Tag Archives: New Year

2025 Is Here: Make It Yours

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Today we turn the calendar to January 2025. For many of us, it’s the end of our holiday vacation and we’re headed back to work tomorrow. I’ve had a nice, long, not at all fun vacation but the pain from my dental surgery is mostly gone and I’m grateful.

Today, I start my January No Spend Challenge and couldn’t be more excited for the personal growth and good things that will come from this. I have referred to this a lot lately and will talk about it in depth tomorrow if you’re interested. 

This month I will also begin planning my 2025 adventures. After all, having something to look forward to is a key to happiness and having adventures to anticipate is one of the happiest things in my world. Some of those adventures will be close to home and others a little further flung. I did less than normal in 2024 and I’m sure that’s partly due to a lack of planning. I won’t make that mistake again. 

Today I will start working on my January goals. I set new goals every month and they tend to be related to a theme. Mine are mostly connected to my No Spend Month and help to support that endeavor. 

But first, I will spend much of today relaxing and reading. I struggled to read last year but seem to have gotten my groove back in the last few days. Here’s hoping that can translate to lots of reading for all of 2025! I have a backlog of good books collected last year so I need to get busy. 

Friends, today is the first day of the rest of your life. Whether you spend it reading or adventuring or just muddling through, I hope you make it a good one. You get just one life to live. For some, that’s almost too much to endure while it’s not nearly enough for others. Let’s pack our days with the things that bring us the most joy, peace and fulfillment. Let’s not waste a single moment on things that don’t matter. No one arrives at the Pearly Gates complaining that they should have worked more or spent more time arguing with their family over what they heard on the news that day. 

This life, this day, this moment – it’s your adventure. Make it fun. Make it a great year.

A Small Miracle

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A small miracle occurred in my house yesterday morning: I folded a fitted sheet. 

For all you grown up people out there who know how to do things properly, you’re probably thinking this does not classify as a miracle but I’m going to say it’s at least equivalent to seeing the face of the Pope in a slice of toast. 

For most of my adult life, I have watched instructional videos, sought advice and tried in earnest to fold a fitted sheet into something that resembles a flat square of fabric. Instead, it usually ends up looking like a balled up mess – mainly because I get frustrated and ball it up into a mess.

Since both sheets and one pillow case get stored inside the second pillow case, it usually doesn’t look too unsightly in the linen closet but I have always wanted to master this skill. 

How did this happen? I have no idea. Honestly, I have no idea. It was like something in my brain just clicked or perhaps the house elves decided to lend a hand. While I fear it will never happen again, my fondest hope is that I’m starting the year off on the right foot. 

Isn’t it funny how something so small as a household chore can bring joy, give hope and inspire us to think positively?

A Blessing For The New Year

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The Irish have a way with words and many of those words are tv appropriate as we greet the new year. This one is perhaps my favorite.

“May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.”

This is my wish for you and yours. But here’s another wish. “May you get all your wishes but one so that you always have something to strive for.”

This is another key to happiness- to always have something to improve and work toward. It’s important and healthy to have room for improvement. Maybe that’s why we embrace resolutions – by striving to improve, we are striving toward happiness.

Happy New Year, my friends! Let’s show ‘em what we’re made of in 2023!

A Key To Happiness

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Anticipation is one of my personal keys to happiness. No matter what, it’s important to always have something to look forward to. Luckily, that something doesn’t have to be big.

Sure, it’s amazing having an exciting trip to anticipate. Yet, it’s just as effective to look forward to browsing at the library or settling in on the couch with some popcorn and a movie this weekend.

I suppose this is why I like to plan as much as I do. I looked forward to my trip to see the Franklin Park lights starting the minute we scheduled it. Today I’m looking forward to a much needed tune up at the chiropractor. I lead such a glamorous life!

It is much healthier to dwell on the good in life so I’m always looking for ways to be more satisfied with what I have and to be generally more happy.

I’m also anticipating the start of my No Spend Challenge. Officially, it begins on New Year’s Day but I’m thinking Friday would be a great kick off day.

I have enjoyed months of excess – holiday shopping, eating out, travel and fun have again defined this year. At least the good has tied with the bad – the thyroid issue – for top billing.

I crave the quiet of winter and the calm that comes from a No Spend Challenge. Consequently, I’m excited to get started.

When I do this, I focus more on self care and relaxation. I go to bed early and cook nourishing foods. I read more and cozy up with a soft blanket more often. I am kinder to myself during a No Spend Month than any other time of the year. That doesn’t mean I don’t do anything. Part of this month involves decluttering, getting organized, picking up old hobbies or even trying something new.

If I adventure out of the house, it will likely be a cold Saturday hike on the way to the grocery store or maybe a morning getting lost at the library. But don’t worry. Adventure season will be here in a few months and I’ll be back at it sooner than you think!

It is incredible how full and beautiful life can be when you focus on appreciating what’s before you at home rather than constantly running around seeking more.

Stay tuned. I’ll write another day about my own No Spend Challenge rules and my perspective on what it really means. I was kind of surprised that this will be my sixth year in a row and I’ll tell you about how it all has evolved since that first year.

It wasn’t always so easy and I have never before anticipated January so eagerly as I do now. Just a couple more days of commitments and vacation fun and I’ll get started!

Back To Reality

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Vacation is over and I’m headed back to work today. Luckily, I like my job and enjoy earning my own way in the world. All the same, I will miss the leisure time and having the opportunity to get stuff done during the week.

Scout has enjoyed it too. Here he is luxuriating with his favorite blanket and my book. If he looks irked, it’s because I woke him up taking his picture. I hate to tell him that we won’t get to relax with a book and a blanket today!

Happy New Year and Happy Monday. Here’s to new beginnings.

Here We Go Again

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Call me cynical and jaded but all I can think to say today is “here we go again.”

Perhaps this isn’t the degree of enthusiasm one should feel on the first day of a new year but I’m keeping my expectations in check and my hopes for 2021 tamped down a bit more than normal.

After all, the last day of 2021 brought news that Betty White has died. She has been a cultural icon and animal rights activist for so long I was kind of counting on her to outlive me. Unreasonable, I know, but still.

I spent yesterday running some errands and spending time with my folks and with a friend who is visiting from out of town. It was quiet and anticlimactic but I’m fine with that.

So here’s my attempt at optimism. May 2022 bring peace, health, and prosperity for us all. At the very least, may it be a quiet year. Happy New Year!