Hello 2019.

1 January 2019

Photo by Sylwia Forysińska on Unsplash

Seasoned readers of this little space will know that, rather than set a number of resolutions for the year ahead, over the last few years I've decided to choose a word for the year instead - an intention, of sorts. I love the feeling of a new year, like a brand new notebook it sits before me fresh and unmarked and full of opportunities.

I usually start pondering which word to choose when Christmas passes, a word that encapsulates how I'm feeling at this moment in time, but also how I feel looking back over the year that was and what I'd like to accomplish over the year to come. Lots of words popped into my head but after a little thought, I quickly discounted them thinking that they would be too easy to forget as the months pass. I wanted something that encapsulated something more, the little things that are important to me but which I so often lose track off as work takes over - family; friends; my little home and transforming it into our space; travelling and discovering new places; art, writing and the time to be creative in a myriad of small ways; health; and also considering our impact on the world and what can be done to make the world a better place.

This year, I've opted for 'priorities' as my word to focus on for 2019, to help me keep sight of the all-important 'life' in the 'work/life balance' and to do my best to prioritise each of the above. 

And with that, I'll leave you in the hands of Neil Gaiman who has written many new year wishes over the years and who always manages to send a message that is both touching and empowering at the same time, and so much better than I feel I ever could:

Be kind to yourself in the year ahead.

Remember to forgive yourself, and to forgive others. It's too easy to be outraged these days, so much harder to change things, to reach out, to understand.

Try to make your time matter: minutes and hours and days and weeks can blow away like dead leaves, with nothing to show but time you spent not quite ever doing things, or time you spent waiting to begin.

Meet new people and talk to them. Make new things and show them to people who might enjoy them.


Hug too much. Smile too much. And, when you can, love.

****

Happy New Year to you all and thank you for stopping by over the last year, for every comment and every friendship sparked by these pages. Here's to 2019 being everything you wish it to be and more! Do let me know if you've chosen a word or an intention for the year - I'd love to know!

3 comments

  1. I love that Neil Gaiman message - definitely something positive to refer back to throughout the coming year!

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  2. Happy new year to you lovely Cat. Priorities is such a wonderful word to move forward with in 2019. It can be so flexible to whatever you need to prioritise in any given moment.

    I think mine needs to be perspective - I am known for being a drama queen who can spiral and get worked up over the small stuff. I certainly need to get a little more perspective on things and ask myself, in a years time, will this matter? (the answer is often no!)

    Lynsey || One More Slice

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  3. I also prefer choosing a word over writing out resolutions! A word is much easier to remember, thus more realistic and more effective for me. I'm pretty lax about even just choosing a word though. I didn't do it last year, but in past years I've done "purpose" and "curious." I really liked curious :) I didn't have a word for this year, but as I was writing out this comment, I realised that something I want to work on is being less afraid about this new stage in my life post-grad, so I think my word for the year will be "yes." I know that people are all about saying "no" and setting their boundaries these days, but I have no problem with saying no LOL. // Good luck with prioritising this year! I think that word is so meaningful and distinct from "balance," where balance could be misinterpreted to mean trying to do everything, whereas prioritising takes into account realistic constraints, which will help avoid burnout. // I didn't know about Neil Gaiman's New Year wishes! That was such a lovely note. This last half of the year I've been trying to work on kindness for myself -- I suppose I could have called that my word for 2018 :P // Happy New Year! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's

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