I hope your 2018 is off to a good start. This year, rather than setting goals, I am setting intentions for my year. I have tried setting yearly goals before, and I don’t think I’ve ever met a single one! I don’t want to set myself up to feel disappointed when the end of this year rolls around. Instead, I would rather spend these twelve months with a gentler, kinder focus. Intentions take the pressure off. They guide us to focus on how we would like to shape our year rather than being a hard and fast pressure to Achieve (yes, capital A). After last year I’m not in the mood to Achieve. I’m in the mood to connect, to relax, to enjoy, to thrive. The following intentions are how I am hoping to shape my year. Please let me know if you have set intentions (or goals if you are a goal type of person) for 2018!Image may be NSFW.
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Press Pause
When I was thinking about what I wanted from 2018 one word kept coming to mind: pause. There are two ways that I am letting ‘press pause’ guide my 2018.
Firstly, I often speak, act or react without pausing to consider. I’m sure this has led to more heartache than necessary so this year I intend to pause before I speak or act and choose the kindest path. I know that I have a quick temper, and it is something I would really like to conquer, so this intention is very important to me this year.
Pressing pause is also important to me as Chris and I tend to be very social people (we both walk the introvert/extrovert line) and last year was particularly busy. In 2018 I want to focus on the quality of my interactions and activities rather than the quantity. Pressing pause on social activities or things I feel obliged to do is a way of creating white space in my life so that I have room for more creativity, and just more downtime with Chris.
Seek Adventures Near and Far (Mostly Near)
Chris and I are fortunate enough to be heading off on our honeymoon to Canada in early February and I am super.excited. One of the truest things I know about myself is that I need regular adventures in order to keep my cup full and my soul alight. However, we have the goal of saving for a new house in the next year so this might be our last overseas adventure for a few years. I was feeling sad about this until we had a very close-to-home adventure on Boxing Day. Chris’s uncle and aunt invited us out on their catamaran and we spent the day sailing around the bay, swimming in turquoise waters, and lazing on the deck in the sun. We returned home with my need for adventure satiated, and I was reminded that there are so many opportunities for adventure right outside my door! This year, one of my intentions is to keep my eyes open for adventure near and far, but mostly near, to home. Falling in love with your hometown is a recipe for a happier life I think.
Make Time For Creativity
Writing has been my creative outlet since I started my first journal at age seven. Since then I feel my best, my most ‘Amy-ish’ when I play with words frequently. In 2018 I want to make more room to explore writing, and to make more time to write everyday.
Late last year I spent an evening painting with a friend of mine (results here, not too shabby IMHO) and it was such an enjoyable activity! Before that night I hadn’t picked up a paint brush in a creative way for a very long time. It was so relaxing, almost meditative, and this year I intend to create space to explore this side of my creativity.
And of course….
While I’m not making any specific goals in any area of my life I will carry on with my life goal of eating ice cream whenever the opportunity presents itself, snuggling Penny as much as possible, singing loudly in the grocery store when shopping with my sister, making all the delicious food, and dancing in my kitchen while stirring spaghetti sauce. Here is to another year of this messy, beautiful life.
Have you made any intentions or goals for 2018 friends?
