Happy New Year everyone!

A brand new year is here full of possibilities and opportunities. What will you do differently this year to improve your life? I am not talking about new year's resolutions because the chances of them being carried out are slim to none. They fade out pretty quickly which is why I don't like to make empty promises to myself that I know I am not going to keep. However I like looking at the new year as a chance to do something different or to add more to improve or enhance my life even more.

If you change your perspective of how you look at things in your life that perhaps you aren't exactly pleased with or that you would like to change then you can start putting those changes into action. For example... if you want to eat healthier to improve your overall health, you can start with small steps like choosing healthier snack foods. Instead of those greasy chips, why not choose an apple with peanut butter instead? Maybe you say I want to lose 50 pounds. Why not say my goal for this week is to lose 2 pounds. Don't bite it off in huge chunks that seem impossible so much that when you dont see any results that you give up. Instead make changes in baby steps and continue steadily at it until you reach your ultimate goal.

For me, one of the things I would like to do this year beside focusing on my health is really focus on my writing. I have four major stories that are currently in progress and have been for a couple years. My goal for the year is to finish all four stories and submit at least two of them to a publisher this year. When I look at that outright, it can seem like alot but if I focus on just one small step at a time, I know I can be successful. First I can set aside a certain amount of time each week to just focus on writing.

I can pick one of my fictional writings to focus on first. This way my direction is not scattered by trying to work on all of them at the same time and I dont feel pressured to get all of them done at once. I have alot of ideas floating around in my head that would make great stories so for now I will jot down the idea in a notebook that is specific for my writing and set it aside until I finish the ones I've already started.

I won't start any new writings until I complete the ones I have chosen to finish this year. See how that makes it more managable and more organized? It's the baby steps that are going to egde me closer to my goals and my accomplishments. I know I will be sucessful if I go at it with that approach verses trying to bite it off in one huge chunk.

I am looking forward to the new year. I have things I want to do and I want to continue growing and expanding my mind and nurturing my spirit. There was much learning and growth in 2009 however I am glad to be moving forward and embracing a new year. Each year as I grow and expand my knowledge and experience, I love it. Even through the not so good times, there is still much learning and growth. I appreciate all of my experiences. Life is an ever revolving spiral upward and I kinda like that.

How about you? Did you feel growth in 2009? What were your key learnings and changes? What will you do differently in the new year ahead? If you're feeling kinda in a rut, maybe it is time to make a change. So what are you going to do about it?

Here's to a brand new year and remember life is what YOU make it.

Bear Hugs!
PolarB ;)

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Warm Bear Hugs & Blessings!
PolarB ;)

Good morning peeps!

I hope everyone is doing well and you are well on your way to enjoying the holiday season. We have our tree up and the lights are hung outside pretty and bright. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. I have to say I already have most of my shopping done with only a couple more things for Lovie that I want to get for her. I did my Christmas cards this week and they will go in the mail this weekend so I am all set to just enjoy the splendor of the holiday.

Normally I bake a ton of cookies for us and to give away to friends, however this year will be a bit different. I still will bake a couple different kinds for friends as gifts but I wont make a lot for us this year. I just found out I am diabetic so I am on my way to making some healthier lifestyle changes to my eating habits and physical activity. Lovie and I have been walking every evening after dinner for the past few weeks and that feels good. We typically ate fairly healthy anyway with a focus on veggies and chicken mostly, so that is not a big change but I really have to watch the sugar and carbs now. I had been in the habit recently when my sugar levels bottomed out I would pop a piece of candy in my mouth even though the candy made me feel nauseous and kinda sick. Then I would crash from the sugar high and be wiped out for the rest of the day. If I really think about it, I've been having signs that pointed to the diabetes for a while now so the glucose testing just confirmed it. The good news is I can improve all the issues I've been having and get healthier in the process. That has to be good right?

Our jobs are still up in the air. So far we have had 23 people let go, they are closing down one of our main facilities, outsourcing another 50 jobs and have already cut about 30 jobs in the field. And this doesn't even begin to touch the 30% they will be letting go in Jan/Feb. I am very disappointed in the way they are handling this and the decisions that are being made as a company. As I said before this isn't a result of the economy. I have my own theory about what they are doing but we will have to see how it plays out. It is very sad to see the blatant disregard for dedicated employees who have been loyal for years putting their heart and soul into making this company the success that it is. It's disheartening to watch this transpire before our eyes and not know who is next on the chopping block. There is no security anymore and it could be any of us at any moment. It's just sad.

Okay onto happier things. Like the holidays! Lovie and I plan to attend some of the special holiday events going on around our town. I am looking forward to that. The zoo has a Festival of Lights that is pretty awesome that we like to go to every year. Of course we will have to visit the polar bears and ride the trains! We might even go to the waterfront on the river where there will be a spectacular light show of dancing lights to holiday music. There are plenty of shops and eateries to browse and just being out in the crisp night air with Christmas carols filling your ears and pretty lights all aglow really gets you in the holiday spirit of the season.

I was thinking about the holidays and some of my good memories from my childhood. Yes, there were a few good ones and I cherish those. One in particular is I remember my great aunt had one of those white metallic artificial trees that had a colored disc that rotated that you would sit in front of the tree so when it turned it made the Christmas tree turn all different colors. Red, then blue, then green, then yellow. I remember laying on the floor mesmerized watching that tree turn colors like magic. Through the eyes of a child there is magic and wonderment.

Wouldn't it be cool to be like a child again and see the world as a magical place of discovery and wonder? What if we could block out all the negative news we hear everyday and block out the violence and the hatred and greed of this world we live in. Take out all the pain and hurt and replace it with love and caring and concern for one another. Instead of wars we find peace and begin to work together as a nation. Wouldn't that be a nice Christmas gift? Will that be what heaven is like? Some days when I pray I ask "What are you waiting for God?" I have to admit I really look forward to that day. So with that in mind I will close and my Christmas wish will be for all... Peace on Earth and goodwill to all.

Happy Holidays & Bear Hugs,
PolarB ;)

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Be blessed my friends and enjoy & appreciate one another and remember all the things we can be thankful for in this season, especially laughter, joy and being loved.

Bear Hugs!

PolarB ;)