I thought it was a good time to revisit one of my successes.

Last year (2015) I simply nailed it. I quietly and methodically nailed it. --I actually feel gleeful as I boldly pronounced my year a success!  {Who does that?}

To recap, my goals for 2015 were:
* Own a workout habit. 

* Consistently get 8 hours sleep...more if needed.

* Find JOY in little things. Everyday.

And my word for 2015 was: RELAX. As Aaron Rodgers said, "R-E-L-A-X.  Relax. We're going to be OK."

Word of the Year

Last year my word of the year was "Relax". Looking back, I don't know how much of an influence the word was. I think last year was the first time I ventured into the idea of declaring a word of the year. I guess I'm not really sure how it's supposed to work. Do you meditate on the word? Do you make it a mantra? Do you use it to help during decision moments? I guess it's like choosing a theme for the year. 

Anyway, I think in the last few years I've improved my ability to relax. And yes, I think that's important. Looking back, I think I did a decent job of relaxing in 2015.  I think my intent was more than "just chillin'". I think I was going for the idea of relaxing in situations. You know, not get anxious too early. I meant that's what Aaron Rodgers was saying, right? Relax, we've got time, we're going to be okay.

I also think I was thinking the word relax could mean "don't worry". I'm going to say I was giving myself permission to relax in every sense of the word.

I enjoyed a special (cruise) vacation with my daughter. I really enjoyed that. One of the best things was that I carved out small moments of "me" time. One day I chose to stay on the ship instead of going ashore. I felt like I was on my own private ship. It was exactly what I wanted/needed. I gave myself permission to enjoy my vacation unconventionally.

Our weekend in Asheville was also perfect. We got to hang out with some of our favorite people. We got to explore artist studios. We stayed in our first Airbnb, which had the most comfortable bed I think I've ever slept in. 

I have chosen a word for 2016. It came to me earlier this month. I actually tried to fight it.  I thought it had negative connotations but the word would not leave my consciousness. I decided to accept my word. The word is  Surrender. 

This year I did create a word cloud for my word. I actually think I may have thrown a few words in the cloud that may not apply. But...maybe they all apply. When I was making the cloud my mind was thinking about yoga practice. That the best practices are ones where you surrender to the present and don't try to force things. To surrender you allow things to unfold (in yoga and in life) without trying to influence the results. I'm thinking that surrender is a deeper form of the word "relax". 

That is all for now.

~Kimberly

Hello 2016

I have to say I really took my "goals" seriously for 2015. I grew in more ways than I expected and I'm changed. I like that concept: "changed". I like that my goals were pure. I would categorize the 2015 goals as Health and Happiness goals. The goals focused on actions and ownership rather than results. I guess it's based on the whole idea of if you do the right things, the right things will happen.

Okay, to be clear, some of my secret hopes for end results have not been achieved. I was sort of hoping that I'd drop some weight as one of the typical definitions of "health". Funny enough, I did lose a little weight, but not really a significant amount. After about six months of my regular yoga, a few people commented that they thought I lost weight. And here's the thing, my dresses are hanging like they are too big. So, although the scale didn't move very much, things appear to have shifted which gives the illusion that I'm somehow smaller. Hey, I'll take it. 

But (and I know you are not supposed to start a sentence with "but" much less a paragraph...but...) if I had focused on an end result, I would have abandoned the goals. Being focused on a # on the scale (that did not happen, by the way) would have been too discouraging. Instead, I'm taking "baby steps". Baby steps I go to the yoga studio. Baby steps I get through a full class without passing out. Baby steps I begin to get stronger and can do more of the poses and take fewer child's poses and so on. 

I've learned so much just by doing. 

Without further ado, I will set my intentions for 2016.  ~I like the concept of intentions better than goals. I think it speaks more closely to what I'm doing.

❋ Continue to Own My Practice

❋ Get My Sleep {I mean REALLY!}

❋ Own My Daily Water Intake

❋ Nurture My Relationships

I have so much more to say about all of this...but it is already past my bedtime...so I need to go.

Peace & Happiness,

~Kimberly

Happy New Year! and Blogiversary

Last year (2015) I simply nailed it. I quietly and methodically nailed it. --I actually feel gleeful as I boldly pronounce my year a success!  {Who does that?}

To recap, my goals for 2015 were:
* Own a workout habit. 

* Consistently get 8 hours of sleep...more if needed.

* Find JOY in little things. Everyday.

Happy New Year's Eve!

Owning My Workout Habit

Credit: DaPino-Colada

I had plans for blogging all week. I wanted to share more about how my goals are going. Well, as you can see, I was pretty much MIA for almost a week. Oh well...you know how it is...roads are paved with good intentions and all that. 

Anyway, about my goals. I've felt good about how I've embraced them. I know I didn't share my goals until last week, but they had been in my mind since the beginning of the year. I just wanted to make sure I framed them so that I can be encouraged and not have a fear of failure attached to them.

For example: Own a Workout Habit versus Go to the gym "x" times per week. Of course, going to the gym can very much be part of owning a workout habit...it can also be limiting. I don't want the "gym" connection to defeat me. What if I don't make it to the gym? Am I finished? Am I off the hook? Nope. It's a habit I'm forming. And I have to OWN it. So if I miss the gym, I own deciding if there is something else I want to do instead. And because I've given myself the power to choose in the moment...I have a higher sense of commitment. I don't want to let myself down (so to speak).

