Breathing in the New Year

I've decided that 2010's theme is Discipline, with a capitol D.  My dad said, "With discipline follows wisdom."  So it appears I'm on track to have wisdom be the theme of 2011. Hah.

Apparently, my idea of discipline involves developing some routines and sticking to them.  I've been feeling a little... untethered (Is that a word?) lately.   So I've come up with a few plans to get various parts of my life back on track.  --Including a list of 6 month goals, which I'm happy with so far.

However, I've recently been harshly reminded that life is fleeting.

So routines aside, I'd like to marvel at the little things in 2010.  To honor life by being more aware of  all we've been given.  To pause and take the time to appreciate each day, each breath. To not take the small bumps in the road so seriously.  To read more books.  Go on more walks.  Listen to more music.  Learn some new-to-me cooking techniques.  Laugh, laugh, laugh.  To hold close the people (and animals) in my life, and enjoy the quiet times, while we have them.  To take care in the new year.

Some Official Business for the Official New Year:

I do not like resolutions.  Especially the New Years variety. But perhaps not for the reasons you would think.  Really, I'm a big chicken.  Yep, the idea of next year having to face a list of unresolved, forgotten resolutions makes me feel sick.  So for the last few years I haven't made them.  ( Uh, yes there's another obvious solution to that queasy feeling.  Yes, I know...)  However, this year things need to get done.  Things need to get moving.  

When setting goals, people advise you to look ahead and think about where you'd like to end up.  Then break down all the little steps you need to do to get there.  Work backwards.  For the first time in a while I have some ideas of what I'd like my life to look like in a year.  For a long long time after school I really had no idea where I heading.  I just went with the flow for years.  And it served me well for the most part.  I got to be a part of a lot of great things.  But these days I'm longing for some structure. And some goals.  Some deadlines.   And I suspect all the fun, surprising projects and collaborations will come my way anyhow.  

The Official Business:

My priorities for the year 2008 are

• my illustration career.  Nurturing and expanding it.

• heading to the gym at least four times a week.

•doing a drawing a day.  even a little teeny one counts.  But really, this one is about remembering and appreciating how much I love drawing.  Back to my roots, so to speak.