Happy New Year

This is the last day of Gwen Bell's awesome Best of 2009 Blog Challenge (and, of course, the last day of 2009). I'm grateful to both -- Gwen Bell and the year 2009.

Both brought me so much to reflect on and so many wonderful new people.

Thank you 2009 and thank you (so much) Gwen Bell, you guys changed my life!

So here's today's (final) challenge prompt:

Resolution you wish you'd stuck with. (You know, there's always next year...)

Does this sound like me or what? I can't remember what I wanted to grow/do/be at the start of 2009.

I think I would've mentioned delcuttering if I'd made a resolution list (which I never do, because - I mean really - I'd have to remember that I made one - and where I put it - and why I wrote it -- just too much hassle!). But if I had, I probably would've mentioned decluttering, because I've been seeing that my attraction to mess pulls on my heels when I try to move forward.

So it's likely that I at least had thoughts about decluttering faster - and better - and with more discipline (why is it that one big effort every couple months, combined with lots of pondering about the subject doesn't get the job done??). And it's safe to say (and really easy to show - but I won't frighten you with that right on the cusp of a new year!) that I did not get faster, better or more disciplined with decluttering.

But I have continued the process - and I'm even looking at things differently. I've got more of an eye for organization, more ideas about what I don't need - and how/where to keep what I do.

So I'm heading into 2010 without feeling bad about what I didn't do - and mighty grateful for all the opportunities that came my way, lessons I've learned, and glorious folks I've met throughout 2009.

Maybe next year you can remind me of this (because I will forget): Earlier today Slightly-Brit reminded me of Ali Edwards' One Word post and I jumped over there and added my word for 2010.

My word is "grow". I want to grow my heart, my circle of friends, my business and my influence. I considered the word "growth", but SBD made one of those interesting faces and joked: "What HAVE you got on your head there?" (as in - you've got a growth) and I thought maybe I'd go with "grow", not "growth" - sometimes it makes sense to be careful what you ask for.

I'd love to hear what YOU are looking forward to in 2010.

This is a good time to tell you that I am so very grateful for your visits here. The idea that I can ramble and make myself laugh and sometimes whine - and have wonderful folks like you listen (ok, literally - you're reading, not listening - but it amounts to the same thing) - oh, it blesses my heart. Thank YOU so much!

Comments

[Alana]

:) I'm listening - thank you.

[whollyjeanne]

grow. got it. count me in as a sticky note. sooooo glad our paths have crossed, karen. so very glad.

[Gwen Bell]

Karen. Thank you for being part of this challenge. Something you said rang true & I've included it in the wrap up PDF. Just know, I'll be thinking of you fondly as we're moving forward into 2010.

[janie]

about the only resolution that I've really stuck with is to not make resolutions, that I simply need to do .... and since I am a May Day baby (okay, an old one) I always use May 1st as my new year, but this year I will make these promises to myself a little early. to lose weight to be more healthy, to create more art for myself and to share with others, to play nice, to continue reading a lot and maybe even start writing my own story (even if it's so I can read it when I don't remember any more) and to keep reminding my own kids and my Reed kids that life is so well worth living

and to read more blogs and to work on my own more often

[Kathy]

Love this Karen! I appreciate the gentleness you hold with yourself.

My body is informing me that my word (which was one of my words for 2009) is Open. It seems to be something that is making a last ditch effort to be known as midnight approaches and my hand is in pain. I am unable to grip anything with it. I can't hold on, as it were. No matter how much other parts of me may try, my body says done! We will no longer hold on so tightly. I'll write more about the amazing synchronicities around this tomorrow.

I too am listening -

[Julie]

I'm listening and loving and learning. My word is surrender. Didn't know of the blog 'til you. As Kathy wrote, I love that you hold yourself with gentleness. I'm thrilled to have met you here on Twitter and to now call you a friend. Happy New Year.

[elizabeth]

After thinking about it that way, I can see why you picked grow over growth. :)

I'm glad you continued the process .. it seems like nothing really ever "ends" exactly, so it really is the process that matters.

Happy 2010!

[Dian Reid]

"I'm heading into 2010 without feeling bad about what I didn't do..." <-- LOVE that! And grow vs. growth...too funny! Sounds like you've had a wonderful year of growing, Karen, and I'm so grateful to have come in at the tail end of the year and be a part of your community =)

Cheers to you and 2010, and grow 'o)

[Square-Peg Karen]

Such wonderful women responding to this post! Thank you all!

Alana, so glad you're listening here - and I'll be listening at Whole Self Coach as well!

Jeanne, me too! very glad our paths have crossed/are crossing!

Gwen, i LOVED being part of the Challenge. Thanks so much for all you've done (and continue to do - I'm looking forward to taking part in the new challenge as well!).

janie, I love your Square-Peg spirit- go May baby! I hope you write (and share) your story!

Julie, "Surrender" - gorgeous word, thanks for sharing that and for commenting. Yes, Twitter has been such a gift to me - oh...wait...the folks I've MET on Twitter have been such a gift. So glad we met.

Thanks for listening, Kathy. "Open" - wow! That's a great word - but ouch..your hand. I'm hoping it's relaxed into open a bit - and out of pain. I'm going to slide over to your blog after I post this and see what you wrote about synchronicity and "open".

Oh, Elizabeth - what you said! Nothing really ever ends. wow. thank you for that! And thanks for commenting - and "getting" my grow/growth silliness.

Dian - "part of your community" - whew..tears came to my eyes! thanks! and welcome!! So glad you're here!!