Archives for January 2013

What is a weekend?

January 6, 2013

Season 3 of Downton Abbey begins tonight on PBS — I’m so excited! Do you watch? After hearing people rave about it on Twitter, I finally caught up on season 1 last spring and then binge-watched season 2 in the fall. Let me tell you: It is addicting. I even got JB hooked!

Now, I need another tote bag like I need another hole in my head, but this What is a “Weekend”? tote I found on Fab made me laugh. The Dowager Countess asked that question, but I think new moms often wonder the same thing, don’t you?

Will you be tuning into the premiere of Downton Abbey tonight?

PS: Don’t laugh at me, but I when I watch Downton Abbey, I need to put on closed captioning. I’m simply terrible with accents — even British ones!

2013: Start Now

January 4, 2013

As I wrote in yesterday’s post, I was thisclose to making passion my theme for 2013. But then fate intervened. Or rather, Zite.

It was late at night, and I was flipping through my top stories on Zite when I stumbled upon a blog post that gave me pause. The blogger, a woman, talked about how she used the phrase “start now” as inspiration to achieve big things in 2012. I really wish I had thought to bookmark or email myself a link to that post because I can’t remember who wrote it, and I would love to reference it again. (If this sounds familiar to anybody, please share the link!)

Immediately, I felt a connection to those words. I am a chronic procrastinator, and I put things off for a variety of reasons. I wait to make decisions both big and small because I’m afraid of making the wrong choice. Uncertainty frightens me. I sit on work-related and self-improvement plans because I’m waiting for the right time, the perfect moment to make a move. I wait for special occasions to wear new clothing; garments hang unworn in my closet with their tags still attached. I wait and wait because I’m tired. Lazy.

I can’t keep waiting. The perfect time/moment/occasion might never occur. If I don’t consciously make the decision to close my eyes and leap, I’ll be standing in the same spot forever. And that scares the crap out of me. I’ll be 33 this year; I don’t want to continue feeling like I’m growing older and not accomplishing anything.

So my theme for 2013 is start now. Kind of like “Just Do It!” I suppose, but more immediate. Purposeful. It will be my personal mantra, my battle cry, extending over all aspects of my life. It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to happen.

I want to hear from you. What do you really want to achieve this year?

PS: If you’ve never left a comment before why not start now?

A theme for 2013

January 3, 2013

The idea to come up with a single theme — or intention — to take me through 2013 came about in a random way. Somebody I follow on Twitter (I regret that I don’t remember who) re-tweeted something posted by Jason Mraz, which caught my eye because I used to be a huge Jason Mraz fan. He had tweeted a link to a blog post, so I clicked through.

The post, F*** Yeah 2012, talked about his tradition of setting a clear intention when the ball drops at midnight on New Year’s Eve. In 2011, he decided that his theme for the year would be F*** Yeah 2012 or “a year of firsts, filled with radical doings, and all around awesomeness.” Then he listed all of crazy, awesome things he accomplished in 2012 by living out his intention.

Near the end of the post, Jason wrote:

And now I invite you to consider a theme for 2013; something that will surpass your resolutions and stick with you for the entirety of the year, uplifting and inspiring you to be the person you always dreamed you’d be.

So I gave it some thought. And the word that kept popping up in my mind was “passion.” Not passion as in sexual desire (although I don’t think JB would mind if that was my intention). What I wanted to bring into my life was “a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.” I often feel as if I’m just going through the motions, not really invested in anything I’m doing. Sure, I get excited about things, but that excitement tends to wane quickly. What usually takes its place is fear, uncertainty or just ambivalence.

By making passion my theme for 2013, I thought I’d be inspired to throw myself into new projects and feel revived enthusiasm for old ones. That my devotion to my relationships would increase, and I would be a better wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. That passion could help me enjoy things more deeply and for longer periods of time — even the little things.

I was all set to confirm passion as my intention when I came across another blog post earlier this week that inspired me in a different way.

to be continued…

{photo source}

Declaration of Intention

January 2, 2013

I’m not sure I would hang it on my wall, but I love the idea of this poster by Emily McDowell. I’ve decided not to make any New Year’s resolutions this year. Instead, I’ll be coming up with a single overarching theme to carry me through to 2014. Once I figure out what that theme will be (I have a pretty good idea now), I’ll be sure to share it with you.

However, I’d like to take a moment to think about my intentions for 2013. Emily writes that intentions are stronger than resolutions, and a little introspection is good for the soul. Here’s how I would complete my own Declaration of Intention:

This year, I will focus on what I have rather than on what I don’t have. I will let go of unrealistic expectations and embrace uncertainty. I will honor my relationships and love myself in spite of my perceived flaws. I will stand up & share my beliefs with the world!

How would you fill out your Declaration of Intention? Please share your version in the comments below — let’s get introspective together!

PS: Speaking of New Year’s resolutions, I shared the ones that I constantly make but can never keep over on Lifetime Moms.

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2013

Here’s to new adventures big and small in 2013.
Happy New Year!

{photo by ClickFlashPhotos}