Friday I'm in Love has been hijacked by a post all about goals...cause...2022... :)

Every year, I set goals.
I set SO many goals.
In fact, it’s possible I set
TOO many goals…
I never hit them all…
I carry them over from one year to
another…and I rarely
cross off what I wanna cross off.

So this year
I decided to try something new.

I am picking 4 areas and setting one
blanket goal for each.
Then each month, I will try
to set mini goals
based on the blanket goals…
confuse you yet?

The other thing
that I am going to do that I
am really, really, REALLY
excited about
is setting 30 day
challenges for myself…
I haven’t decided on what they will be yet
but the first one is
intermittent fasting (the light version, haha).

Other ideas include
30 days of
smoothies,
doodles (likely in October),
yoga,
walks/trails,
adventures,
photography…

:)

2021 - glow

I have been choosing a word
to use as my touchstone,
as my focus point,
as my compass
since 2008

Some years, it has worked really
well for me…
other years, I had forgotten what the
word even was by February.

Last year,
my word was ignite.
It was a good word…
just maybe, bad timing.
COVID slowed me down a little
in the sense that it caused
a lot of mental and emotional stress & strain
even if I wasn’t directly negatively affected
in the way that others were.

Adjustments and fear and negativity
and the new normal and vaccines
and all of that strain wears you down
even if you aren’t aware of it at the time…
I found myself more emotional, easily angered,
scared, sad, and tired…soooooo tired.

Anyway. My point is it was not the word that failed
but the circumstances. And I did have some gains
in the areas that I wanted to move forward in
so it was not a total loss.

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This year,
I knew I wanted to focus on self care.
I turned 50 this year….if you follow me here
or on other social media,
you will know that I do not always make my own
health a priority. Haha.

In 2021, I want to be truly happy and secure.
I want INTRINSIC happiness, i want it to come from within.
And when I picture that, I picture myself glowing…
so that became 2021’s word.
It just immediately resonated with me.

This means my big picture goals
are going to be related to things like
less screen time (putting my phone away),
meditation, yoga (with definite goals),
healthy eating, vitamins, medical appointments…
that kind of thing.

I am also considering stepping back
creatively in a sense.
Too often, I let myself
get caught up in what
would other people like to see,
what would sell?
Or I agree to create things based on
specifics…
which has been very good for me
as far as pushing me out of my comfort zone
but I am considering
making this year about just
free-styling…
winging it…
follow my gut feelings
and interests and see where they take me.

(this is not to say that I won’t have
any items for sale this year…just that it
won’t be my main focus during the
creative process…)

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I’m looking forward to the new year…
all bright and shiny and optimistic and
hope it’s full of laughter, health and happiness for everyone.
♥♥♥

48 years...

48 years ago today
my parents
walked down the aisle
and
everything that followed
has forever
shaped my life.

when i was kid
i thought
i wanted
to live in new york
to go to all the parties and concerts and be a rock star (or an astronaut)...
to drive a purple fiaro
and follow billy idol
around the world...

i know now
that what i really
always wanted
is a marriage
just like my parents.

they fit together.

she tones down his crazy
finger snapping whistling antsy kind of ways
in a way no one else can.
and he makes her laugh
at least 5 times a day...
usually without even trying to.

they taught me so many things...
without ever saying
"here are the things that you need to learn about love...pay attention"

• don't ever, ever call each other names in anger.  no matter what. ever.
• listen to each other's stories...yeah...maybe you don't know what the other person is talking about when they explaining a timing belt or venting about cranky customers but still...listen.
• things always look better in the morning.
• money is not the important thing. 
• if someone judges you on your clothes or your car or your house, you don't want to be friends with them anyway. 
• laugh.  in my family, teasing and sarcasm mean hey...we like you.  telling embarrassing funny stories about you...repeatedly...well...we obviously LOVE you.  it's how we show affection.
• be proud of who you are.  be interesting.  be kind.  be resourceful.  be creative.  be original.  be you.

happy 48 years, mom and dad....
you make it look easy.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