Friday, December 31, 2010

I hate New Year's resolutions

...so it makes me a bit cranky that I have finally found time to write my first post on this blog (that I have had for weeks and been dreaming about writing for months) on New Year's Eve!

I guess this clarifies something about my life right from the outset, though -it's busy, but not exciting. Right now, I am in bed with the flu while the rest of the world counts in 2011. Decidedly unexciting, but a chance to rest from the busyness I tend to hide behind and get this blog started properly.

My house is called "Chambre d'Espoir" because I like to say "I live in hope", and because I like to say "I live in hope" I named my house "Chambre d'Espoir". The logic is circular, but it's there :)

I read a suggestion on Twitter (apologies to its author as I can't remember who wrote it) to choose a theme or word that encapsulates what you want your 2011 to be, rather than writing a list of resolutions that will be overlooked, ignored, forgotten or, worse still, stored in your grey cells & used by your own worst enemy (yourself) to make you feel guilty or like a failure.

For me, 2011 is The Year of Building Hope - not just living in it, but LIVING IT! Making my hopes real by acknowledging them and actively working towards them in a positive, dare I say 'hopeful', way that doesn't promote guilt or stress, but encourages self-acceptance, healthy self-esteem, productivity, health and creativity.

Sounds a bit grandiose and pretentious, doesn't it?!

The idea is big. But changing the way we live, think and feel is always a case of a whole heap of small things that have a big impact on us and those around us. So I'll start small.

My hopes and dreams aren't big. I want a home that is ordered and welcoming. I want to care for myself the way I care for others. I want to encourage my creativity and stop calling the projects I love 'my ridiculous schemes' to deflect the possibility of others thinking badly of them/me.

If you want to live in hope, you have to build it.

So, tomorrow when I'm clearing out the pantry to help encourage a healthy me, starting sanding an old buffet I bought to restore or digging a hole so I can put in new front gates, I'll be building hope. And if I'm still too unwell to do those things, I'll rest without guilt.

All the best for a hopeful 2011 for you and those you love!

Jacquelyn