Goodbye 2012 - Hello 2013!!

Typically, we're several months into the new year when I learn about great ideas people had for making the year the best it can be!  Well, not this year!! I've been on the lookout for new ideas and am sharing them here.  If you have a fresh take on new year's resolutions, please share it in a comment!  Here they are, in no particular order:

Five Things To Do Instead of New Year's Resolutions:
"Tired of the traditional New Year’s resolution to lose weight, get fit, or get out of credit card debt?  Below are five fresh alternatives to help you celebrate yourself in 2012, and get to your goals in 2013."

1. Write yourself a letter from your future self, dated 1/1/2014.

2. List your favorite memory and triumphs of 2012, including the challenges you faced with courage or humor (even if things didn't turn out the way you hoped).

3. Imagine the highlights of 2013. Make a list of at least 5 things to look forward to in the coming year.

4. Make a list of what you are grateful for in your life.

5. Make a 2013 commitment to someone else.

Read more about it here.

Jar Full of Goodness!

Start the year with an empty jar and fill it with notes about good things that happen. Then, on New Years Eve, empty it and see what awesome stuff happened that year. Good way to keep things in perspective.


On days when nothing particularly good happens, I'm going to write something I'm grateful for, so I'll end the year with 365 notes!





The Tabata Protocol

My son told me about this and it looks very doable.  The Tabata Protocal is the best supra-aerobic cardio workout ever discovered! 
Read more here.


Here are a couple of alternative resolution ideas:

Ten Alternative New Year's Resolution Ideas

Five Food-Related Resolutions

Last thing - DO NOT forget to say RABBIT, RABBIT, RABBIT the first thing when you wake up January 1st and you'll have a lucky year!  If you do it the first thing every month, that month will be lucky.  Stop rolling your eyes and just do it - what could it hurt?

Again - if you have some ideas that are not listed here, please share them in a comment!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!

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New Year's Word: Balance

A writer friend of mine, Cat Woods, posted about her new alternative to New Year's Resolutions.  She chose one word that will motivate her throughout the year. I chose a word but, as I was thinking it through, I realized I'll need two more words to make my first word work.  

BALANCE

I chose the word balance because I am constantly trying to balance the various areas of my life - family, friends, health, teaching, writing, hobbies, interests . . . - and it's often hard to do.

FOCUS

But, balance isn't enough.  If I don't focus, I can't achieve balance.  I flit from thing to thing, often leaving things half-finished or finished, but not to the best of my ability. 

  

PLANNING

And, balance and focus won't happen unless I use planning.  If I take the time to plan my days and for upcoming events, I'll be prepared to focus on each aspect individually and fully, and I'll achieve balance.  Well, that's my goal at least.   

In addition to adding these words, I'm hoping to strike the phrase "should have" from my vocabulary.  If I apply planning, focus and balance, I "shouldn't have" cause to use it!

Typically, I would have posted this without giving it another thought and later I'd be saying to myself, "I should have had a giveaway for my first post of the year!".  But, since I'm banning that phrase from my life and I'm doing more focusing and planning, I stopped myself!  

Introducing, my first giveaway of 2012!!!

You can earn up to three entries by doing the following:

1 - Comment here with your word - or words - for the new year (required).  

2 - Link to this post on your website, blog, facebook or twitter.  

3 - Follow this blog (if you're already a follower, you'll get an entry).

I'll randomly pick from the entries a week from today, January 8th and one lucky winner will receive a $25 gift card to the independent bookstore of his/her choice.

Good luck - and may the word be with you!  (sorry, I can't resist a bad pun!)

Six-word Resolution

The bloggers over at Teaching Authors challenged their readers to write a six-word new year's resolution. There will be prizes - check it out! Here's my six-word resolution:

Embrace the changes that are coming!