Ho ho ho, and just like that, it’s over. Another Christmas over, another holiday season wrapping up, another end to another year. What was 2015 like for me? A year of great change- we moved from Toronto to LA and it was really all about settling into a new city, learning to parent without the support and security net of my own parents and parents-in-law, but mostly figuring out what I want to do with all of the new opportunities in this new city.
What do I hope for in 2016? It’s something I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately. I know blogging-as-a-career is an ambition of mine that I hope to push into high gear. I know getting fit and healthier is another one. On a larger scale though, I want to marry a strongly held conviction with a mantra I’ve been turning to more and more as I set goals for the next year. That conviction? Do it with passion or not at all. The mantra? Eat well, travel often, pray daily. Small, simple words but each carries so much resonance and impact. In the spirit of living authentically, let me expand on each.
Eat well
Yes, definitely. This one is based around not only my intent to be more ambitious and veer out of my comfort-food zone, but also extends to learning to cook better, not just for myself and my health, but for the well being of my growing children. It has started to bother me more and more that whilst I can grasp the intricacies of designing a website, or an invitation suite for a printing press, somehow the finer points of whipping up a meal effortlessly, like my own mother always has, escapes me. Why is that? It isn’t that I’m incapable of it, surely anyone can read a recipe! And to be fair, I do cook occasionally, but it’s always a rushed and stressful process. I’m reaching a point, however, where my lack of commitment to the kitchen just won’t do. I have to suck it up and search for my inner Martha. I need to find my Ina and my Giada.
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I do believe a part of the problem lies in scheduling (or lack thereof). Whereas I can, and do, find time for my blogging, designing, clients and collaborators, I have often found myself lacking any kind of organization when it comes to sorting out mealtimes. What I need is an editorial calendar for my kitchen! One of my best friends has a simple chalkboard hanging in hers. She plans out the week’s menu in advance each weekend, shops accordingly, and follows the “cook once, eat twice” rule. These are all steps that are a part of the solution. Finding easy to follow recipes is another, and finally (or maybe firstly!) admitting that this is something I need to get a handle on. Outside of the necessities of eating well and instilling good habits in them, I’ll admit while I want my children to look back on their childhood with fondness and say our mom did a great job with her blog/business, I also want them to look for that one meal that is “just like mom made” and reminds them of home and all of its comforts. I could probably write a cookbook of foods that connect me to my mom in a similar way and it is a precious connection!
Travel often
This one is probably on everyone’s list, right? Who doesn’t love to travel? To explore, to get lost in a different culture, a different environment, new sounds, new smells, all of it. It’s wonderful. Since we are new to the United States and we don’t have the finances yet to take long plane rides to explore alleyways in Europe and gardens in Japan, the plan is to rent an RV at some point and drive around. I want to see the Joshua Tree, visit the Redwoods, hike in Ojai, and sip tea in San Francisco, amongst other adventures. It doesn’t matter how far you go, it’s important that you just go. After all, the journey itself is as much an adventure as the destination!
[Tweet “”The journey itself is as much an adventure as the destination.” – @sofreshsochic”]Pray daily
This is entirely personal and so close to my heart. There was a time before we had children, before the buzz of daily life was as vibrant as it is now, before the busy-ness that occupies my time, that prayer was so much more than just a passing thought before drifting off to bed. To pray more, and to pray daily, to make a habit out of it and to make time for it, this is so important for me. I feel a sense of urgency, a sense that time is slipping away too quickly. I read somewhere that you should take the time to pray before prayers are being said for you. That resonated with me deeply and it haunts me daily. There is something about the act of kneeling down and giving yourself over to prayer that brings calm. I really do believe it is the foundation for peace in my own personal life. It doesn’t really matter if you are spiritual or not, if you follow one faith or another, or none at all, I think it’s so important to find some quiet time daily to sit and breathe. To meditate and reflect. Perhaps hold a pose or a stretch just that much longer to align yourself for the day ahead.
Have you thought about your goals for next year?
Do you know how you plan to shape the year ahead? If finding your mantra seems too daunting, perhaps start with just a simple word as a colleague of mine does. Her word for 2015 was “Grace”; her word for next year is “Bright”. I particularly love this idea for it’s simplicity.
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I also think as necessary as it is to look inwards it is also important to look at the world around you when searching for your resolution. With the unrest and volatility that seemed to permeate so much of this year, “Gratitude”, “Kindness”, and “Patience” are all words that are close to my heart and intentions too.
Whatever you choose, start small and work towards incorporating the meaning in all it’s forms- physical, mental and spiritual and in how you approach people and situations- both inside and outside the home. Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it takes time and work, and a real change in attitude, to embrace a new way of thinking. You will probably slip up at some point in the next 365 days but that’s ok- good intentions go a long way in sustaining your spirit and enthusiasm for positive change. Stay the course!
[Tweet “”Good intentions go a long way in sustaining your spirit & enthusiasm for positive change.””]As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on life and living. Please leave me a comment below and tell me your plans for the new year. Do you have a personal mantra or a focus word? Are you setting goals for yourself? What do you hope to achieve? Tell me everything, friends!