The "Theme" for 2012

Here it is!! A brand new year, full of possibilities...

I try very hard to learn from the past, but not dwell on it.
It happened.
It's over.
Time to learn from it and move on.

Last year at this same time, I decided not to make any New Year's Resolutions.

Life is good. In fact, it's very, very good. And although I AM making some resolutions for 2012, my "theme" for 2012 started back around Thanksgiving.

You see, I was shopping and I saw a calendar that said "Live With Intention." That's it. Those three small words - "Live With Intention" struck me to the core.

And so it began... It was nothing really at first. Just small changes. Spending more time with the people I love. And way, way less time in front of a computer screen. I stopped checking Facebook every day.

I stopped replying to e-mails instantly. BUT I started calling (yep, on the PHONE!!) friends who e-mailed me and needed an answer. Sometimes, I would even stop by to see them!!! No texting. No e-mailing. Not even a phone call! An actual face-to-face meeting!!

I also deleted e-mail subscriptions... No more Swarm Jam or Deal of the Day or Groupon e-mails. No more updates from local stores with their weekly amazing deals!

And I am trying desperately to STOP procratinating!! If I don't have time to do a good, thorough job though, I won't even start it. It will get done... I just need to have the time to do the job properly.

I've been trying to organize our home, declutter and unpack - from both the move here 4.5 years ago and from the flood in the fall of 2009. And although it drives my hot husbanno crazy, my answer is not to throw everything away! I now make weekly deposits of good, clean, used clothes and shoes in the charity donation bins located throughout our area.
After Hallowe'en, I sent a box of dress up clothes to my niece. She immediately dressed up as a fairy princess! I also sent a costume sewn by my step-Mom, worn by many of my brothers to one of my brothers for his son to wear. We always thought it was a green dinosaur, but once it was received by my brother, we found out it was actually a frog costume. Who knew? And yet another bag of costumes went to our great-nephew. I know all will be reused and loved! Way better than throwing them in the garbage! Or donating them to strangers!

There were a few items sent to the donation bins and unfortunately I did have to throw a couple of things away! :-( I really, really hate to throw ANYTHING away because I truly believe in reusing items; that someone out there could really use it and we have more than enough garbage in the world right now!! We don't need to create any more garbage!

And it continues... I am trying to use up all the extra "stuff" that what we have, get rid of what we don't use and organize what we are keeping - all at the same time. It's very gratifying! I am loving it! It's not easy; it's emotional sometimes. Like sending that homemade costume. I remember my children wearing that costume. I think the greatest moment was hearing the emotion in my brother's voice once he received it; as he remembered wearing that costume himself and thought of his son wearing it in the future.

Now I am attempting to do the same thing with Christmas - our ornaments, home decorations - inside and out, the Santa & Mrs. Clause who light up and move (that our children have outgrown, but we are all having a difficult time letting go of them...), the stocking that says "Tessa" from our dog that passed away in 2009, and on the list goes...

And I am procrastinating. :-( I know I shouldn't; I should just tackle this project. But I digress...

I have a friend who is trying to "Simplify" in 2012.
And another who is attempting to be more "Healthy" in 2012.

I am just going to stick with "Live With Intention". I can hear it, feel it in my very soul. And although, there are very few outward signs of change; there is a whole lot of change going on inside.

Here is the full poem by Mary Anne Radmacher:

Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Play with abandon.
Practice wellness.
Laugh.
Risk love.
Fail with enthusiasm.
Continue to learn.
Appreciate your friends.
Choose with no regret.
Stand by your family.
Celebrate the holidays that make sense.
Lead, or follow a leader.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is.


I feel each sentence, each line deserves a moment of our time.
A moment to contemplate.
A moment to think about how you can change your own life in order to "Live With Intention".

A very blessed 2012 to you all,
Nic