Hello You!!

“Another fresh new year is here . . .

Another year to live!

To banish worry, doubt, and fear,

To love and laugh and give!

...This bright new year is given me

To live each day with zest . . .

To daily grow and try to be

My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity

Once more to right some wrongs,

To pray for peace, to plant a tree,

And sing more joyful songs

 

 

 

Prompt: Core story. What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)

This past year has been a year of discovery. Discovering self - my creative self, my inner strength, self love, and learning how to show my self to the world.  I share my geniune self through my art, through acts of kindness, through honesty, by living and acting upon my ethics and values, and my continuous efforts to be the best I can be.

This year was a year of discovering true love. The kind of love that mere words cannot describe. Once in an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale. I am so thankful to have not settled for a life without it.

I re-discovered my daughter...under her own pain and hurts she is still there, and I am so glad she's back. Together we can truly do anything!

Together we are family.

In 2011 I will continue forward, and enjoy all that has been discovered.

Direction

Prompt: Try. What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn't go for it?

I want to go to a naturopath in the New Year, learn guitar, launch my website, take some art/photography courses, I still have yet to skinny dip, and mostly travel outside of Canada...or in Canada, as long as I travel somewhere new.

Prompt: Healing. What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?

Love healed me. The love of a great man,  wonderful and supportive family, fantastic friends. Love truly heals all things.

Prompt: Future self. Imagine yourself five years from now. What advice would you give your current self for the year ahead? (Bonus: Write a note to yourself 10 years ago. What would you tell your younger self?)

Dear Sara,

Please don't worry about your future. Just believe in yourself and take chances. Trust your intuition and know that you have what it takes. Smile, be happy. Live, love and laugh!

xoxo
Yourself

Eve, Joy and the Outdoors

Prompt: New name. Let's meet again, for the first time. If you could introduce yourself to strangers by another name for just one day, what would it be and why?

I'm sure I would choose Eve. It happens to be my middle name and a traditonal family name as well. I like that it is simple, different and beautiful. 


Prompt: Photo - a present to yourself. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.

I chose this picture...as I am in my favorite place, doing my favorite thing with some of my favorite people! Relaxed and happy. And it was my love who captured the moment.

Prompt: Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

I believe this year I found the most joy when I was outside. I got outdoors more this year and truly loved it. The wind, the birds, the sun, the fresh air. Whether it was biking, hiking, walking, stomping, running, or just plain old cloud watching..the best moments were in the outdoors.

Take A Look around...You're already there

Prompt: 11 Things. What are 11 things your life doesn't need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?

1.Worry
2.Guilt
3.Doubt
4.Drama
5.Boredom
6.Shame
7.Failure
8.Resentment
9.Toxins
10.Hurt
11.Fear

I want to Fly in 2010. Let go and just Be. I am taking hold of the reins, and no letting anyone or any event dictate who I should be.

I have been busy and learned much in the past few years, and I want 2011 to be about transforming that knowledge into something wonderful. I am starting right now, by forgiving. This is a wholly selfish thing mind you...i forgive for my sake alone. There is no need to hold on to any of the above feelings..doing so only hurts myself. By forgiving and letting go of negatives, I make way for more positives...and that can only amount to more happiness.

Prompt: 5 minutes. Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.

"Meeting" my love and , My daughter saying, "I Love You" again

Prompt: Lesson learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

That I AM good enough just by being me, and I am stronger than even I understood

Every Time We Love, Every Time We Give, It's Christmas

OOoooops..I posted my latest prompts on my other blog by accident...Check that out at.....Gratitude


Here's a great link to Zen Habits....where they discuss how to attain Peace...which is all i want for Christmas!

One of my fav christmas songs, by one of my favorite guys...

I like the Michael Buble version better, but this is the one I could find with lyrics. They strick a chord with me at this time of year, and the pictures really tell a story. This is what Christmas means to me...

Here are some decorations around my new place...

 This Is At My Love's House...our xmas silohuettes

 My First Ever Poinsetta

 And look what I found.....

The Best Ever Christmas movies

And Some more Christmasy Pics to get you in the mood....

