Just as last year, I plan to use these resolutions as motivations for living a more fulfilling life.  I do not see resolutions as immutable commands.  It is not my intention to set up a minefield of self-shaming opportunities.  Rather, I am using my resolutions as inspirational guideposts – cheerleaders, if you will – to remind me that I am awesome and I deserve to be living an awesome life. 

First, let’s take a moment to revisit last year’s resolutions.  And while I was a little unconventional last year and tried a few different avenues for expressing some resolution-type growth, these were the most concrete resolutions that emerged:

1.  Meditate daily (minimum of 5 minutes)

2.  Yoga practice daily (minimum of 15 minutes)

3.  Eat clean.  (No emotional feeding.  Real planned meals.)

4.  Do something creative every week

5.  Drink 4 liters water daily

So, how’d I do?  Well, not too badly, I’m pleased to report.  No, I didn’t follow these perfectly.  Yes, there is still a great deal of room for improvement.  But am I happy with my progress?  Absolutely!

In fact, my current resolutions will reflect a very similar (and in some instances, identical) ideology.  What are my resolutions for 2014, you ask?  Well, here’s what they look like at present:

1.  Organize home and life.

2.  Treat myself to an elimination diet during the month of February.  Then adjust everyday diet accordingly to eat for optimal health and not for emotional reasons. 

3. Get moving!  Exercise regularly and joyously.

4. Do something creative every week.  Make actual artist dates a la The Artist’s Way.  Have some kind of finished project to show for your efforts at least once a month.

5. Cultivate a meditation practice.

6.  Give myself days off of work and don’t work on those days!

7.  Save some money.  (Yes, I have more specific parameters set out for this one, but I’m keeping them private.  A girl’s gotta have some mystery.)

8.  Be more social.

9.  Make room for some kind of Self care every week.

10. Volunteer at least once a month.

11.  Try something new at least once a month.

12.  Cultivate spiritual practice and attune to Nature by observing Wheel of the Year, Esbats (full moons) and Astors (dark/new moons).

Savvy readers may have noticed that there are twelve resolutions to represent the twelve months of the year.  I suspect I will be working on many of these simultaneously throughout the year.  (In fact, I’m already working with several of them!)  However, I’m setting it up this way so that if things become a little overwhelming during any part of the year, I can choose to simply focus on the one resolution that corresponds to that month until I feel it is mastered and then can move on to the next.  I’m really looking forward to making these resolutions actualities.  I will try to start each month by writing a little about my intentions surrounding that month’s resolution – a little introduction of sorts.  Then as the month progresses, I hope to check in with progress reports and notes.  Should life get hectic, I will at least try to sum up my experiences of the previous month’s work as I introduce the new month’s intentions.  (It’s good to be realistic sometimes, right?)

And since January is (gasp!) nearly spent, let me introduce and update Resolution no. 1.

RESOLUTION no. 1:  ORGANIZE HOME AND LIFE.

This resolution was as much a side effect of my recent move as it was a conscious decision.  And, as unpleasant as the act of moving was – especially during the holiday season, I feel like the change in location and perspective has allowed me somehow to regain control over my life in a way that has been eluding me for years.  Yay and hooray!  So I moved from a vintage little duplex apartment (that’s the polite phrasing) into a shiny spacious loft apartment on the edge of downtown.  Needless to say, most of my sweet vintage shabby chic furnishings and decor were completely unsuited to my new living space.  What’s a girl to do when that happens except, well, get new furnishings and décor, and get creative so it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.  Thank goodness for IKEA!  Redecorating my home as I unpack it has almost forced me to consider new avenues of organization.  The Virgo in me, of course, LOVES doing this.  The house is coming along nicely, if a little slowly, but I have always been a big believer in the “slow and steady wins the race” philosophy, so I feel like it’s all good in the new ‘hood. 

So, that’s home covered, but what about life?  Well, I should confess that I am very sensitive to my environment.  And when my home environment is chaos, my life is chaos.  When home is organized, life is much more organized.  So, I’m already halfway there.  Taking the time to actually construct my resolutions list gets me even more organized by giving me some concrete ways to start working on lifestyle changes.  And I’ve been updating my calendars to reflect these resolutions so I don’t accidentally (or subconsciously) manage to overbook myself.  (As many of you know, over-scheduling is a constant struggle for me.)   Et voila!  My life’s getting more organized already.  By implementing a structure for positive change, I feel like it will be easier to enact that change and hold myself accountable. 

How do you get organized?  Or do you?  If you have any good organizational tips, suggestions, or things to say about organization, resolutions, or life, in general, please leave a comment.  I’d love to know I’m not in this alone!

Happy 2014 everyone!

xoxo,

Melanie

NEWS:  I was just asked to rejoin the Resolution Revamp blog, so that is where I will be writing about my resolution progress.  I will link from here for those who are interested, but it's a great read headed by my friend, Erin, who is one of the most interesting and inspirational people I know, so I highly recommend spending some time over there.  

Prodigal

I know I am long overdue for a proper post.  And, as always, I offer my apologies in its place. However, I thought I would send a quick update on what's been going on since my return from Spain.