Here are the things I've done for the Workout Habit so far this month. I have worked out 3 x per week since the first Monday of the year. We have a workout space here at the apartment clubhouse. We also have a workout space at my office. I started out by going to the work gym after work and doing cardio before going home. I've alternated between the treadmill, stationary bike, and the elliptical. A lot of folks use the workout space during their lunchtime. I have chosen after work for a couple of reasons. The number one reason is that there are fewer people (typically just two others) there when I go. --I'm new to this workout thing. So I'm not keen on being seen when I'm all sweaty and wearing workout clothes and just hoping I don't die. I sort of hope they don't hear me wheezing as I push myself on my machine. 

I went to the work gym on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the first two weeks of the month. This week I changed it up a little. 

I had Monday off as a holiday and signed up for "Yin Yoga" at a local studio. It was a 75-minute class and I loved every minute of it. I'd never heard of "Yin" yoga before. It is a wonderfully smooth practice with poses that are held for several minutes. The first pose felt foreign to me. Several minutes in, the teacher said, "Remember to relax into this pose. Don't clench your glutes. They should be relaxed too." And I realized at that moment that my glutes were indeed clinched. To my surprise, I was able to relax them. And slowly I was able to deepen into the pose. 

I felt so relaxed and refreshed after! I kept thinking, "When I can do this again?"

It seems like kismet that I chose the word RELAX for 2015. Monday really allowed me to relax in more ways than one. I went home from the yoga class feeling calm and content. The day just seemed to embody the word "relax". 

How is your new year going?

What's the Word, Hummingbird?

Brings Me Joy

I've read some of my favorite blogs talking about New Year's Words and Resolutions. And I actually planned on writing a Resolutions post myself.  But as you can see, I haven't.

Some of the posts I've read have seriously inspired me to think about my own approach to goals. I want to be able to refer back to these posts so I thought I'd share them with you too.

Diane @ Sweet Catastrophe shared her goals. I liked that she decided to go with goals instead of resolutions. And, she listed four goals. That certainly seems manageable. 

Kenzie @ Chasing My Extraordinary shared Ten Reasons New Year's Resolutions Fail. Reasons that we set ourselves up to fail. The reasons that resonated with me are: 

• Too Many
• Too Vague
• Inflexible

Shannyn of Frugal Beautiful wrote a good 2015 Goals post. Shannyn has an incredible amount of discipline and resourcefulness. I have no doubt she can accomplish her goals. Her New Year's celebration has inspired me to think about things differently. I just love, love, love how she chose to spend her New Year's Eve. It was festive and new. 

Kim @ Stuffed Suitcase posted a really inspiring post called "Be a Runner".  She says: "Don't worry about your time--just run! She also said, "Whether it is a 14-minute mile or a 7-minute mile it is still a mile." I love this perspective. 

Betsy @ BetsyTransatlantically really inspired me with how she thinks of the "Word for the Year" and I've been thinking about coming up from my word ever since. I actually had my word a while ago. My word:

RELAX

Remember when Aaron Rodgers spelled this out for Green Bay fans? I absolutely loved his swagger and his confidence when he did this. 

"Five letters here just for everybody out there in Packer-land: R-E-L-A-X.  Relax. We're going to be OK."

{Like I said, I actually chose this word a few weeks ago...before we even knew Green Bay was going to play Seattle to go to the Super Bowl. You know I'm a diehard Seahawks fan...but I like Green Bay too. I liked them when Favre was there and I've been amazed at how seamlessly Rodgers stepped into the role.}

I should do a word cloud like Betsy did. I'm still thinking about why I chose the word. I plan to explore this a little more.

So, I'm sort of taking advice from all of these lovely bloggers. I think I'll go with "goals" rather than resolutions.  So here goes (don't know why I'm so nervous):

* Own a workout habit. 

* Consistently get 8 hours sleep...more if needed.

* Find JOY in little things. Everyday.

The State of My Resolutions

I haven't talked about resolutions yet this year. Actually, I realize I haven't talked about concrete resolutions since my first month as a blogger.

In fact, after reading my only post about resolutions, I realize that I didn't really commit. Funny enough though, that year I tried to execute on some unspoken goals. Goals such as: Getting into Shape. The Result=Fail.

I talked about how much I didn't want to give up Diet Coke. But I actually DID give up Diet Coke (and all soda) in April 2011. I was so bummed when my attempt at physical fitness hit a wall. I wanted to just do one thing that I could say was for my health. So, I thought...at least I can control what I drink.

I've been sharing things I've learned about personality types and the fact that I identify with INFJ. Today a friend sent the article about New Year's resolutions and personality type.  I focused in on "my type" which said this: 

I see myself in the above. But I may take it a little bit further. I intend to make resolutions but end up not really making them. 

I read a blog post recently that gave encouragement for resolutions. I can do this. Right? I can do this. 

Oh, the pic above? That's my daughter. She really is inspiring me to get off my butt. 

I hope your New Year's resolutions are made and you feel good about them. 

A Few Highlights from 2014

For the last three New Year's I memorialized highlights in postcard form. This is my version of a Year in Review. I decided to keep the tradition going.  Behold, I present the 2014 Highlights Card.