nourish

I used to not be a New Year resolution person. I scoffed at the idea of needing the new year to start new habits. I thought it was setting myself up for failure. But then I read this post last year, and I changed my mind. Lori is right. Meaningful change won't happen if we don't make that decision and take that first step. It may work. It may not. It may turn out to be the wrong path and I may find new ways to reach my goals or even find entirely new goals. All of that is okay. It's even okay to quit. The key is to take that first step and then the next one. 

Last year I worked on some things. I tackled achieving more balance in my life. I concentrated on finishing things (and I even did reasonably well at that one). I added some income to our family, although not in the ways I anticipated. We moved closer in to work and school so that there could be more family time and more time for doing what we love. We bought new bikes for everyone so we can get out of the car most of the time. We rode them and now we'll be riding them way more. Some years seem to be about real change and others are about laying groundwork for the future. I think 2012 was a groundwork year - finishing getting our house in order, so to speak, with the move to Portland no longer being new. We're settled in and where we want to be. Things are good. We're ready to open our hearts and minds to more. 

Enter 2013. I've done a lot of thinking about new beginnings for this year, since we just moved into our new home 3 weeks ago (and are even nearly all the way unpacked!). Right before Christmas break started, we got a call from a charter school that we had applied to for Annika and they had a space for her. She has been homeschooling happily, but had a hankering to go to *this* school. So, she did a shadow day and decided that it was a go. She starts her new school on Monday. With all of that, 2013 is bringing some new rhythms to our family and some new opportunities to better define our family culture. 

I have several concrete goals that I won't detail here on the blog, but they all fall under one guiding principle. I want the choices I make to nourish me and my family. This isn't anything new - we have worked hard over the years to provide nourishing food and to care for ourselves well. But, it's easy to have things slip. To spend too much time at the computer or walk up the street for sweet potato tots rather than making healthy food at home. To hop in the car for a quick trip to the store instead of gettin on the bike. I want to take a moment, when faced with those choices, and have a quick gut check about whether what I'm doing nourishes our life. Sometimes it's okay to head down to get those tots - we need a break from the house, or we just *need* tots. But usually, if I take myself out of autopilot for a minute, I can find a better way that will feed who I am trying to be and will build the family life that we want. 

Sometimes using this principle will mean saying no. No to another TV show. No to eating out. No to more stuff we don't need. But often, it will mean saying yes. Yes to stepping away from the computer and going to OMSI. Yes to making messes (and then cleaning them up). Yes to family movies and game night. Yes to taking her scooter to the park even though I carry it most of the way. Yes to sewing kitties instead of curtains. Yes to finding ways to make big things happen for our kids and for us. Yes to nourishing ourselves, body, mind, and soul.

Here we go, 2013. I'm ready. 

Comments

[Angelina]

I love the word "nourish". What a lovely post!

[Lori]

years about change and years about groundwork made me think of this quote:

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” — Zora Neale Hurston

so happy for you with all your good stuff happening this year. xoxoxo

[Annika]

<3 this.

[Annika]

(Is it just me or does <3 looks like it should mean less than butt?)

[Emily]

Lol. This comment is priceless! I wonder how your mom felt when she read it. But after a post such as this, I imagine she just rolled with it. :-)

[Sarah Jackson]

that was a different Annika! But I bet mine would say exactly the same thing. :)

[sarah]

this is just right.
have a wonderful 2013! xo

[Sarah Jackson]

that is a different Annika but mine would say the same thing. :)

[Heather]

Yes to all that. I think 2013 will be another foundation year as we move closer to what we want. For me this year is about bloom. I am reminding myself to bloom wherever we are.

[Sarah Jackson]

I think thats a fantastic word, especially right now for you. I miss you!

[jane]

Good luck to A today! I hope she has a wonderful day! Your post is exactly why I have stepped away from my blog. I need to nourish my soul and it didn't happen in 2012. Hoping and working on changing that!

[Sonya]

I loved reading this, saying no and yes, less and more - it all resonates so much with me. Happy New Year!!

[Speattle]

Cute hat on the toddler! Did you make that one?

[Sarah Jackson]

Of course I did!

[Larissa]

Beautifully stated.
And I love the word nourish.
May 2013 bring you and your family peach and joy.
I've been thinking a lot about you lately, lady.

[Shelby]

I will miss sharing your life here. It's been wonderful. I do understand as I did the same thing with my blog and also Facebook for friend connecting. Love and Blessings for whatever comes...