First of all, Spain was amazing.  I still plan to write about it as soon as I get a moment to breathe.  I managed to do that thing I often do, which is not leave myself enough time to sit with one experience before diving into twelve others.  To be fair, though, I just didn't feel I had the luxury (or the nerve) to ask for more time away from work after so kindly being granted an entire month.  So, the busyness of life was waiting for me practically the moment the plane touched down in RDU.

I did learn some good lessons on my journey, and am working on putting them into play.  Part of forging this new path found me boldly making the decision to sublet my apartment and rent a swankier (read: more expensive) one.  It's definitely a good move, and I'll explain more about it later, but it means that I am now in the process of packing up my house and working tons to pay all the new deposits and such.  This holiday season will be a different kind of busy for me this year.  It is hard, definitely, but a necessary beginning, and I am glad to be doing it.  So, that is why, dear reader, it is taking me sooooo long to write about my trip. But write about it I will.  I hope you'll stay tuned ...

On the Verge

photo via: Historias Troyanas

I owe that I am seriously overdue in my writing.  I also confess that I have shamelessly allowed my resolve to dissolve over the past couple months.  There is so much that can happen in this busy-ness called Life that distracts and distorts all that is importantly true and truly important.  And I have been swallowing gallons of mundane minutiae and mania since last I took digits to keyboard. 

However, it’s all for good tale.  I have been working so hard (and so often) for the sake of that which is on the verge.  On the last day of this very month I leave for Spain with my Dad and one of his childhood pals to walk on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.  We’ll be gone a month walking and waking, talking and making new roads of our own as we reintroduce ourselves to ourselves and to each other.  My heart is so full for this adventure.  I am tying up my loose ends and preparing to disconnect from the world of ones and zeroes and reconnect to the world of blood and bones and breath.  I am ready to engage in the world community again in the way only the traveler can.  I am ready to spend some quality time with my Dad, affectionately known as The Dude.  (And, no, this is actually NOT a reference to The Big Lebowski.)  And when I return, I will tell you all about it.

No computer goes with me on this trip, only my phone – for tunes and photos.  I will carry paper and pen and record my impressions the old fashioned way. I’ll look forward to sharing it all with you.  Should I get access to any internet cafés, I may shoot out a few updates here and there.  Be on the lookout.  I will miss you all while I’m gone, but you will be with me in spirit. 

Have a sweet slip into the melancholic nostalgia of Autumn!  And enjoy the cool crisp mornings and evenings as Summer’s grip begins to loosen.  Ciao for now!

Xoxo,

Melanie   

Resolution Revamp: June's Progress ... Or Lack Thereof?

Here's the Resolution Revamp post for June.  I hope you enjoy reading it!

xoxo,
Melanie

Resolution Revamp: May (a little late)

Hello!  My monthly guest blog post is (finally!) up at Resolution Revamp.  It's titled Springing Into Action!  Go here to check it out.  I hope you enjoy it!

xoxo,
Melanie

(photo via 365nashville.com)

Inspiration and Germination

photo courtesy of www.singletripadvisor.com

For those of you who don’t know, I teach a yoga class on Friday mornings.  This class is very dear to me.  It was built up from literally nothing – no attendees – to the thriving, and sometimes overflowing, experience it is today.  We have become not just a class, but a community.  I must admit that I may learn more from the folks who attend than they do from me … though I do think there’s a fair exchange of information, inspiration and growth taking place. 

The most recent gift I received from this class came to me just last week.  A gentleman who had attended the class a handful of times waited afterwards to ask me to show him a few poses for some physical issues he'd been having.  As I was going through some asanas with him, we began to chat.  The next thing we knew we were sitting on our mats sharing the unfolding of a beautiful conversation about life, travel and passion.  Yes, it was one of those conversations.  The kind of conversation that reaches deep down inside and starts gently sweeping against the flint of dulled senses until a spark is ignited.  I could feel that spark beginning to warm me from the inside out.  It was delicious. 

We talked for an hour.  We talked primarily about our shared passions for getting out into the world and discovering meaning in life by sharing our gifts with others and delighting in gifts received.  Talking with this man reminded how much joy and inspiration I feel when I am on the road.  It also reminded me how easily I can allow my senses to grow dull and dusty as I settle into the mundane tasks of letting roots grow in any one place for too long.  The sleeping nomad was awakened, and now she is getting restless. 

The irony of this sweet and soulful exchange, was that this gentleman will no longer be attending my yoga class.  In fact, he left the country just this week.  He’s off living his adventure, and I am here blooming in the wake of his inspiration.  I am sad that I won’t get to talk with him face to face again soon, but am so very grateful for those few small moments that we did.   

Seeds were planted.  Ideas are germinating.  Plans are being researched.  Nothing is decided as yet, but I will keep you posted as this inspiration grows and takes shape.  We’ll see what it will grow into and how it will manifest.  I have a feeling it will be spectacular when it reaches full bloom.

Happy Season of Creation and Growth!

photo via http://doctorrenee.wordpress.com/

xoxo,

Melanie

April: Birth and Rebirth

Here is April's Resolution Revamp post.  Hopefully as things settle I'll be posting more here on Experiments In Bliss.  Stay tuned.

xoxo,
Melanie