Let's Go Make A Fresh Start!

When the New Year comes around, we often think of new beginnings and making New Year's resolutions. However, did you pause to think about whatever happened to the resolutions of the year before? If you are like, you probably forgot what they were already. I think my resolutions in the past years were too vague and all encompassing, like be more helpful, smile more, spend less, eat healthier, etc., but nothing too specific. In the end, nothing got done and I did not accomplish anything at all.

So this year, I will focus on one specific thing. I will de-clutter and reduce build-up of collected things in my house. It may sound easy but this is hard specially if the other people in my house including myself, love to hoard stuff. I like to save things for a rainy day, but when the rain comes, I can't find the stuff! I collected many things that I can't seem to part with because of sentimental reasons. Not anymore, time to cut the cord and clean house! Consider this an early spring cleaning.

Goodbye to the ratty old shirts reserved for sleepwear, I deserve to dream in style! Same thing  goes with the clothes I have been saving for the time  I will lose weight and fit in them again. I will celebrate with new clothes when that happens! Goodbye to the books, magazines and brochures that I saved for my kids assignments. I can't find them when I need it and they print stuff off the Internet anyway! Time to dump gadgets that have not been used in years and probably never will anyway. I will donate or throw away the arts and crafts that I never got around to make. Someone can probably finish them instead of me. No more will I collect tiny objects and cute things that have become dust catchers.

Christmas decor collection grows every year. Time to trim down the collection!

 I know I will be met with some resistance but I will meet this challenge head on! As I work on a cleaning sweep of my house, I hope that getting rid of my material things will open me up to giving more value on the intangibles in life. Instead of collecting material things that take up physical space, I will start a new collection and save them in a spiritual vault. I will start collecting more smiles and laughter from friends and strangers, save up time to give comfort and assistance to others, and increase patience and understanding in times of distress and discomfort. How do I do that? I will spend more quality time with my family and find and join a new volunteer opportunity this year to add to the one I already have.

Well, wish me luck and I hope you find your own resolution that you will find doable and enriching. Happy New Year!

Let's Go Celebrate Christmas!

Christmas is coming!

Many children and adults are already doing a countdown to one of the biggest celebrations of the year. This holiday casts its own magic on people. Somehow people seem nicer, happier, more giving and forgiving. We should remember that there is no Christmas without Christ, he is indeed the reason for the season.

In our own household, we are lucky to renew our joy in Christmas through the fresh eyes of a babe. As we introduce our youngest family member to the customs and traditions we have for this holiday season, we can't help but be excited all over again!

The Christmas tree is up and decorated, the presents are getting wrapped and even the baking is in full swing. We can't seem to get enough of Food for the Gods, a favourite holiday sweet! We smile and feel the love sent our way through the Christmas cards and letters in the mail.

However you plan to spend this special occasion, do remember that the spirit of giving is not just expressed by material presents. We can give our time and talents to help others, give cheer to the old and lonely, and make someone happy by remembering them. So go and celebrate, give thanks for all your blessings and keep the real meaning of Christmas alive. Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Let's Go Find Some Passion!

Hah, gotcha there!

Nope, this is not an x-rated article but some rambling thoughts on my journey to finding myself. One would think that having time is all it takes to discover what you really want to do. This year gave me more time to think things over and maybe discover a new career but I must say that I still have not found "it."
 

I have started on the domestic route, trying to tap my inner housewife skills. I loved to bake and decorate cakes years ago and tried to see if I could get into this again. My first test was decorating a cake using fondant icing. Though it was fun and enjoyable to make, I don't think I will  make a career of it. So cross that off the list!

Being a writer is another thing I thought I was passionate about. I was all fueled-up working on my Info Barrel articles at first. Then I had a brain drain and seems that my efforts haven't reached the $10.00 mark yet. I haven't given up, but it sure sucks that my almost finished book is lost in cyber limbo and I don't know how to get it back. I will revisit this endeavor another time when I am in a better mood to start from scratch!

In the recent years, I had discovered that I did enjoy creating personal home movies. Meeting the technical challenges was satisfying and getting good feedback from friends and family was heartening. I should make a note to self to explore this further and replace a stolen video cam in the process.

At present, I am trying my hand at sewing and surprisingly finding myself fairly good at  it. Is this "the" passion I am looking for? Will this be my new career? It is too soon to tell but it sure is fun going to my lessons and finding something that I am good at. Maybe this is one piece of the puzzle and I have to continue on my journey to find the other pieces.

I did learn that in the journey to find one's passion, you have to take risks: financial, emotional, physical, etc. and really throw yourself into the trying stage. And take everything with a grain of salt. It does hurt to know you are not the greatest at something but at least you know you tried. And get some humour out of it by laughing at yourself. Someone did say that laughter is the best medicine!

My search for passion is still very much alive. Maybe someone can give me a boost or send some suggestions my way. I am willing to give reasonable ideas a try. So what are you waiting for? Maybe you will be the one to help me complete the puzzle!