Happy New Year, friends! I don’t know about you, but I am excited about what’s to come this year. I love cracking open a brand new journal and thinking about how I want to feel in 2015 and what things I want to focus on that will bring the most meaning into my life.
Last year I chose the phrase: BE the artist. And I did. I took illustration, abstract composition, and abstract painting courses. I had my first art show and sold two pieces of work from it. I used my cuckoo creative combination of skills, background, and vision to take on clients where I helped shape their brand. I wrote stories and took photographs all around the city of Seattle and loved every minute of it. I collaborated with my talented East Coast creative friend Nancy Herrmann to art direct a series of visual stories that I’m extremely proud of. It was a good year.
In October I found myself back in the headspace of where I was when I started this journal six (!!!) years ago, minus the stressed out of my mind part. I began thinking about meditation and being present. I started remembering what life was like before I had an iPhone and an Instagram account. I obsessed about getting rid of the things, tangible and habitual, that no longer brought me joy or served a useful purpose in my life.
In addition to continuing my path of being and growing as an artist, my 2015 will be a year of mindful living.
Last year I discovered the tool that helps me live more mindfully – meditation. I first noticed what a profound (and immediate!) effect it had on my state of mind after I returned from Los Angeles and spent an hour in a dark, silent float pod. Then in November, I signed up for Oprah and Deepak Chopra’s 21-Day Meditation series, The Energy of Attraction. The calming results were obvious to me and to the people that I interact with daily. Meditation and a monthly float (thanks for the Urban Float membership, Drew!) are key components of 2015 for me.
But a calm, focused mind is just part of my mindfulness practice. I want to be mindful in all things – my relationships, the conversations that I have, the things that I share with the world through writing and art, the work that I take on and the work itself while I am doing it. I want to consider how I’m spending my time. I want to ask questions, like what is the purpose of what I’m doing right now? What am I putting out into the world and why? Why is that item on my to-do list – Is it necessary? Does it bring me joy? Is it important?
I want to own fewer things. I want to have more meaningful experiences – travel, conversations, and work. I want to connect with people in a meaningful way. I want to put down my iPhone more often. I want to do more than capture the moments of my life. I want to experience things fully and make every day, moment, and minute count. I want to embrace uncertainty.
All of this doesn’t mean that I want to overanalyze every single thing that I do. I’ve spent way more than enough of my life doing that. I just want to be more conscious of my time, how I use my energy, and my creative, professional, and personal pursuits.
I don’t want to be part of the noise. I want it to mean something.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll continue with me on this journey. I’m looking forward to writing more, creating more art, and sharing what I learn along the way. Let’s connect on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! I’d love to hear about the plans you have for 2015. Do you have a “word”? xoxo
P.S. Have you met my new puppy? Her name is Gidget and I love her very much even though she often drives me insane.
