A Fresh Start

No foolin' - it's really me!

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Thus far, 2013 has been "The Year of Sick" (for both me and my computer), and while it feels like the only balancing I've been doing is between doctors' appointments and pill bottles (and external hard drives), the end of March shone a light at the end of the tunnel. Though it's hard to grasp that we are now one-fourth of the way through what still seems like the new year, I'm happy for a new month and a new season with which to give myself a fresh start (or restart, as the case may be).

I think the universe often finds a way to tell us what we need to hear. Glennon Doyle Melton on her Today Show appearance this morning emphasized the importance of showing up and talked about focusing on "grabbing a couple great moments a day" as opposed to feeling guilty for not enjoying every moment.

So here I am, showing up. No apologies, no guilt, no real plan. Just putting one foot in front of the other, typing one letter after another, trying to grab a couple of great moments along the way.

2013: The Year of Balance

As was probably evident in yesterday's visual year in review, 2012 has been a fun but busier-than-before year. Thus, to say that I bit off way more than I could chew with my goals this year is an understatement. That said, I still have a lot to show for oh-twelve.

In the midst of the crazy that was my work life this year, which included planning and executing three community-wide events, writing three English units and editing two language arts textbooks, designing and editing six newspapers and twelve newsletters, and launching and maintaining several social media campaigns, I still (though it beats me how) managed to accomplish just shy of half of my 12 of 2012 goals:

My happiest victory is that I actually read 12 books - WOOT! I'm hoping to do the same (or better) in 2013.

Equally exciting for me is that I continued practicing Hebrew so that I can read it - albeit SLOWLY - and more importantly understand some when it is spoken. I'm already signed up for another Hebrew class in January, so I'm hoping that my communication skills in this language will continue to improve in the new year.

In addition, I finally made a decision and temporarily closed my Etsy store, enjoyed more date nights with Hubby, and wrote. A LOT. YAY!

Moving onto my one little word, I experienced renewal of spirit, relationships, budget, and home. Renewal of body is an ongoing challenge, as is renewal of balance. Which brings me to my one little word of 2013...

This year, I will have ONE goal: to practice (not achieve) balance. I have a feeling that by practicing balance, other goals will incidentally be achieved as a result. More importantly, though, is the knowledge that a focus on balance will make for a happy Cheryl.

What is your focus for 2013? Whatever you choose, I hope it makes you blissfully happy!

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One Little Word of 2012 (6-month update)

How is it possible that we're already approaching mid-July?! Way back in December (which really feels like just yesterday), I had decided on renewal being my One Little Word of 2012. I thought since we're more than halfway through the year now, it would be a good idea to "check in" with my word.

✗ Renewal of Body
Good news: I've gone to the gym! Bad news: I can count the number of times I've gone to the gym on my hands. My body and mind have both rediscovered my love of pounding the pavement (on the treadmill) to a great beat, the way it clears my mind, gives me energy, allows me to have a restful sleep. But it has yet to become consistent, let alone a habit or routine. The bottom line is I have to make time for this, the way I make time to eat and sleep because, really, it's just as important.

√ Renewal of Spirit
A+! I've done a really good job in the past month or two of nurturing my soul again, not finding but making time to blog, scrapbook, read, write, cook, and "do art" - all the things that make my spirit smile. I make time to hang out with friends, talk to G-d, and listen to children. I am learning to pay better attention to what I need.

~ Renewal of Relationships
Hubby and I have started dating each other again this year, and it's been a wonderful thing, a blast really. In the midst of all the "life crap" we regularly struggle with, we have had a lot of fun together this year, and I'm happy to know the fun is just getting started. I'm particularly looking forward to our annual non-traditional Thanksgiving in Charleston. I also recently renewed a lot of my bloggy friendships, which I greatly missed during the last year, and in doing so found a few new-to-me bloggers that I'm enjoying getting to know. I have NOT done even a remotely decent job of keeping in touch with friends and family afar, and so I hope to begin rectifying that in the months to come.

