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Bring It On 2011

posted 31st December 2010    Written by: Alisha    CATEGORY: Alisha, All Posts, Family, Inspiration, Job/Career/Work, Love/Relationships, Money, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 3, Spirituality

Last week I finally realized that I am worthy of good things in my life.  In light of  this new realization I have dreamed up some goals for 2011.  I hesistate to use the word “resolution.”  Resolutions sound so absolute and are hard to keep-in fact I think they almost set you up for failure.  But goals, goals are measurable.  I can do goals.  Goals motivate and inspire me.  Here is what I am working on in 2011:

Real Life

• Daily spiritual practice. I don’t prescribe to one particular religion, but I can definitely tell when my spirituality isn’t being fed.  I feel heavy, disconnected, less grounded.  I used to consider writing to be my spiritual practice, but now I feel compelled to practice meditation again.  So one of my goals is to begin to meditating daily.  Om shanti.

• Old-fashioned letters.  I really enjoy the old-world way of doing things.  I handwrite my morning pages (and almost every other piece of writing).  I have a really nice Kitchen-Aid mixer and yet I stir everything by hand.  I could buy artisan bread, but I choose to make my own.  As much as I love technology, I think there is something to be said about doing some things the old-fashioned way.  I have one pen-pal, and although I don’t always respond in a timely manner, I do greatly enjoy our hand-written correspondence.  There is something about the beat-up envelope, the scent of the paper, the look of the imperfect letters.  Besides, who doesn’t love getting something in their mailbox other than a bill.
• Movement.  Yeah, okay, this is on everyone’s list, right?  But for real, I miss being active.  I am an athlete.  I am a runner.  When my body feels strong, limber, and lithe, I feel unstoppable.  I feel confident.  I have more energy.  And that means that I am a better mommy and wife.  I originally had plans to run in 2011′s Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k, but because I am pregnant (surprise!) I’ll have to settle for yoga this year.  (But I’ll see ya in 2012, runners!)

Work It

• Submission.  This year is the year of being published.  There.  I said it.  So it shall be.  This year I am dedicating myself–truly dedicating myself–to taking the steps necessary to see my words in print.  As a child I used to dream of sitting in an English cottage–by the sea, of course–writing by firelight.  You know, Dickens style.  I have to be realistic though.  I know that with two children, and a third on the way, that my time is limited.  But if I can commit myself to submitting at least one work per month, I will find success.  It may not necessarily be from being published, but it will be satisfying to know that I put in the hard work and tried my best.
• Special spaces.  I haven’t shared this with very many people but I have a secret passion for interior design.  As a child I used to draw up floorplans and elevations.  As an adult I watch just about every show on HGTV, check out design and decorating books from the library, and steal my mom’s House Beautiful whenever I visit.  Eventually I would love to have a little decorating business of my own, helping people infuse their true style in their homes.  I don’t expect it to be full-fledged this year, but I would love to start working on a blog where I can at least share my ideas and passion for the art.
• Money Honey.  The reality is that I need some money–maybe not need–but I would definitely like a little extra dough to treat myself every now and then.  I’m in desperate need of a pedicure and it would be nice to buy  a white hot chocolate without feeling guilty.  Hopefully it will come from my writing, but as long as I can find a way to use my creativity as a way to generate an income, I’ll be satisfied.

Lovers and Friends

• Sharing. I suck at sharing.  No, I really do.  I mean, I’ll give people in need some money if I can spare it.  I’ll share my food and my home.  But, gosh darnit, if I buy myself a carton of vanilla ice cream, nobody better touch it.  Oddly enough, it’s just with food that I feel this way.  I believe it’s symptomatic of a deeper issue (and somehow tied to my eating disorder) and I really want to work on it.  As part of opening myself up to abundance in the new year, I need to start practicing it by sharing as much as I can.  (Even if it means less vanilla ice cream.)
• Connecti0n.  I talk about connection.  A lot.  I have found so many communities online (yay Stratejoy!) but I have lived almost three years in Chicago and I have made only two friends.  This must change in order for me to thrive.  I know that I don’t suck as a person.  But I do know that I need to put myself out there.  I need to find more parenting groups, talk to more strangers, and travel outside of my five-mile radius.  If I don’t expand my circle, I won’t ever be happy here.
• Building better boundaries.  Something I have gotten better at over the course of this year is figuring out where my boundaries are.  Now I need to build them, reinforce them, and keep certain people outside of them.  Life is too short for negative-nellies and soul-suckers.

With Sprinkles on Top

• Viva Italia! Once I laid my eyes on David Hosseini in the 8th grade, so began my love affair with Italy.  One big dream is to live a few years in the Italian countryside with my family.  I hope that this happens within in the next five years so I am preparing by learning Italian.   I would love to be conversational by the end of the year.  I already have my books on tape–er, Ipod.

So bring it on, 2011.  I have a feeling this is going to be my year.

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