A friend and I wander along a frigid pathway into the woods for a stroll among the trees, pondering life, reflecting on a new year, and waiting for our annual ONE WORD to find each of us.  Ideas ebb and flow from the past year and project themselves forward to new goals.  At this stage of life, we discuss how it takes great courage, strong conviction, and a consistent growth mindset to move forward some days while other days simply unfold in miraculous ways.  It also takes the bold ability to STOP doing some things no longer fruitful or in our best interest only to START doing other things in the best way possible.  Here’s just a small sample:

1. STOP telling everyone everything on social media. START leaving some things to chance and imagination.

2. STOP comparing yourself to others and worrying about what others think. START marching to your own drummer and the positive path you create, no matter the path may lead.

3. STOP focusing on self and more on others. START helping others and be nice to everyone because kindness matters.

4. STOP making everything a competition in life. START competing only with your best self.  Make your choices, be accountable, accept responsibility, and deal with the consequences (good and bad) of your choices.

5. STOP being like others. START owning who you are, where you are, and tell YOUR story in a caring manner. There is only one “YOUnique” you…

6. STOP fearing failure; no one has it all figured out because nothing in life is perfect, especially on the first time. Failures bring powerful clarity and change in the most positive way! START embracing failure to find personal success (it’s also a recovery step from perfectionism…and one I struggle to release daily).

Our list goes on, but you get the general idea. So, what’s on your STOP and START list this new year? What is something you will commit to STOP and START each day throughout the year?

May 2018 be filled with magic and dreams and good madness in your life.  May you read great books and kiss someone who thinks you’re the wonderful.  May you create art–write, draw, build, sing, play, and live as only you can!  And I sincerely hope somewhere in the next year, you amaze, bless, and surprise yourself (and others) in the most extraordinary ways! Happy New Year!

Most likely you have a favorite holiday tradition or two…something you treasure each year as the season comes ’round again.  Whether it’s placing a special ornament on the tree, watching a favorite holiday movie together, visiting a certain jolly fellow (in our family, the Northpark Santa IS the real Santa), or doing a familiar holiday activity together, you have a tradition you never want to miss.

My sister and I would always write long, detailed letters to Santa each year; it was our tradition together in fact.  My parents would then take us downtown to Titches (yes, I’m that old), to visit with St. Nick to share our letters.  I would never tell my parents what I wrote even though they would do any number of things to make me “spill it” (Momma always said, “You were stubborn that way…”  Go figure?!).  It took me a while to pin down exactly why they wanted to know this personal information.  Writing our letters was a tradition we shared together.  Today, we still write our shopping lists (using email or text) because great minds think alike and we’ve also been known to buy the same present for a family member.  Talking and planning (along with writing) with my sister are traditions during the holidays and everyday I never want to miss!

So this leads me to a question for you to ponder:  What is your favorite family holiday tradition?  In whatever way you and yours choose to define the holiday season and make seasonal memories, here’s hoping you take time to reflect together on special traditions.  If you don’t have a favorite tradition, here’s hoping you start one as you #SpreadJOY this year!