New Year - New Outlook

Every year in December I like to take a look at the new year coming and decide how I'd like to live it. What do I want to achieve? What are my priorities? So this year is no different...or is it?

As I come into this year my schedule is looking a little sparse. But have I been wanting this for a long time? Hasn't one of the goals been in past years to have more time? Funny how the Universe works. Ask and you shall receive. Hey, where have I heard that before? The Universe has finally answered my prayers...and it scares me half to death. I have time. And every day when I'm sitting and not working I feel like I SHOULD be working. What is that about? Time is important to just sit and be. How will new ideas come if my mind is always occupied?

So I've decided to look at this differently. God has given me time to be. I will treasure it and let myself BE. I am going to listen to my heart and see where it takes me. After all, isn't that how some of my best successes have happened? When I have that overwhelming feeling that I just NEED to do something and I go ahead and do it. That has led me successfully on my path. It's important to reconnect with that and stop thinking about the "shoulds" and "oughta dos".

I'm going to pay attention to the signs that are shown me. This morning I was reading Oprahs article on her new OWN Network launch. I'm not a huge Oprah fan, but this article spoke to my heart. It spoke about facing the fears of a project, looking at the signs that lead you to the project, question the motivation of doing the project....and so many other poignant ideas.

I have felt like I wanted a new really good camera...I need it (so I felt). I tried to listen really carefully and eventually decided to buy it.

The other day there was a house fire just down the road. I'm curious so I went to see and I figured I might as well bring the video camera...I could get some great video of firetrucks. Cade LOVES firetrucks. I filmed for about a half hour watching as someones life went up in flames. When I got home I was compelled...I had to do it...make the video into a watchable video. I decided to put it up on YouTube despite the questions in my "oughta not do" brain not to do it because it was too sad. But I "felt" it was something I should do. The fire company asked for the video so they could study it...that's good right?

And someone else saw that I have a talent for putting video into a compelling story. That someone works at a real estate office and is now considering making online videos to sell the areas they cover...so my video which I wasn't sure I should put up may lead to a fun and income producing project. And the new camera will be an important tool to do it even better.

Here are my main goals for this NEW year.
- listen to my heart (gut). If if doesn't feel good, I'm going to really question whether I "should" do something. If I keep feeling like I really "want" to do something, I need to pursue that.
- listen and watch for signs all around me...in magazines, on the radio, on billboards, in conversations. I need to pay attention so I can reap the rewards the Universe has in store for me.
- enjoy and appreciate the time that is given to me. Enjoy my family. Enjoy the birds. Enjoy the people I meet. Enjoy the quiet moments.
- simplify...no need to add more useless info to this statement....

T -15 - Why & TODAYS MISSION - email Inbox

I'm a goal setter so every year around this time I start thinking about what I've accomplished and what I'd like to accomplish in the coming year. Most of this past year I've felt overwhelmed and under-inspired. The clutter everywhere in my life is not leaving space for new stuff. No space on the table, in the bedroom, in the inbox, on the calendar.

So this year I am taking control. Every day (when I'm not under a deadline or traveling) I will tackle a new place. It will be a very small thing (like a closet, a drawer, an inbox...ok, maybe just one month of emails in the inbox). By keeping it nice and small it will be achievable. Maybe if I take one baby step a day, by the end of next year there will be plenty of space and I will be sooooo INSPIRED.

You're welcome to join me on my mission. Let's see if we can't clean up this mess...

TODAY'S MISSION
The email inbox
-unsubscribe to all the lists I don't care about
-make a rule in my Outlook that puts the daily SPAM emails in the TRASH
-Review the oldest 3 month period of emails that are still sitting in my current Inbox and move them to the ArchivedInbox or delete them
Continuing the mission - keep only those emails that I might "NEED" in the future