hello 2018

Oh! I’m excited about 2018. I have a good feeling about it. After such a great 2017, I think I’m starting off the year on the right foot. I actually have butterflies thinking about what this year may bring.

I’ll be back with more detailed goals in a few days. I have been trying to come up with what I want my focus this year to be on. Sometimes I pick a phrase or word to try to embody for the next twelve months. I’ve toyed with a few things like focusing on gratitude/appreciation or thoughtfully slowing down to savor life.

I keep coming back to the idea of being present though, which as cliche as it is, I think it’s what I really need and want to focus the most on. I am in a near constant battle with wanting to plan for the future and learn from the past. I often can’t wait for exciting things on the horizon, at the expense of the present day. One of my favorite books that I read last year was Amy Cuddy’s Presence; it focuses more on one’s physical presence in the world (and how it changes your internal biology), but I think the idea can be extended even more.

The real trick for me is going to be balancing this desire to be present while also recording memories. As much as I’m for putting a phone down and being in the moment, I also love to document things to look back on later. I don’t want to be glued to my phone, but you’ll see when I do my goals for the year that I want to be better about taking (personal) videos and photos as mementos. (I was rewatching old home movies and wishing we had more growing up! It’s so much fun to look back on.) I hope I can strike a good balance where I feel happy about what I record without losing my presence in the moment.

Hope everyone has a wonderful first day of the year!