Fresh Start

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It's the new year and time for starting fresh. The new year feels like a blank page waiting to be written on, a new journal to be broken in or fresh untouched snow. Like many other people, I love to start the year by reviewing the previous year and making plans and goals for the the upcoming year. The beginning of January feels so hopeful and exciting. But even a few days into January or later in the month I sometimes feel deflated if I have already veered off course with my great plans. So this year I am going try to maintain my enthusiasm by remembering that it's not just the year that is fresh, every day is a fresh start. If I go off course with my goals and resolutions one day, all is not lost. I can start fresh the next day and get back on track with my desired life.

Over the holidays one of the best moments for me was watching my favourite movie, Anne of Green Gables, with my whole family. For me that was extraordinary because my husband and son rarely like to watch anything other than sports. It made me so happy to introduce them to Anne Shirley, who feels more like a "true kindred spirit" to me than a fictional character. I love Anne's zest for life and willingness to take risks, make mistakes and live a life that is thrilling to her. Anne is so passionate about life and her imagination knows no bounds. She makes terrible mistakes but learns from them. One quote I love from her is, "That's the good thing about me, I never make the same mistake twice."

So as I embark on this fresh new year with all my big dreams and aspirations, I will carry Anne's spirit with me and know that if things don't always go according to plan or I fail to do all the things I set out to do, all is not lost. I have an opportunity each day to start fresh and keep taking the small steps that lead to a life I love living every day! I hope you will too!

I'd love to hear any big goals or dreams you have for yourself in the new year. Writing dreams down and sharing them with others helps bring them to life.

The Gift!

https://www.ted.com/talks/stacey_kramer_the_best_gift_i_ever_survived?language=en

This Ted Talk by Stacey Kramer is just over 3 minutes long and has a surprising twist. Without giving it all away, she speaks of this amazing gift that she received that changed her life in many ways. But it is not a gift any of us would like to receive. Sometimes the things we don't want, have a gift in them if we look for it.

In this season of gift giving, look for the hidden gifts that have come to you over the years. Sometimes a job loss leads to the most rewarding career, the break-up to a better relationship, the disaster that made you start life all over forced you to create a new, amazing life.

When life gives you something that you don't want but you have no control over it, then try embracing it and look for the gift. It is not easy to do but you have nothing to lose. Sometimes the gift isn't evident at first, but if you look hard enough, you can find it.

What is something that you first perceived as horrible that later on served you well? What "problems" in your life today can you view as gifts?

Connection is the cure!

https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong?language=en

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A friend mentioned she had seen an interesting Ted Talk on addiction and I decided to look it up today. I love watching Ted Talks for inspiration and information. They are all great but this is an exceptional one. Do yourself a favour and click on the link under the image for the Ted Talk and watch this video clip? It looks at addiction in a new way. Instead of judging loved ones or ourselves harshly for our addictions, it points out that the root of addictions is lack of connection. Connection is our fundamental human need. With it, we thrive and without it, we fail to survive.

As we approach this busy holiday season, it can get stressful when we focus on the presents and decorations and all the details that we think make up Christmas. But as every sweet and sappy Christmas movie points out, the purpose of Christmas is about connection. It's about connecting with our loved ones, connecting with ourselves and our spirit.

What are some ways that you connect with loved ones at Christmas? Do you have any quiet time during the holidays to connect with yourself? What is something that you could do today to foster your connection with someone you love?

Getting Back on Track

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I chose these quotes today for myself. After being out of my home for 2 weeks while getting some renovations done, I found it hard to get back into my daily routine. It was a challenge to manage our family's crazy schedule while being away and out of sync with the routines that make it possible for us to do all that we do. So my message today is for me and maybe it will resonate with you. 

Whenever I go on a holiday or something comes up that changes our daily rhythm, it takes awhile to get back on track. But I know how to get back on track from many years of experience. And that is what I am doing today by getting back into my blogging routine. Sometimes it helps to pick one habit that you want to welcome back into your life and then slowly add others. If you put too much pressure on yourself to try to do everything, you'll only end up disappointing yourself.

What are some things that you do to help yourself get back on-track with living your best life? I'd really like to know. Share your comments below.

Today, acknowledge yourself for your healthy habits and good routines. If you feel like something is missing, take one small step to bring the missing element into your life (or back into your life). Enjoy the opportunity to make today the best day of your life - and doing that every day leads to an amazing life!

Make Your Day Great!

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I love both these quotes. No matter what your circumstances are or how your day has gone so far, it's not too late to make your day ridiculously amazing or to dance in the fallout of your stormy day. 

Do one thing before you go to bed today that will make your day great! It could be as simple as doing something thoughtful for someone you love. Or doing something that will move you forward on realizing your dream. Any step you take in the direction of your dreams will make you feel great.

And if your day has already been ridiculously amazing, enjoy it and spread the joy!

Enjoying Life!

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I was looking for a quote today that expresses the idea that life is a work in progress. I sometimes look forward to that mythical time when my current project is over and everything will be completed and perfect and I will have "arrived." But I have come to the realization that this moment of arrival at a perfect time in life will never happen. There are moments of accomplishment when you reach a milestone or achieve a goal, but the beauty of life is in the moments that lead up to the milestones.

I am in the middle of some renovations to my home so I am temporarily living at my parents home. Part of me is looking forward to being settled again in my own home. But another part recognizes that rather than focusing on that wonderful moment in the future, there are many moments for me to appreciate right now. When life feels unsettled, that's a sign that we are really living. 

I am focussing on finding joy in every day moments -when life is messy and so far from perfect. Look for moments of joy in your day today!

Be Real

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I was going to post something different today, but when I saw this quote, I thought it was perfect. Sometimes we work so hard and push ourselves to be achieve greatness. It's wonderful to aspire to be the best version of yourself that you can be. But sometimes the underlying motivation to strive for success or to reach the next milestone is an unconscious desire for approval and love.

No one needs to be perfect to be loved. In fact, the more you try to have that "perfect" image, the harder it is for people to connect with you. People connect with what is real. We all know people who don't seem to care about appearances and say exactly what's one their mind, and it is so refreshing. Allow yourself to be who you really are, not what you think others expect of you. If you love your "real self," other people will too!