Photo by Dana Cubbage Weddings
I haven’t blogged for a while, and just logging in for the first time in a few weeks made me happy. I miss this site because writing is cathartic and creative to me, so a quick post about 2015. :)
This past year has been the biggest one for me professionally. I made a ton of contacts, I worked a number of weddings, I was able to design floral arrangements for weddings with a local florist (a serious highlight!), and I realized why I truly enjoy marketing and events. I said “yes” countless times, and I’m forever grateful for all of the opportunities 2014 brought my way. In fact, many of those opportunities are continuing into the New Year. I’m forever grateful. Really and truly.
But if you read this post from last year, you’ll remember that I love New Year’s Eve. It’s hopeful and fun and in my case usually really relaxed. My favorite years are when I’m able to ring in the New Year by watching fireworks over my favorite beach. What I don’t love about the New Year is my fear of turning the page…to a completely blank one. January 1 overwhelms me because I have an intense desire to set goals and have new dreams in place for the year. I feel as though I need to start striving and doing instead of just letting myself be. In reality, there’s nothing special about January 1.
So, I’m going to let myself be. However, the other overwhelming thought I’ve had as I approach 2015 is I don’t want to lose sight of what’s important to me at my core.
There was once a time when I had to be busy all of the time because I couldn’t risk having the ability to think. Now, I crave space and free time. I value it because space and free time allow me to rest, recharge, and come back stronger. But space and time don’t happen if I’m not intentional about them.
Lara Casey’s new book just launched yesterday, and I cannot wait to read it. But my biggest takeaway before I’ve even purchased my copy or read the first page is I need to revert back to living my life on purpose.
Writing and reading and running and traveling and walking on the beach and spending time with friends and family (all of the things that mean the most to me at my core) do not happen by chance. But at times in 2014, I feel as though they did happened “by chance”. That’s what I want to change in 2015. I want to live on purpose again.
I want to say no to saying yes to all of the things. I want to be intentional with my time, so I can say yes to more space and time doing those things that allow me to feel like the best version of myself. I want to carve those things into my schedule first and work around them (not the other way around). I want 2015 to feel just as fulfilling professionally, but I want it to feel equally as fulfilling personally. I don’t want to simply check things off of a list. I want to make sure that list has direction.
That’s as far as I’ve gotten in terms of goals for 2015. To all of you who read my blog, comment, and cheer me on, I love. Always. Creating space and living on purpose will allow me to write more. Because this my blog is something I love. It’s also something that’s going to be getting a small makeover very soon (that picture at the top is your sneak peek ;).
Happy 2015. I hope you ring in the New Year doing something wonderful. As my best friend told me, your new year starts when you want it to. If that’s on January 1, go get ’em. If not, sit tight. I’m right there with you…on purpose.
Stay tied to Carly is Inspired…