Of Regrets and Resolutions

Resolutions are a strange thing.  The new year feels full of promise and hope, but for me it seems like most things are left undone, hanging, incomplete.  

I realize it is a process, but most of the time my resolutions are way too grand in scale for me to accomplish, like the losing 10 pounds in 6 weeks of 2012 failure.  

Or a procrastination so long that I didn't even set any goals.  There's one way to not fail; just don't try at all!  Win-win, right?  

And I titled 2010's post "A goal without a daily plan of action is just a wish."  A great thought, and my goals were mighty small that year, so could be an accomplishment.  We were really struggling with some decisions and issues, and I'm pretty sure that I didn't want to be too specific.  Way too scary for me.

2009 saw me working on the same goals as 2008.  What's the definition of insanity?  Oh, yeah, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  It's the story of my life.  I go back 4 years and I'm seeing a definite pattern of un-greatness and lack of motivation.  Especially this quote from that post:  I rarely tell others my dreams, goals, and wishes. Then I feel the pressure to be accountable for working towards or achieving those things. Who wants to be accountable? Not I!

And finally, back to 2008, I was really ambitious and broke down my goals by category.  Ack!  I do like the last quote, though, "I will appreciate what little progress I make despite my shortcomings."
 I

One of my favorite talks from this past conference was President Uchtdorf's talk "Of Regrets and Resolutions".  A few of my favorite quotes:

No matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it.

One day we will take that unavoidable step and cross from this mortal sphere into the next estate. One day we will look back at our lives and wonder if we could have been better, made better decisions, or used our time more wisely.

To avoid some of the deepest regrets of life, it would be wise to make some resolutions today. Therefore, let us: 

• • Resolve to spend more time with those we love.

• • Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be.

• • Resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.

I think those last three resolutions are perfect to focus on.  I will continue working on other goals, including finding a job, building food storage, being a better mom, and everything else I'm continuously working on! 

And when you ask how my resolutions are going, please excuse the snort of laughter!

My One Little Word for 2013

The last couple of years I have had a "one little word" that I wanted to focus on for the year.  I think about a new one periodically, and Ali Edwards has a blogpost with a list of suggestions,  but the way I seem to choose my word is by evaluating where I am and where I want to be.  

Last year's word was THRIVE.  Love it, and even though I don't feel like I "thrived" last year, it did help me focus on the positive instead of getting stuck on the negative.    I thought of a few words along the way:  one of my favorites is "Hope";  even saying the word sounds hopeful!   The word I thought I was going to use was "Move", meaning move out of my comfort zone, or move forward, and even move my body!  And even though I really like that word, this year's word is one I've considered been thinking about a lot.  And this morning I got one of those forwarded, positive message e-mails from a friend that reinforced the word even more.  My word for 2013 is:

UP!  It's a short little word!  But there are so many ways in which it can be used!

And the e-mail I opened this morning reads like this:

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.  The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet.  Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a  level place.  If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air.  Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.  It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom.  It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself. 

In many ways we are like the buzzard, the bat and the bumblebee.  We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up!  

That’s the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem…

Just look up!
Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, But faith looks up! Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly, And trust in our Creator who loves us.

Unfortunately, I see so many things I have in common with the lowly buzzard, bat, and even the bumblebee.  (Although if I were as industrious as the bumblebee I might be a little bit more ahead of where I am!)

I'm excited about my word for this year, and I'm hoping to go "Onward and Upward!!!"

Paint Spraying in my Art Journal tutorial

Paint is fun.  Remember being in grade school and just being able to create whatever you wanted?  Or fingerpainting?  Or even stenciling?  I love using paint on my scrapbook pages and other projects.  I wanted to try doing some paint spraying on my art journal to see how it would turn out.

Paint spraying is a little bit different than spray painting.  My paint spraying was inspired by Donna Downey who uses the little plastic spray bottles to spritz paint onto her pages.  I've filled mine with half water and half paint, or you can even make a smaller batch by using 1/4 of the bottle each with paint and water, and then just shaking them up when I want to use them.

I bought these in the travel section at the store for less than a dollar apiece.  They're just the thing for a burst of color on this gloomy, rainy day.

These are simple 5 inch french doilies from Cash and Carry.  I put them on a 12x12 scrapbook paper so I can use the sprayed paper once they're done.

 I spritzed over the top of them, getting them pretty saturated.  Then I let them sit for about ten minutes before taking them off.  Don't let them dry on the paper or they'll start to stick.

Here's the paper with the doilies off.  The photo's a bit out of focus, but I think it will do nicely for a future project.

I spritzed the pages of my journal with white, aqua, and orange paint.  I tested them on scrap paper first, since you can see that each of the nozzles has a different spray pattern.  Then I butted up a piece of scrap paper to the edges of the book so I wouldn't get any overspray on the cover.

I flipped the doilies over to show just a tinge of the aqua instead of the saturated side.  I like that look.

 

I finished off the page with a quote printed on regular printer paper and cut into strips, then edged with a little ink.  The circles are chipboard covered with patterned paper.  I just wanted a pop of orange, and decided on something bigger than buttons.

Then I used the stencil as a guide for a little bit of journaling.  Again, no doodling and nothing crazy, just a quick page to continue on my One Little Word journey.

I'm linking up here:

Art Journal

I have realized that I'm even grumpier than usual when I don't get to dabble in creating once in a while.  My family might say that they can't tell the difference between grumpy me and not quite as grumpy me, but there is a difference.

I mentioned in my last post that I've started an Art Journal.  I've had this particular journal kicking around for a few years, made from an old book and a kit that I bought from Teresa McFayden that had some gorgeous old  Autumn Leaves papers and watercolor paper as the inside pages.

This book is covered in some of my favorite things:  damask print, gold, red, scallops, and book print.  The clips are just there to hold the pages open flat for working.

This page was meant to be a jumping off point for my One Little Word: Thrive.  I didn't overthink the pages (obviously), and it took me just 15-20 minutes plus dry time, but I knew that I wanted to use this saying:

I Can Do Hard Things

Gray and aqua is a favorite color combination of mine right now, and the pops of pink added a little warmth to the coldness of it all.  I added some simple stamping and just a little bit of doodling.  (maybe could have added more doodling, but like I said, I didn't want to overthink or spend too much time on this.)

My journaling reads: 

With a new year comes new goals and resolutions.  But change is hard.  Stepping out of my comfort zone is hard.  Stretching beyond my limits is hard.  But...

 I Can Do Hard Things

One Little Word for 2012...

Source

THRIVE

: to grow vigorously : flourish

: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper

: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances —often used with on


My initial thought was to choose the word "purpose" as my One Little Word for 2012, but after thinking about it for a couple of days I've decided that "THRIVE" is what I'm really after.  

Even though I have my One Little Word to think about, I also like to find quotes and ideas to support that theme and help to keep the word in focus.

To really "thrive" I'll have to put the work into it.  And steadiness.  And organization.  And non-procrastination.  And a positive attitude.  And basically working at being the best that I can be. 

"A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them."
Liberty Hyde Bailey

My word is just that:  Mine.  I'm going to be selfish with it.  I'm not going to force it on the rest of my family, but I'm hoping they will get some residual benefit and maybe even an afterglow from being near me while I'm working on myself.  :)  I'm gong to keep this word in the back of my mind for now and write down any ideas that come into my thoughts. 

 "Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." - Benjamin Franklin

I'm going to Make 2012 a GREAT YEAR!
 
If you're looking for One Little Word to focus on or use as your "mantra" for this year, here is a huge list.  Do it.  It's painless.  I promise.  And you might just love it.