HANDCRAFTED: Imagine the possibilities
“Progress is impossible without change & those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” - George Bernard Shaw
After a week of remote learning & finishing up my Holiday Open House appointments, I was feeling exhausted, so I gave myself a week to do nothing during Thanksgiving break. The only thing that I got out of my break, was depressed. Turns out, I’m someone who vacating does not relax. I learned something about myself!! Woot!! I was surprised to learn that feeling directionless leaves me almost as depleted as feeling exhausted. Instead, I learned that I should have asked myself: what’s the opportunity? What do I need? What would make me feel rested? Because, when I ask myself those questions, I know all of the answers.
We are stepping into the opportunity of a new year. Clean Slate. Full of possibility!! Ask yourself these 5 questions to unlock your possibilities for 2021.
What are the opportunities in 2021?
Where do you want to head to? What have you danced with and let go? Where have you failed & quit, pretended it didn’t matter to you? For me it’s getting in shape. I have many reasons, excuses, failures, successes. Lets just say my dance card is full from how many laps around the ballroom I have had with this partner! This year I am committing to losing 35 lbs & to learning to manage all of the negative emotions that come along with this.
What do you want to learn this year?
I do not have nearly as much emotional drama tied up with this one. I just LOVE learning. So much that I’m making it a life goal to learn a new skill each year! This year it’s video!! I would love to make videos as part of my marketing campaign for the greenhouse. I would also LOVE to capture my kids’ voices and the magic of them moving through this world! So! I have begun a Creative Live class (an online learning website that teaches SO many new creative skills) to learn family video. I am going to use my family as my compelling reason why, but also as something I’m doing just for joy. This makes worrying about not doing it well enough less of an issue! I love the Creative Live videos they’re very reasonably priced and they give you everything you need such as equipment requirements, and what programs are needed. I am so thrilled to add this to my project list this year! I can’t wait to show you what I create!
I’d say he is obviously proud of holding this pumpkin on his head!!
3. What would make you proud?
This December I walked/ran 50 miles! A dear friend of mine, Laura Andersen of Mayhill Moon, issued an accountability challenge during a time that I’d likely sit & do nothing for my body except overeat and overdrink. I willingly got myself up at 5:55 am, daily, to work towards this goal. After I accomplished the 50 miles, I felt amazing. I have come to realize that I have stopped setting goals because I let having kids, and every other excuse I could come up with get in the way of achieving them. I thought I was just not a “Goal Person,” but accepting this challenge, figuring out how I would accomplish it, and then nailing, early! was huge for me. This month I am going to walk 55 miles & complete 20 Barre Blend workouts. I am so excited about knocking this goal out!
It’s absolutely amazing to be recognized for something that is so essential to my life!
4. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR YEAR?
What would thrill you? I want to create more space to grow as an artist. I want to include more opportunities in my week to further my vision, voice, & skills. I want to create more opportunities to share myself with you! I have been a book designer for years. It thrills me to no end to create books for my family. I have given it a go doing this for clients. Something that I realized that I have been dreaming about is making books to sell in my store. I want to put all of my energy into one project. I want to put my heart and soul into something beautiful, and offer it to the world. This would be awesome to me. I have no clear idea of what this book that I will be offering at my spring open house will look like, but I can’t wait to get started and share my process with you!
We finally let go of diapers this year!!! 10 years of diapers! Done!!
5. WHAT DO YOU want to let go of?
What is no longer serving your life? A habit, the way you talk about yourself, a person that brings you down? For me it’s photography client work. I have dreamt for years of having a photography business. I have learned that although photography is something I love dearly, LOVE, but as a I am adding on new dreams to my plate with my own business & the greenhouse, something has to give. That for me is doing photography for clients. I want to put my whole heart & soul into my work during the day, and then go home at night and be with my family. I’m surprised at this, but I’m certain that right now it’s not serving me.
These 5 questions are game changers for me. A little introspection is a great way to start off your year with intention & purpose. I hope your new year is starting off with a big fat step into what is possible for you!!
Have a great week!!
Mandy