new years resolution - new life resolution!

Something I have been thinking a lot about in the last few days is how inward I like to go this time of year. I put on my bear robes (as my sweet friend Madrona calls them) and stay inside. I'm already a huge hermit who loves to just be at home working on a project of some sort or another or curled up with my kids reading a book or watching a movie. Around Christmas every year, I start to really crave time alone, time where life isn't plowing me over. I like to slow down and evaluate and get in touch with my goals for myself not only in the coming year, but in the future and I like to weed out what I don't need in my life. I'm consistently contemplating change and how to bring my dreams into reality and how to do away with what isn't needed. This past year has been really stressful for us with lots of life changes in the areas of our jobs. I'm thankful the year is over and we are beginning to transition and beginning to find our flow again, but without the time of evaluation, this isn't possible for me. I think this is what this time of year is all about. The earth is asleep, we are hibernating and dreaming of the the fresh berries and roots in the early spring as the days warm up, we are dreaming of what we want our lives to be and how we want to live. This year, I'm INSPIRED to be in control of my own destiny! I want to live even more simply, I want to be more self-sustained, and I want to spend more time at home creating in the garden, in the kitchen, and in my small creative space. I didn't produce any where near enough art last year to suit my creative spirit, and this year, I want to remember to leave more time in my busy life to make art. I want time in my schedule to travel to visit friends, and I want to grow my own food and put it away for the winter months as well as have food to share with my friends and family. I'm thankful for being able to honor my natural tendency to be self absorbed this time of year and I'm thankful for the time to slow down and be able to pull my head out of the sand and look onto life with a fresh perspective and know that the future is only what I make of it and that this moment is what I choose to make of it. I am in control of my life and where it goes. It is my responsibility to make my dreams reality and that is my new life resolution. I WILL MAKE MY LIFE MY OWN!!!!