Okay...just one more tune

Happy Holidays to you all!

Not All Who Wander, Are Lost

Prompt2: Writing. What do you do each day that doesn't contribute to your writing -- and can you eliminate it?


Well....
 
Work, singlemomdom, and creative pursuits in general are what keep me busy, and from writing each day. I can not eliminate any of these things, nor do I wish it to be so! In fact, after I lost my job as a creative copywriter many moons ago, I had a lot of trouble writing at ALL. So, in 2009-2010 I found blogging, and although I wish I could get here more often....I feel that I have overcome my doubts about my writing abilities and have learned to love it once again.

 
Prompt3: Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).
 
My bike is purple. And it's the coolest thing EVER! On a warm sunny afternoon, zooming down by the river with the wind in my hair, and a smile on my face. My Love cruising alongside me. That's when I feel completely alive.

Prompt4: Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?

Wonder...I feel as though 2010 was full of the stuff. I had thought after 2009's debacle of events, that I was set to live my life alone. I had braced myself for this fact, and had deliberately decided that love wasn't worth it. Wonder of wonders....life had other plans for me. And as the saying goes, when you stop looking that's where you'll find it. Before my very eyes all along, where I least expected it, when I had no intentions of doing so, I fell in love. And it has given me such tremendous joy and satisfaction. It has taught me to never, say never. Miracles DO happen. Something I thought was so horrible, was actually a blessing in disguise. I could have spent my entire life being miserable, with the wrong someone. Instead...I was given another chance to be with the one I truly was meant for. Everything happens for a reason....I know that is true.

Discovery

Normally, I wouldn't do this...just for the fact that others are, and I tend to shy away from trends. But this trend is GREAT!! I love it...it's a way to take stock of the year that was. A way to actively work towards owning the year that has yet to be.
If you haven't already...get on it.....Reverb 10

Prompt: One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you're choosing that word. Now, imagine it's one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?




DISCOVERY:
 
I thought long and hard for a word that would sum up 2010. I finally came up with DISCOVERY for the following reasons.
 
 I discovered true love. I had been told, and had read that when you finally find your Mr. Right you'll just 'know' I thought I had known this before, but I discovered that, that was just me, convincing myself. My Love is my prince, a man I completely trust, and feel safe being myself with.  He is truly my soul mate and carries my heart, in his heart.
 
 

 
I discovered....my creative side again! I spent much time doing things I have always longed to. I explored my love of photography, art, design, writing, crafting and cooking. Taking time for these things has brought me so much joy and happiness.
 
 
 

I found strength. More than I thought I possessed. I dug deep, and found that life goes on, and you can be happy, even happier than before, if you just keep moving forward.
 
 

 
 
I discovered gratitude. It's in the littliest things, in the tiniest of moments, that truly inspire. Family, friends, laughing, a smile, giving to others. To keep positive and remember that there is so much to be thankful for.
 
 
 

 
I discovered family. A new one,(in my new step-girlies-they opened my heart to even more love) and one that has always been there, but had gotten a bit bogged down by a series of misfortunate events. My daughter and I have finally come through this stronger, and better. We found each other again. To hear her say, " I love you," in return was the best moment! To see her progress makes me so proud!
 
 

 
 
 I learned to say No...that I can't be everywhere and do everything. I am not perfect, and that is ok. . I try hard to be a good girlfriend, friend, daughter, sister, Mom, family member, co-worker. Sometimes I can't be all these things at once, and sometimes I don't get it right, but I try....that is enough. And people that truly 'get it' will still be there.
 

I discovered ME again....or possibly for the first time. I had gotten lost in the fray...At the beggining of 2010 I was lost, and treading water just to keep my head above it all. But by keeping on, and taking baby steps forward I discovered what truly makes me smile.
 
 

 
 
DISCOVERY!!
 
And for 2011...word bird selects....
 
PEACE!
 
I hope for peace, quiet and a chance to breathe in 2011. I would like to feel settled. To stop looking around the corner for the next shoe to drop, or the next crisis. No drama, just living in the happiness and joy I have found.