I love the start of a new year.
Even when something daunting is presenting itself for the coming months, I feel so fresh, energized and inspired.
It's not so much the proverbial clean slate that causes my brain to rush at full throttle with thoughts of what I want to do over 365 days. It's the reflection of the year that has past and rediscovering what I loved about it.
The things that I didn't love so much? Well, those can roll off the tongue and cause me to twitch.
I want to focus on what I loved. Because that is what I want to carry into the new year.
I recently read a few blog posts that reflect on gratefulness in life. Like Lisa Kothari's Weekly Attitude of Gratitude and Bungalow Bliss's goal to "grow with gratitude." And Karen Walrond's Gratitude. 2012 newsletter, for which I am so thrilled to be a participant.
I am not alone in this desire to look at the goodness in life.
There was so much to love about 2011, so much that I learned, and so much for which to be grateful:
- My family. Period.
- That change is always scary but when it is meant to be, you'll know in it Technicolor (killer smiles don't hurt either).
- That focus and determination, albeit crazy hard at times, work when you're making a change.
- That wonderful friends are priceless.
- That my toe doesn't hurt anymore thanks to medicine that actually works.
- That I have the best walking buddies (dogs included).
- That I miss snapping photos with a real camera.
- That no matter how much time away I spend from San Francisco, I still melt when I witness a crisp winter sunset over the bay.
- That life truly is good.
Embrace the new year.