√ Renewal of Balance
I used to have a very consistent work schedule, which made having a consistent life schedule relatively easy. Once that work schedule became varied, it threw me for a loop. But I've finally learned that just because you don't have the same weekly schedule doesn't mean you can't have a schedule every week. Each Sunday, I sit down with my calendar and, like a puzzle, figure out which hours will be spent on which jobs and where I can carve that all-important time for life outside of work.

~ Renewal of a Budget
I've only recently gotten on track with this goal. I realized that merely saying, "I'm only going to spend $20 this week to play with my girlfriends" wasn't cutting it. That wonderful yet pesky debit card is just too easy to use. So about a month ago, I came up with the idea to take out a certain amount of cash with each paycheck. When that cash is gone - whether it be Monday of that week or Saturday - that's it. No more playing for Cheryl. This little trick has worked remarkably well. I certainly still have some work to do to improve the health of our budget, but I feel like I'm headed in the right direction with it.

✗ Renewal of Home Sweet Home
How many months does it take to put pictures on the wall? Apparently over a year, for that's how long we've been living here, and we still have empty picture frames sitting in a corner waiting to be filled and hung. I am so not happy with the lack of renewal that I've brought to our home. Me being me, I'm not sure that a house of mine can ever be a home until I entertain in it. I am going to make this happen before 2013 gets here. Period.

The verdict? I have brought a lot of renewal to my life, which I'm extremely proud of myself for doing. There are definitely diamonds in the rough to celebrate and for which to be grateful. But there is still some renewing to be done. Fortunately, I have another five-and-a-half months in which to do it.

What would you like to renew in the remaining months of 2012?

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There's still time to win: Comment on my 300th post by 11:59 PM EST today (July 9th) to be entered in a drawing for a $10 B&N gift card!

One Little Word of 2012

RENEWAL
A theme in Judaism, especially our Mi Shebeirach (video link) prayer, is the renewal of body and spirt. Singing this at services and having just experienced a renewal in my commitment to Judaism, I've been thinking a lot about this concept and how renewal would be a good area of focus (and thus my one little word) for 2012:


Renewal of Body
It’s time to get moving! I have free memberships to two gyms - one where I live, one where I work - so there is absolutely no excuse not to work out, other than sheer laziness which I need to kick in the tush. I plan to accomplish this by teaming up with Hubby. He has the same gym memberships I do, so this will be a healthy way to spend time together. I also want to spend more time in the kitchen with good-for-us ingredients.

Renewal of Spirit
Simply put, 2011 was an emotionally exhaustive year. I need to bring a little bit of serenity back into my life and my psyche. Journaling, devoting time to myself and the things I enjoy doing, and yoga have all proven to be helpful strategies in the past that I’m looking forward to trying again in 2012.

Renewal of Relationships
For a myriad of reasons that aren’t really important, there are relationships in my life that have suffered a bit of neglect. I’m going to pick up my phone and pen more in the new year to revive long-distance relationships, and I'm going to make an effort to spend more time with the people who are within my reach.

Renewal of Balance
Schedule wasn’t a dirty word back in 2009, so why has it become one now? Schedules work for me. This I know. So instead of fighting it, I will again embrace it and hopefully achieve a bit more balance in my life by doing so.

Renewal of a Budget
I can set a killer budget in theory, but in practice, I inevitably blow it. I really want to travel more this year, but to do that, I need to 1) stop spending money on things I don't need and 2) stop paying more than I should for things I do need (aka use the coupons that I clip).

Renewal of Home Sweet Home
I’ve never been the tidiest of people, and I know I never will, but I usually at least try to be. This year I found myself not trying very hard. I finally unpacked the last moving box over the holiday break. Now it's time to finish up some projects, get the rest of our pictures on the walls, and maintain a space to which we are proud to invite friends.

I'm toying with the idea of participating in Ali Edwards' BPC One Little Word Class to keep my One Little Word more in the forefront of my mind this year... but I have to make sure it fits into my budget.  :)

Wishing you all a happy, healthy new year!