Monday, December 29, 2008

New Year, New You

Another post about New Year Resolutions! Well it's about that time of year again when most people are thinking of new beginnings and goals they hope to achieve over the coming year. It is a time to wipe the slate clean and start a fresh or continue in your intended direction should your dreams be longer term.

Every year I tend to have one or two resolutions that I like to work on and they never really change. Things like, eat better, exercise more, pay bills on time etc. which I am sure most people can relate to. But 2008 was a different story for me. As 2007 drew to a close, so did my life in another country, my job and some close relationships. It was a very challenging period where for a time I wasn't making the wisest choices, and as a result all I felt I needed was a mantra, not a resolution for the coming year. That mantra became 'be kind to me'.

In every choice and direction I have headed towards this year, I have asked if it were keeping in with my mantra 'be kind to me' and it has guided me towards more fulfilling relationships with myself and those around me, plus an amazing job, MORE travel, and a drive to get overall healthier (mind, body and soul).

This year I have chosen to be more specific in my resolutions/goals as I feel 2008 was a consolidation year and I am ready to start moving forward in leaps and bounds. I have been working on specifics over the last couple of weeks with what I'd like to achieve next year in many facets of my life and am really excited to start to see them take shape.

Wanna peep at some of them?
    • Go 100% Vegan - once again my guru Kristen at Kristen's Raw has inspired me through her insightful blog, amazing recipe books (available here), and personal guidance. The nail in the coffin for my meat eating ways was her recommendation to watch A Delicate Balance (only $4.95 to watch online) . Amazing information and I urge anyone who cares about their health and your planet to watch! My boyfriend has even been 1 week without any animal products (except for 2 small slices of turkey Christmas Day) after watching this and although he cares more about his health than most guys I know, he has always been adamant he could never give up meat! Plus being the animal lover I am it just makes sense for me to do this. Check out this photo mum took on Christmas Day of my 17 year old chihuahua back home. Hellooooooo Axl!
    • Start Spanish lessons (this one has been on the cards for years!)
    • Unpack my sewing machine from it's original box (and use it) from Christmas 2004!
    • Go back to weight training at the gym - not just cardio!
    • Be more conscious of how my lifestyle impacts the planet and act accordingly
    • Learn that I don't have to always 'be right' or 'in charge'
These are just a few of the smaller goals I have but can't give ALL my secrets away just yet.

What are your resolutions for 2009?

9 readers decided to share their thoughts:

Anonymous said...

Lovely post! I like the mantra idea. I like the concept of asking yourself if something you do is good for you or not. Its a way to know if what you are doing is in accordance with who you are. I love it!
Well, girl on tour, have a wonderful 2009!

Anonymous said...

Nice goals! I don't think I could cope with 100% vegan, but I do intend to eat a lot less of most animal products.

Kristen's Raw said...

You go girl! I'm here with ya every step of the way :)

Cheers,
Kristen

Casey Lorraine Thomas said...

Nice one lady! Some great goals there that I am sure you will deliver on. Going to be posting about the new year myself very soon.

Go get em tiger! ;)

Casey

Fida said...

Actually, I really like that mantra thing. I am not much for yearly resolutions - that's an ongoing thing I work on. Come to think of it, it's really more like a mantra.
And thanks for the links. I am maybe 80% raw, in summer even more (except on travels), and so I am always interested in good information.

Carla said...

I like the idea of mantras as they are applicable to all situations in our life. Yours was a good one.

Anonymous said...

Loving the pic of Axl. He is holding his ge well!

Anonymous said...

Loving the pic of Axl. He is holding his age well!

Zucchini Breath said...

"Be more conscious of how my lifestyle impacts the planet and act accordingly"

This was the idea that, for me, snowballed into being a raw vegan. Wanting to put out zero trash led me to buy food with little or no packaging...

Natural progression

Cheers and a happy new year to you