Living My 60th Year - A New Year

Credit to Jan van der Crabben

I've  been absent a while - I was bogged down in "stuff".  Really can't name exactly what it was, but whatever it was, now has seemed to have left!

Happy New Year.  The entries, hundreds of them, all well wishers  are flying by on FaceBook.  

What is New Year?  A day on the calendar.  Actually, it is the first day on the  Gregorian calendar and was started, according to some sources, somewhere about 153 BC. Then depending on how or what you  believe, New Year occurs throughout the year based on that calendar.

My New Year's Day isn't January 1st, mine is May 1st.   Actually this begins my busiest time of the year as I start the "season" which lasts from January to April.


So to celebrate the disappearance of the boggy, I decided to take this day head on. For the last few weeks, I've been catching up and cleaning up.  

Ruthless catching up - marathons at my desk.  I've filled my recycle box twice in the last week.  Papers scanned, filed, shredded or recycled.  

Marathons at my volunteer desk aka my kitchen island. Taking assessment of my assignments, glad to say most are up to date.   

Ruthless cleaning up - marathons at putting items back to where they belong.  Interesting as my minimalist work a year ago and this year has made this easier.  Actually, a few times I had to empty the drawer, closet, etc and put it back together.  It is amazing how 'stuff' shifts during the year into places not intended.  I've done at least 1000 stairs so far today.

Marathons of re-arranging - all of a sudden, more drawers need to be done.  How did that happen?

Whatever you choose for your New Year's Day....  May you have health and happiness all year long.

Here's to a year of catching the dreams you chase,

doing what makes you smile,

and loving the life you live.

This Year 2015

Welcome 2015!  Can you believe it?  Of course we can.  It's seems like a rush and it was here.  I know myself that after a busy season, two campaigns that run somewhat concurrently - then the year was over; then what?  

This year there were small successes, a few ouches, some realizations, and there was some plain ole fun.  I had a chance to be creative with my thread - barely (pun intended).  Harvested lots of veggies from our expanded plot in the community garden. Worked on two political campaigns.  

I found new ways to bring my charity work to the forefront so the charity gets better attention.  Put up with folks that 'steal' ideas and attempt to call it their own.  I say - what you put out there, only comes back at you!  Karma is good!

This 'creed' for 2015  is really simple.  It is very much like the How to Build a Community poster I have hanging up in my home.  It's about your time and space - your journey.  What have you done or not done - good or bad  (that's a judgement thingy)?  

I made some handmade gifts - some were appreciated, others were acknowledged and some ignored.  What was important, I enjoyed being creative. One joy was getting back to blogging in combination with a minimalist challenge.  My home is better for it and a better sense of organization has invaded my space as I look each day to continue to rid the stuff not necessary from my life's journey.  As the 'stuff' goes away, I feel a weight lifted -  the 'stuff' does not take space, nor time, nor energy.  

This year - let's see how it unfolds.  In a couple weeks I'm hosting the "cousins" party.  There are nine of us - making a total of 17 when including the spouses.   There is the beginning of my personal count down to the "big birthday" some graduations, trips, and who else knows.

Happy 2015 ----  Let's get living the good life.


Picture credit:
http://thyme-is-honey.com/2014/12/20/2015-dos/

Wishinig a Happy New Year

At peace with nature

To all my friends and family - when we sit back and breathe....  it is that simple.

Look above and be thankful for what you have...  and entire year has gone by....  365 precious days that we have been 'together ' in some way - helping mold the world and our individual journeys.  

Instead of rushing into the new year, take some time to be thankful.  Write it down, in a journal, on back of an envelope, any place you wish.  Leave it out and as you walk by, jot down another memory that made your year great.

We look at those great memories and notice how they enhanced our lives this past year.  Feel yourself giggle, laugh and smile - great feelings for sure.  

Now take that deep breath, look forward with the hope and joy of what you can add to yourself, and to those around you.

Happy New Year to one and all.

Patty

Day 30 - Wrap Up

It's been a true journey this past 30 days.  It has been about expanding myself, being present in the day, looking to the future, no 'stuff' around, and it is about who I am.  It's about me, lol, for a change.  Instead of me running about for everyone else, it's about getting a few more moments for me - everyone wins.  I'm thankful for the discipline and for the authors of this challenge  /http://minimalismissimple.com/ .  I'm thankful to give this gift to me as it is a gift that no one could give to me.

I will repeat some of the day's challenges.  Day 5, donate clothing; Day 6, clean up the mail; Day 8, pick one corner; Day 24, the kitchen; Day 25, declutter the unusual - ahhh the garage.  Those are the major ones that I will concentrate on between now and the end of January.  

I've begun a snowflake challenge - make one/two snowflakes a week - crochet or tatted.  Yesterday I stopped in my tracks, found the ones I made a while ago, gathered it together and viola - I've my own challenge.  Somehow I remember several other stars or snowflakes that I made...  will continue to search for them.  In the mean time, I'll make more.  Yesterday I made three!  I've found new sources for patterns and have books from my studio for further inspiration.  I've printed and saved lots of patterns without any plan...  now I have the plan!  

As with the first day of the Challenge - it is about what you want for yourself.  It's a methodology - I had one decision to make - to do it or not.  Can you look out 30 days from now?  That was the question I asked myself when I began this just before Thanksgiving.  What do I want for me, my space, my soul...It was easy to answer - do the challenge.

Success for today and for the last 30 days - Nice to take time to reflect.  Thanks for reading along.  I will continue to write about these success each week.  Thank you - I appreciate you being in the corner for me :)  Continue to find one item to put in the donate box.