And, We’re On To 2012

I spent last night out in the desert–in tranquil Yucca Valley– two hours from our Los Angeles home. There were no cars flying by, no right-around-the-corner coffee.

There was no place I’d rather be for the new year.

New Years Eve is my favorite holiday. It’s something I get incredibly excited about–not the idea of starting over, but the chance to do better. For the past two weeks I’ve been writing out my goals for 2012 (I don’t do resolutions because like everyone else, I never get those done). Last night was the final culmination in cementing those goals.

I committed them to paper and popped them into the first half of my Filofax, so that they are the first things that greet me when I open it each day. I have two sets this year: Personal Goals and Professional Goals.

The house we stayed at is owned by old friends of Ben’s. They graciously invited some friends over and we had a big, lovely dinner. Our host threw on record after record and people danced, they blow horns, they laughed their asses off. I stayed near the fire in the backyard, watching the stars creep out over the mass of black sky. You just can’t see that in the city.

When midnight inched closer, Ben and I wrote down on tiny strips of paper what we wanted to leave behind in 2011, and what we wanted to manifest for 2012. We threw them into the fire, held hands, and watched each one crumble into itself and become ash.

This morning, I was surprised to wake up and feel incredibly clear headed. My brain was like crystal. I grabbed my Filofax and mapped out a plan of action for each of my goals: the whens and hows to getting each one to fruition. I put each action under a date. My friend Alex once said that her key to getting things done was to limit her daily tasks to three things, and so that’s what I’m abiding by.

I’ve spent most of the day recalling this past year. It’s been a doozy, to be honest: my first year of self-employment was incredibly eye opening and rewarding; the greatest professional learning curve of my life (another post to come?). I’ve made a friends with women who constantly inspire me with their cleverness and determination.  I ended up taking a job with a company (surprise!) that actually values my skills and experience. 2011 kinda blew my mind.

If this is what visualization, positive thinking, and manifestation can do, I am STOKED to see what will happen in 2012! I know that there will be curve balls sent my way, but I like knowing that I have power over my limiting beliefs– that there is a certain amount of my life that I have complete control and responsibility over, and that is so comforting. That’s why it brings me such pleasure to write things down, to put visual reminders everywhere (this year, I’m putting affirmations on my mirrors, in addition to my goals, action plans, and inspiration boards in our living room. P.S. Can we change “living room” to “loving room”? I mean, really.)

Here’s what I’ve been reading these past two weeks. These posts have given me countless ideas and inspiration. Maybe they’ll do the same for you.

*A Beautiful Mess: The Planning Process and Why I Love It

*Unicorns for Socialism: A Year’s Worth of Wisdom…From My Momma

*Marc and Angel Hack Life: 30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

*Jessica Mullen: 12 Ways to Love Where You Are Right Now

*Gala Darling: 1o Fantastic Ways to Get Ready for 2012!

xo