A year ago, I promised a year of Champagne & Labradoodles: I’d blog more, celebrate myself with champagne more often & get a labradoodle. And? I got my furry best friend. I moved. I paid off my car. I drank champagne prosseco. And I fell in love with college football [as I do every year.] I’ve only blogged twice – both were either trashed or still in draft mode.
So what’s up 2012?! What can you possibly hold that can top that?! <insert pendulum swing> Did you see this segment on the Today Show - one family lives on $20,000/year?
My resolution …
To embrace the simplest things … walks, bike rides, park visits, road trips to nowhere, semi-successful home cooked meals for less than $2, imperfect DIY projects from found goods, books I’ve stockpiled for years, and maybe, just maybe, blogging. After all, it is about the journey.
I’m not being naive but my glass is always “half full” [or I'm just thirsty]. I know this will be hard. I think about the times friends have given up all alcohol for Lent. Or meat. Or shopping. While I don’t live an extravagant life – I enjoy my box wine, farmer’s market Saturdays followed by bacon at my little diner, thrift store treasure hunts and Threadless $10 sales. 2012 won’t be without indulgence but isn’t a Saturday morning at the dog park just that? Or hours spent lost in a good book? An evening of conversation in a friend’s backyard over a fire pit? Not “off-the-grid” by any means, just conscious.
In preparation, I’ve googled “How to eat cheap and healthy” and stockpiled recipes of lentils, legumes and other awesome foods; I’ve switched to a cash-only operation … and, of course, I’m telling you so you can remind me of this promise during my “moments.”
The most exciting and terrifying change … things 2012 will not include: cigarettes. Well, I guess I should say, “Things 2012 will not start with” …? If successful, that’s a massively expensive and disgusting indulgence crossed off the list.
Today, I’m putting these words on my wall [quite literally]:
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
So it you have suggested indulgences in simpler actions, I’m all ears. I’ve got 365 days to fill with free happiness. Words of encouragement also welcome.
UPDATED: first DIY project failed. Words not quite literally applied to wall. But they’re there in permanent invisible ink for now.
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