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I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions, I set intentions for the year instead. I’ve found that it’s a more powerful way to go about making permanent changes in your life, and intentions tend to “stick” better than resolutions, at least for me. I do love the blank slate a new year offers us, though, and I like to spend time reflecting, journaling and meditating to set the right tone for the year ahead.

Last Sunday, Cat Love and Above Club founder Siena-Lee Tajiri shared a wonderful process to help you reflect on the old year, celebrate the good, release what no longer serves you, and think about what you’d like to create in the new year. I’ve used a similar process for the past few years. I love the ritual of releasing what you no longer want in your life, but I love even more to focus on what I’d like to create for the new year.

Since we’re still in the middle of this seemingly never ending pandemic, I find it somewhat useless to make plans, because, as Woody Allen so aptly put it, “if you want to make God laugh, tell him your  plans.” That certainly has never been more true than these last two years! So rather than making plans (and honestly, I’ve never been much of a planner anyway,) I’m working on not worrying about what I can’t control (and oh, there is so much of that right now, isn’t there?) and focusing on what I can.

Mostly, I’m focusing on taking good care of myself and my health, because if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that you can never take your health for granted.

I’ve been taking long walks every day for most of my life, and I’ll certainly continue that. I’m also continuing my daily workouts with Schellea Fowler, an energetic 50-something-year-old who offers a series of short workouts on her fabulous50s Youtube channel. Working out has never been this much fun for me. I love that the videos are short – some as short as 5 minutes, others 10, 15 or 30 minutes – so they can be easily squeezed in throughout even the busiest day.

I’m also going to continue my daily meditations. Katie Krimitsos and her Women’s Meditation Network have had such a positive impact on my life.  I can’t recommend this resource highly enough. If you’ve always wanted to meditate but just never got around to it, this is a great time to start.

And of course, above all else, I’m focusing on keeping Allegra happy and healthy!

What’s one thing that you will focus on this year?

7 Comments on Sunday Quotes: New Year, Fresh Start

  1. Shellea is fabulous. My daughter introduced me to her even though she’s much younger than 50 and I find that I can work her workout into my day between talking with patients. Hugs and kisses to Allegra from my seven guys

  2. Great idea! I like white paper and like very large pieces, so I can just write and write. I can
    vent my frustrations and come up with new ideas that’ll make me feel much better, more alive and raring to go out into the big bad world. We should all be like Tony the Tiger and roar then take off running. Have a great week everyone and love and kisses or licks to Allegra or pats, whatever makes her happy.

  3. I already take good care of myself physically…eat healthy, workout with a great trainer 5 times per week…but…what I would like to and need to do is stop procrastinating SO much and take better care of my anxiety issues. The most important though is to keep taking great care of my Furkids!

  4. That is a wonderful work-out video. And so doable, even in a small space like mine., and with my balance issue.

  5. I plan to take better care of myself since I have to retire a few years earlier than anticipated due to health issues. I am finding wonderful vegetarian recipes and have been cooking soups that are restaurant worthy. Need to loose a few pounds and get back to my old crafting days doing stamping and making cards and back to cross stitching. The most important thing is to take care of Tasha.

  6. I haven’t made New Year resolutions in years. I never could stick with them. I honestly haven’t even put much thought into what I want this year other than for covid to go away so we can all get back to normal. Thank you for the link to the workouts. It does sound like something that would be useful. I like that she focuses on the over 50 crowd.

  7. I want to bring creativity back into my life. My job has taken over and I need to gain some of that time back for creativity. I also need to start back on the treadmill again.

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