I realized that I’ve been putting off writing this inaugural blog post for 2013 because I wasn’t really sure what to say. Truthfully it’s been hanging over my head that at the beginning of last year I chose a “word to live by” for 2012 – ENJOY – and I really don’t feel like I’ve lived up to that word. In hindsight I think my word was actually BUSY. That makes me feel a little “ugh”, so hence the delay on posting.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I did some cool stuff in 2012. But I also took on a new full-time job, still did a bunch of my own facilitation business stuff on the side and also had some family challenges to work through that caused me stress. I just didn’t have as much fun as I had planned to in 2012. I actually worked pretty darn hard.
Work-wise, my proudest accomplishment from 2012 is that I spent the latter half of the year developing and then facilitating a blended model (one day in person, four weeks online) volunteer management course for Volunteer Victoria. I had 32 participants in the course, it was very well-received, and overall my experience as its facilitator was fantastic. I grew leaps and bounds in my own learning about facilitation, and online facilitation in particular. And I immersed myself in the field that I love – volunteer management – with some incredibly great people. I hope to do more of the same this year.
Personally, the best thing I started to do last fall was eat less wheat. I can’t say I’ve cut it out completely, but I’ve drastically reduced my intake and, Christmas holidays aside, consciously make better choices about what I’m going to put into my body. I feel better, less tired, and more awake to the world. I think I’m a better parent, and hopefully a better spouse because of it.
So what is in store for me for 2013? Well truthfully I don’t quite know the specifics yet. My one-year work contract is going to come to a end in a few months so I’m doing some focusing and planning for what is going to come next. I’m looking for work that gives me variety, connection/relationship, control, creativity, learning, meaning and is values-aligned. I’ve got lots of facilitation and speaking gigs coming up that I’m excited about in Victoria and up-island (Courtenay, Parksville), and am starting to vision just what else is going to come together. I am thinking about going for my certification in volunteer administration and also applying for Leadership Victoria.
On a personal front I want to start recapturing the things that give me joy. I want to knit more, spend lots of time riding my new bike, read novels instead of work-related books, have more people over for dinner parties. I want to connect more often with my husband and spend more focused and fun time with my daughter and as a family. I want to see my parents and brother’s family more. I want to try reflexology, zip-lining, travel to some new places (we’ve booked Hawaii in!), and new foods. I want to have massages. I want to relax.
I’m not sure I will pick a word to live by for 2013, perhaps just one word doesn’t fit the bill. But I will try to do more of the things that I really want to be doing with my life and look up from my work more often to just have fun. This year I have a tremendous opportunity to re-design the way my next few years of life are going to look. It will take some strength and also some trust, and I look forward to creating it as it goes.
(Note: this post has been cross-posted at Shades of Bliss)
Nice post Beth. I love that your goals include doing more FUN things! I often think that when we get so busy in our lives we put aside the things that matter most… we think what matters most is to be busy and productive when in reality our happiness really derives from having FUN and being with family and friends. On that note, have you seen the documentary “Happiness”? You would really enjoy it!
It sounds like you are taking another stab at ENJOY. A lesson may be that it’s the kind of word to live by for a lifetime!
Really liked what you had to say in your post, 2013, I expect great things from you – Beth Cougler Blom, thanks for the good read!
— Marcellus