Possibilities…today I might learn to fly, follow the stars, heal the earth, find my way…

The new year has begun. For some reason I feel like this is going to be a good one. As many in the blogging community are doing, I have chosen a word to represent something I want to bring to my life. This is a word I will carry with me throughout the year, hold it close to me and hope that putting focus on it will bring about some of the change I have been looking for. I wanted a creative word, a unique word…you know, something quirky that would impress…but what kept coming to me was generic, it moved something in me and I decided to stay true to what my soul was saying to me. My word for 2010 is freedom. I want to spend time this year looking at things that scare me, hold me back, frustrate me or just plain need to be put to rest. I want to grow wings and set flight. I want to embrace the expansive, sometimes terrifying freedom that has been calling me.

I also saw Zombieland and inspired by the hard taught lessons that show up as rules in the film, I am going to be creating my own rules throughout the year. RULE #1: NEVER READ THE REVIEWS BEFORE WATCHING THE MOVIE OR READING THE BOOK. Why this rule? It seems silly at first glance, but something that has kinda been bubbling under the surface for me recently is the way access to public opinion shapes my own opinion and experience of something. When I read a review, I feel like I am setting myself up to feel a certain way about something. If people don’t like it then I won’t like it right? If people love it, I’ll love it, if it makes people laugh, I’ll laugh. If it makes people cry, I’ll cry. And where am I in all this “experienced” emotion. Nowhere. I want to remember what I think, what I feel, what I like and what I see. I want to be surprised. So that is rule #1.

Cleo from 5 to 7

In a rather strange way, this leads right into a movie I was watching today. It is called Cleo from 5 to 7. I won’t tell you what I think of it (see Rule #1). I was watching it when I thought of the rule and strangely, about 15 minutes later, cleo said something about how you should never read a review before watching a movie. Strange. Serendipity. A message that I’m on the right track maybe?

So this year…here’s to this year. A year of authenticity and a year of freedom. I am welcoming it with my arms outstretched and my eyes wide open. I hope you are too!

You must give up the life you had planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.
- Joseph Campbell

I’m experimenting with the idea of change right now. Sometimes you just know that things need to change and I am at that point right now. Give me the strength to make the changes I need to make. (these would all be good ones, just a little scary)

I recently bought the talented Keri Smith’s book “Wreck this Journal“. It is what it sounds like. Pages of creative ways to destroy the book.

My Brand New Journal

I knew it was going to be fun, at least judging from the flickr pool of fellow wreckers, but I was totally unprepared for how freeing it would feel to do some of the exercises.

Me taking my journal for a walk

You just don’t realize how tied we all are to perfection until you try to resist the urge to be perfect, keep things perfect, or act perfectly. It is harder then you think to take a brand new book and drag it through a puddle of water. In a way, going through some of the exercises is like giving yourself permission to loosen up a little, make mistakes, be creative and take risks and also let go of the idea of possessing things.

My Journal - after a fall from high in the sky

Is anyone else wrecking a journal? Would love to hear your thoughts on the process!

I had one of those moments today. You know what I’m talking about, that uh-oh moment you have when you see a picture of yourself and realize you’ve let yourself go a little more then you had thought. I have tons of excuses for why this is as it is, but you know what? I just don’t care — excuses/real reasons or not, I am going to make some big changes in my life.

In terms of diet — I need permanent change as well as an approach that will get me to a stable weight and exercise level. I no longer believe in diet books or diet gurus. This time I am going to make myself an expert and I am going to depend on myself to make the changes that need to be made.

Thus – what I am calling the tipping point diet. I will be making one change at a time. When I have mastered one change, I will add another and at some point I will have to reach the tipping point and finally see my body and health moving in the direction I want it to be. The initial changes will be more drastic/less long term, but as I get closer to my ideal health point, I will revise some of them to be more livable over the rest of my lifetime.

I started with one a few weeks ago and have been happy with my progress so far. If anyone wants to join me in doing this along the way I would welcome fellow tippers! I’ll be updating you as I create new goals for myself. Wish me luck!

Goal Numero Uno – No eating out – no restaurants, no fast food, no food from booths at fairs, Starbucks is still allowed.

Like I said, I’ve been doing this for a few weeks, even when I really don’t want to cook and I love the results — I am saving money and loosing a little of the pudge. I’m thinking about the next thing to add to the list — I have a sneaking suspicion it will have to do with exercise.

In honor of a unique artist -- Enjoy your life today.