New Beginnings ~ 2012

I love new beginnings. First of the month? Great Day. Mondays? Not so bad, really. January 1st? Fantastic.

To start things off on the right foot, it’s a tradition for Jon and I to go out to eat on New Year’s Eve. Notebook in hand, we make plans for the new year. We spend a bit of time acknowledging how grateful we are for what we do have. This year was particularly poignant as we noted that so many people in this country are in dire financial trouble while we’ve created a life that includes jobs we are each passionate about (me: travel, Jon: technology).

Some of the plans we talk about during our December 31st dinners come to life while others don’t. Looking back at my plans from 2006 for example, those that I followed through on included writing a book, starting a tour business and going to India (which happened 5 times over since then). Those that didn’t work out so well included owning a Smart car and playing classical guitar better than my friend’s son (you still got me on that one, Harry).

Not one to spend too much time dwelling on the past, I’m invigorated by the start of something new. There’s so much promise and hope at the beginning. Whether it’s a new week, month, year, project or journey. And although it takes a lot of fortitude to keep picking myself up if plans don’t go as expected, there’s always a new way to look at a problem that gets me excited all over again.

So what’s in store this year? I have to admit that I’m equally pulled in 2 directions. I want to grow Wanderlust and Lipstick/WanderTours but I know I need to work less. I want to travel more but not as much for business (what happened to those monthly weekend getaways with Jon?). I want to have more free time but I also recognize that having structure is the only way to see something through.

What I do know is that today I’m looking at a fresh list of ideas for the year. None of these are impossible so I have no excuses :-). They include:

• Spending 1 day a week computer-free without checking my email on my iPhone.
• Doing 100 pushups/day (I started this over the summer and kept it up for 2 months – until my travel schedule got the better of me and I fell off the wagon).
• Completing a half marathon (likely over Thanksgiving weekend here in Seattle).
• Creating a will and a trust (something that Jon and I have been talking about doing for years).
• Filling the 9 tours that we’ve got scheduled for this year.
• Spending more time writing about/promoting indigenous rights (I have a great interest in indigenous cultures but haven’t managed to wrap my head around how to best help these under-recognized peoples).
• Getting back to my twice-weekly guitar lessons with my amazing teacher, Ian. And, perhaps, finally playing better than Harry!
• Drinking less coffee, more tea.
• Eating less sugar, more veggies.
• Doing less work, having more fun.

Throughout the year I’ll make lists, stick post-it notes on my whiteboard to organize the day’s priorities and tap out reminders to myself on my iPhone – all in attempt to keep myself on track.

What are your plans for 2012? Travel? Staying put? Getting a new job? Inquiring minds want to know…

Travel Well,

Beth

Photo credit:
Lotus: _virdi_