Despite the confusion associated with writing a new date (which I never get down until mid-February.) I love starting a new year, don't you? It is a time filled with grand possibilities and awaiting adventures.
This year, instead of writing down massive resolutions including major weight-loss and crazy exercise schedules, I've decided to focus on one thing: Mindfulness. This little thing has quite a few applications.
1. Be mindful of myself by practicing kindness to myself. I have a tendency to be very hard on myself: bemoaning my faults and worrying incessantly about my failures. (I think that most type-A personalities are like this.) I've decided this year that I'm going to give Me a break. Accept my human-ness. I'm going to allow myself to take baby-steps toward a better me instead of figuratively whipping myself for taking those awfully long strides and then tripping and bonking my nose.
2. Be mindful as a mother. With so many little people vying for my attention, it is easy for me to tune them out and mumble a quick "uh huh" when they tell me that story again...and again and I'm in the middle of cooking dinner and reading a magazine. Yet, these are my most important people, the VIPS in my life and they deserve all of me. Not just my mouth. They deserve my mind and my attention. I want to show them daily how much I love them. I'm already shocked that Dani is 9. The years fly by and I want to give them my all so I don't regret anything when they are all gone.
3. Be mindful of how I treat my body. Eat healthy foods and move more.
4. Be mindful of others. Take the time to call someone on a special day. Demonstrate my love more often.
5. Be mindful of my time. Only take on projects that are meaningful to me and use my time wisely.
On that note, I created this piece. It is a small cheer-leading note to myself and to my children of our worth and our abilities.
Here are a few close-ups. The girl is based on Danika, my 9 year old, with her blond hair and blue eyes.
I love her stripe-y leggings. Oh, how I wish I had stripe-y leggings!
The balloons are dimensional and blinged up with Shimmerz Blingz in Pixie Dust, my go-to product for blinging.
I created the background texture using DecoArt's Texture Thick paste and a Crafter's Workshop template.
Again, Happy New Year!
xoxo
Bethany
8 comments:
Happy New Year Bethany! I can relate to your resolutions for the new year, I'm sure you'll succeed! I love your little work of art, and I'm glad you added some close-ups, because although pretty in full, the close-ups reveal its true awesomeness!
xxx Peggy
Happy NY to you, B! :)
Hope it's a fabulous year for you.
hugs,
sarah.
I loveeeeeeeeeeeeee this post Bethany! And I loveeeeeeeeee your canvas! Those balloons are FAB! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
oh yes...i love it...i also love your little piece...those balloons look awesome and i too love hose striped leggins...i had a pair once...a long long time ago...lol..take care...xxx
Wonderful post!!!!! Just adore it!!!
Wowza...love the piece that you created and I want to wear those leggings!!!! The balloons are adorable!!!
Wishing you a wonderful NEW YEAR!!!
If anyone can be successful at being more mindful as a mother, you certainly can! And I say more mindful, because I know how mindful you already are. You are very in tune with you kids and do an amazing job at focusing on what is important. I believe in you! LYTTTTTTTM!
Happy New Year Bethany!!! I love your post and your "word for the year" - I wrote about mine on my blog today - it's almost simular to what you write here, but I choose another word for it...
Happy New Year! I love your post about giving yourself a break..i guess I am right there with you with my Type A personality...and being a single mom on top of that..I say all the time it is tiring having to make all the decisions all the time...but because my daughter is my world and such a gift - I must keep going even on the days when I am not at the top of my game. Thanks for being so candid and for sharing that awesome piece of art too!! Here is to 2011 and all of us TYPE A's!!!!!
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