Hello, 2019! xo
I really love the first day of the new year. So brand new, fresh as clean sheets on a newly made bed. Usually I take time to write goals, lists, reflect on the good, the bad, the ugly, how to improve, how to audit and adjust the course of life or business based on the past year. But these past few weeks with holidays, painting projects, cooking, baking, guests and general holiday busy-ness have flown by in such a stream of confetti, I didn’t do any of that.
Instead of buying the new book on how to do or be something better/stronger/smarter/faster/skinnier, I have this: a new daily planner and a pen.
That’s all I’m feeling this year. Keeping it simple. I have a tendency to get bogged down or influenced by the latest shiny person extolling the benefits of whatever: fitness, nutrition, online marketing, sales, spirituality, you name it. All with benefits, no doubt. And I’ve learned a lot over the years by writing those lists, checking it twice. And I’ll probably continue to be a writer and ponderer of goals and aspirations but I learned a valuable lesson last year and I’m going to carry it over into 2019.
I was very present for the art and customers already in my life. I welcome and adore new customers, of course, but I found so much value and really did my best work when I was collaborating with people I love and people who love me. No struggle or striving. Just showing up, working very hard, delivering the best I could and staying true to my promises. There was a lot of mutual commitment this year and I loved it. It’s where my river flows for sure. It thrills me to know my customers are happy. That boomerang makes me want to work harder and smarter. It’s a full circle art & love festival over here in the greeting card/painting biz. When you’re happy, I’m happy and repeat. I am incredibly thankful I have this new-ish career that I love. That’s my equivalent of a goal setting reflection list this year: gratitude. Staying thankful that I get to do this, that I work and collaborate with the kindness, smartest, funniest people around and have the nicest customers ever! 2019, more of that please.
Cheers and Happy New Year! xo
(And I’m not setting a goal on how to lose 20 lbs by next week but feel free to share if you know how.)
