Reflecting on 2012 Part 1

Happy Black Woman did a post the other day about reflecting on the previous year to help jumpstart the new year. I answered the first five questions...

What is the most valuable lesson you learned this year? Time waits for no one...my mom says this all the time, and this year proved it.  I spent most of the year dealing with fear, depression, bitterness and jealousy.  I could have spent more quality time with my husband and children and starting a business....not laying in bed.

What was the biggest milestone you reached in your relationships, health, finances, education and/or lifestyle? Towards the end of 2012, I read more than I had in a while- thanks to an awesome library down the street from us.  We also moved into a much smaller place closer to my parents and civilization(lol). It was a hard decision but I feel much happier with the move.  I decided to divert most of my mindless web surfing to reading more for pleasure and education. I also maintained a plant-based diet for the year (expect during my setback in December) Unfortunately, I didn't notice much improvement in my finances and personal relationships. I didn't save any money and pushed away most of the people interested in forming a friendship.

What professional accomplishments were you most proud of this year. I started my Youtube cooking channel.  I was sooo nervous to do it. I set a goal of 1,000 subscribers by the end of 2012 and ended up with over 1,500 subbies. Crazy! :-) I also upgraded my camera, purchased a microphone and took more care in editing my videos in a format that's comfortable for me.

What was your favorite family/friends moment from 2012? I had such an awesome time recording vlogs with my family this year.  In a few years it will be priceless to look back on this footage with my hubby and kids. We hiked in Kentucky and Eric and I experienced Boston together for the 1st time.

What was the best book/song/movie/restaurant/city/country, etc you discovered this year? I experienced breathtaking Denver during my birthday.  I'm so thankful for those beautiful mountains and didn't even mind the chilly weather at night. I wish I took more pictures and video!

I watched tons of Scandal and loved several Youtube webiseries.

I also discovered Bernice McFadden, fell in love with her writing style, and devoured two of her books.  

I listened to a lot of Pandora...Nora Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lauryn Hill, ratchet songs, and 70s music on Youtube-it kept me sane through many moments of uncertainty.

 

Happy Black Woman also has a 30 day reset your life program. Check it out here.

I really need to do this lol

Part 2 of reflecting on 2012 coming next week

,

Transferring Addiction

,

I don't know how scientific this is, but I get the feeling you're never really cured from addictions. We just simply transfer it to something else.  That something else can be good or bad.  

I'm hoping to transfer my addiction to something good.  

It feels funny saying I have an Internet addiction.  I mean how silly is that? It's fairly accurate, though. I can very easily spend all day and night surfing the net.  Checking my email constantly, watching Youtube videos, lurking on Twitter, and giggling at celebrity gossip on endless blogs and message boards.  

I'm really so tired of it all.

After getting my new library card several weeks ago, I've fallen back in love with reading hardcover books. I browse the library every few days with the family, and feel so thankful that this valuable free service is literally right next day to our new home (we don't officially move until this weekend). 

I'm hoping to transfer my Internet addiction to books. 

Who knows-maybe I will read 52 books next year (one a week) without much effort.  Achieving that goal will a lot better than the 1/3 of the number I read this year.

I started a board on Pinterest to track my progress.

In the Vision Board Zone

After reading a few articles, I'm ready to get started.  I have hot tea on the night stand, lots of clippings scattered on the board and Flo Rida's Good Feeling playing for inspiration.

I love this video! First of all, let me say that I didn't realize artists still made music videos. I thought that went out with TRL and buying CDs from Sam Goody. lol.  Anyhoo...

In the video, Flo is doing a lot of the same things I want for my own life....

Traveling. Inspiring. Entertaining. Meeting people. Embracing new experiences & opportunities. Having fun. Fitness. The list goes on and on...over 4 minutes of pure motivation.

I came across several articles and videos with information on how the vision board is suppose to work.  I'm taking it a bit further by planning my daily schedule around some of the items listed on my board. This method should help me take some baby steps to getting where I want to be. 

My old vision board (a white dry erase board) is now my new daily schedule board. I'm so old school and electronic daily schedulers don't work well for me.

Now it's time to organize this board.

Some of the articles I read:

Make a Vision Board

6 Ways to Create A Vision Board That Works

Subtle Tricks to Build An Effective Vision Board

How's your Friday?  I hope all is well. :-)

ACTIONABLE Vision Board

I came across three quotes that I really wanted to add to my vision board. 

"You alone are enough...you have nothing to prove to anyone." Maya Angelou

If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place." Eckhart Tolle

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself." Anna Quindlen

All three resonated with me, so I taped them on the end of my tiny board.  

As you can see...space is very limited.

 

Earlier today, I picked up some magazines, 18x22 cork board, and tape to revamp my entire board.

Before I get started this time around, I'm doing some research to see how the vision board works.

Throwing pictures on the board and crossing my fingers obviously isn't working. lol

I will check back in when I get more information.

Do you have a vision board?