More MONEY?
Well, I don't know anyone who couldn't use more money right now! But honestly, my little family is doing ok and our needs (and even a few small wants) are being met just fine. So I don't really NEED more money!
More CUPCAKES?
Well...in those desperate moments I often feel that I do NEED MORE CUPCAKES! Heh Heh! But the occational one at a birthday party or on a weekend is really more than enough! So no, I don't really NEED more cupcakes!
So, if I don't NEED MORE money or cupcakes, what do I need MORE of, you ask?
Well, I need MORE MEDITATION for my body and soul:
I'm always fighting the battle of chronic pain with my body and I often forget to use those tools that can help all those frayed nerve endings to calm down: Meditation & Prayer. So in the new year, I resolve to use MORE MEDITATION for my body and soul.
I also need to THINK MORE of Mother Earth.
While I recycle as much waste (paper, metal, glass) as I can, use discarded books and ephemera in my artwork and remain conscious of my electrical and water usage, I feel like I could do more. So this year I resolve to ACT MORE to lessen my carbon footprint by taking shorter showers, turning the television off for several hours a day instead of having it on for distraction and noise and to start a compost pile in the back yard.
GIVING MORE HUGS is another one I NEED!
Who couldn't use more hugs?! I know I could! Hugs make you feel good by releasing endorphines! I think too often in our world we shy away from touching in positive ways. When we feel angry or discouraged we often push others away - which are the exact moments when we could use those hugs the most! So this year I resolve to give MORE HUGS to others! Of course, I will refrain from doing this with total strangers unless the social situation calls for it! Heh Heh!
GIVE MORE RAK's (Random Acts of Kindness) is an important one!
This year I feel like I failed a bit in the RAK department. Part of it had to do with my difficult muse because she really didn't want to create very much art. But I should have found other ways to show kindness to others! So this year I resolve to DO MORE RAKing and connecting with others through Kindness in many different ways! My goal is for at least one per month!
Wearing MORE SILLY SOCKS!
Yes, I realise that this doesn't really seem like something I NEED to do! But honestly, silly socks are a good thing! Not only do they keep my feet warm and toasty, but they brighten up my mood, make children smile when they see them and generally make people feel less threatened by this large, goofy chick rolling around in a wheelchair in Michael's! So this year I resolve to WEAR MORE silly socks - especially if they don't match my outfit!
Eat MORE healthy foods!
This year I did pretty good in the food department (except for those cucpakes!). In fact, I got all my blood levels (glucose, cholesterol, etc) down to NORMAL for the first time in years! Whoo Hooo! I did this by eating whole grains as much as possible, not drinking milk (except for Silk Soy Milk), and staying away from pre-packaged, over-processed foods as much as humanly possible. So this year I resolve to continue to eat MORE HEALTHY and to REPLACE MORE proteins with tofu and legumes. I will also attempt to cut out all dairy by switching to soy based butter and cheese.
Plant MORE FLOWERS in the yard is one that is sorely needed around here!
We have lived in our new house for an entire year now and I am ashamed to say that I haven't planted even one flower in our yard! As a nurseryman's daughter, I really should be ashamed of myself - and I am. So this year I resolve to PLANT MORE flowers in my yard! How can I expect the fairies to whisper sweet things in my ear if I don't give them places to alight? So more flowers is definitely on the list! Especially since it will get me outside in the fresh air and not locked up alone in the house with four cats all day. I think we all know where that kind of behavior leads (cuckoo cat lady - calling cuckoo cat lady!)!
Speaking of fairies and wings...I need to give myself MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO FLY!
Too often I am content to just sit in the house and not go anywhere. Part of this is due to my PTSD which is triggered in loud situations, especially around vehicles. Part of it is also due to the fact that I need to use a wheelchair to go any distance outside of the house. So this will be a tricky one to do for sure! But I am determined to find ways to do this! I resolve to FLY FURTHER AWAY FROM HOME MORE OFTEN!
Cut myself MORE SLACK for not being perfect!
Oh yea, this is a biggie! I think it is for a lot of us! We can forgive others without too much effort, but how long do we hold onto our own failures and revisit them over and over and over again?! How many times in a month do we say "You should just quit because you are not a good artist!"? How about "You failed on your diet again and you'll never make your goal weight!"? Or "How could you have said such a stupid thing?!?"? I do that one A LOT! So this year I resolve to give myself MORE SLACK, accept the failures and use them as a learning tool! I hope this will allow me to start creating art with the abandon that my soul so craves!And lastly, I think this year needs MORE LOVE!
The world needs MORE LOVE! I need MORE LOVE! You need MORE LOVE! So maybe this is one we can all work on together. Say it with me: I resolve to CREATE MORE LOVE in my life and in my world! This is really the easiest one out of the lot I think! Because love is something that benefits everyone involved and is super easy to do. Something as simple as giving a smile to the person behind you in line at the market creates MORE LOVE! Because that person feels good, smiles at the person behind them, goes home and hugs their child or dog or husband and thus fills the world with love and so does that person behind them and behind them and behind them! I'm not naive enough to believe that a smile can or will create utopia. But I know that it can make the world a nicer place when it is shared and passed onward! And all of us could use more moments of love in a world that often feels depressing, scary and shaky!
The world needs MORE LOVE! I need MORE LOVE! You need MORE LOVE! So maybe this is one we can all work on together. Say it with me: I resolve to CREATE MORE LOVE in my life and in my world! This is really the easiest one out of the lot I think! Because love is something that benefits everyone involved and is super easy to do. Something as simple as giving a smile to the person behind you in line at the market creates MORE LOVE! Because that person feels good, smiles at the person behind them, goes home and hugs their child or dog or husband and thus fills the world with love and so does that person behind them and behind them and behind them! I'm not naive enough to believe that a smile can or will create utopia. But I know that it can make the world a nicer place when it is shared and passed onward! And all of us could use more moments of love in a world that often feels depressing, scary and shaky! So that's all, folks! I wish you a beautiful New Year and success with your resolutions! You deserve it so very much! And please feel free to share your resolutions with me! Maybe we can work on some together! :)
"Sweet Treasures" Gothic Arch for Dorothy A.
"Go Ask Alice" 8x8 Tip-in Pages for Judy E.
