Do You Do New Year’s Resolutions?

Although I celebrate New Year’s Eve and toast the New Year, I actually begin my celebration on IMG_7284Solstice – Darkest Night.

That’s when I light candles in each room and on my small altar.  It is also when I choose my One Word – that one word that will inform my intentions for the year.  My 2015 One Word is:  TransForm.  Below is my mini poster for fridge, desk and wallet

one word TransForm 1Solstice is also when I consider and pen my intentions (not resolutions) for the lengthening of days that lead to Spring and earth’s rebirth. I’m not going to begin them all on day one, but slowing work my way month by month through the 25 items on my 2015 Intention’s ToDo List.

  1. I intend to stock my Etsy Store this year.  So when an artist friend in Sacramento challenged me to join in the 30 paintings in 30 days January Challenge,  I’ll finally stock my Etsy on-line store this year.
  2. I intend to stick to my morning pages (read Julia Cameron’s Artist’s Way). I’ve been diligently doing since Solstice.
  3. I intend to keep up my Blog more consistently than I have this past year.  With this post being my first of 2015, I plan on posting at least 2 if not 3 days a week.

More to come – Happy 2015 y’all.

Did you choose “One Word” for 2014?

Watching the Today Show on January 1, I was fascinated to find an author, Jon Gordon, touting an alternative to the New Year’s resolutions that I, along with many others, annually make and rarely keep.

Although you can buy his book at Amazon (I haven’t yet, but might later), he explained his ‘one word’ premise – I’ve inserted a link to a free copy of a worksheet (not the book) that will help you choose your one word and get on with your new year.  He also encourages us to make our own “One Word” poster.

I chose CREATE as my one word for 2014

Definition:
Bring something into existence, produce, generate, make, fabricate, fashion, build, construct, establish, initiate, launch, develop…

I like this new approach to a new year more than making a lengthy resolutions.  Rather than resurrecting that old list of Must Dos and Must Don’ts, that hasn’t changed much in many years, I chose one word, an active verb, that encourages me to Create the life I want in 2014.  The possibilities are endless.

Although Gordon encourages us to make our poster from his website’s free downloadable templates, I made my own using using PowerPoint and a sunrise photo I took a few years back that I am particularly fond of.my one word poster create

It will be in the center of the 2014 Vision Board I’m working on this week.

Old Year/New Year

 It’s been a year of incredible loss.  The February fire took most all of my worldly goods and the life of one of the sweetest men I’ve ever known. I don’t miss the things, but I do miss my friend.I pulled an old poem from my archives which speaks to me now, as it did when I wrote it at another trying year’s end many years ago.Old Year, New Year.Old and gray – tired and worn

many died – more were born

much was said – so little done

with the rising and setting of each sun.

Farewell to thee with tears we say

and greet the new with laughter gay

So much could, should, would have done

but alas, I’d just begun and the year was gone.

And so, today I make firm resolution

to do much more by this year’s conclusion.

© Perle Champion

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