2015. The Year of Intention

For the past couple of days, like I'm sure many of you, I have been reflecting over the past year and what has made it most memorable - the good and the bad; the happy and the sad.  It is easy to say in 2015, I will make a resolution to do this, that, or the other.  But why set resolutions that we know will  more than likely fail or flake away?? Instead, why don't we take the time to set intentions of doing good things and being better in the new year??  By living intentionally, we can only do better.

Looking back over 2014, I realized quickly that we can allow ourselves the opportunity to easily purge what is weighing us down and keeping us from being our true best selves if we just take the TIME to BE STILL and REFLECT. With this grace, we are also able to move forward with the small seeds from the past year that we want to help nurture and take root allowing ourselves to feed the beauty in our lives and help it flourish thus setting our true intentions.  

reflecting at the beach with sand between my toes. the beach is my favorite place to restore.

This past year has been full of many, many blessings, and I am grateful for each and every one. Just like all of us though, there have been many hardships as well.  Going forward, instead of focusing on the bad (ie: misdiagnosis of Lyme disease  - that's a post for a whole 'nother day) and the hiccups along the way, I will allow myself to take the time to be still and reflect on what is GOOD even in the bad. In 2015, I will focus on the many blessings God has provided us and continues to show us in our lives.  

...these and all our many blessings

I have put together a small list of intentions for the new year. Being mindful in all that I say and do will help set my overall intention for the new year - to do good even in the bad. Let go of expectations, failures, and mishaps and let them be.  They do not define who you are or who I am. Release the negativity and nurture the love and creativity around you (me).  Open your heart to it all!

backbends - the ultimate heart openers!

My Intentions for 2015:

*write more - journaling and keeping up with my blog.  This blog is a true reflection of the season I'm in and the seasons to come.  Most importantly, I want my children to be able to look back and see love reflected back at them!

*reflect more - mindful meditation is a good way to put it, but I think the word meditation turns some people off.  It's not necessarily about sitting in "om" than it is just taking the time to be still and calm the mind. 

*pay attention to the words I say and the thoughts I think. Keep a positive outlook even through the bad. Proverbs 18:21. When we are able to change the way we view ourselves in the world around us (bad days or the likes), we will change our mindsets for the better! 

*intentional prayer - being a part of a small group at church is helping me deepen my prayer life.  I have a strong support group that I feel so blessed to have in my life! 

*less technology... mindful technology (like this blog)! Less social media. 

*read more. I highly recommend Brene Brown. She speaks from the heart TO the heart. 

*learn more in the kitchen. In second grade, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I wrote: "I want to be a mama, a good cook, and a nurse." ...two out of three ain't bad! 

*learn from my mat. Yoga is a practice of meditation, and the more I practice, the better I become at calming my inner thoughts and daily stress.

*eat out less - by less I mean ONCE a month only. Sandfly BBQ, you're on the list... always! 

*taking from the post above, spend mindfully. Spend minimally. 

*live minimally. Use only what we need. Donate or sell (or don't buy!) the rest. In the month of January, I have been taking part of the minimalist challenge, getting rid of more and more each day. minimalist challenge

*less is more. more time to spend with the ones we love! more time at home! 

*focus more on our children and the home we have created.  Put more into THAT - the meaning of my life!

*be more mindful of others and their feelings.  Reach out to friends more often. 

*nurture relationships that make me feel good. Let go of the ones that do not serve me. Let go of negativity.

*Give intentionally. 

*LIVE INTENTIONALLY. 

Won't you join me?  2015 is going to be the best year yet!!!

***I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ***

  

our little whippersnapper