New Year, New Beginnings

I have always loved the holidays, I love the family, the good cheer, the decorating and for heaven's sake I love the baking! I always happily gain weight during the holidays because I am in love with all those treats! This year was particularly wonderful for me, I spent glorious weeks celebrating not just one, but two holidays, and I cooked up a storm. And, as much as I love the holidays, I also love when they are over. The quiet interim between Christmas and New Year when you begin to shift gears, wind down from the excitement and quietly plan for the coming year.

Many people like to make resolutions at this time of year, because it feels like a natural time to do it. Some resolutions are concrete and goal oriented like "I will lose that 15 pounds I've been carrying around", but mine are more like intentions. Last year's resolution was "more adventure" and I started it off with a bang by going snow camping. I did have a lot of adventure in 2014, I traveled almost non-stop and visited 3 foreign countries in addition to many states in the US. It was a time of distraction and running away. Not in a negative sense, but in a healing sense. This year, however, I am looking for something a little different. My intention this year I think of as "deepening". I am ready to relax a little, get back to working on things, and put out some roots. All of that adventure was fun, but I know I need to get grounded again. And in the works are some changes to allow that deepening to happen.

Sometimes life takes a lot of courage. And sometimes it is as simple as changing your point of view, and following your intention.

Hello New Year! I hope we shall be friends!