AS WE ENTER INTO A NEW YEAR...
They say the first day of the new year represents how the following year will look like. My initial thought was No! God please don’t let that be true.Whilst travel like I do now, healthy habits and workout sessions tend to end up in the Later pile. My daily ambition doesn’t stretch further than to have a coffee around 11 am and perhaps a walk along the shoreline.
But then I thought about what I want 2015 to be all about, and realized that challenges and unusual situations is a common feature for all my goals and hopes. And travelling to the other side of the world definitely is a challenge. You continually have to face new places, people and situations that will make you grow. So perhaps it isn’t that bad to start the year with hikes in the rainforest among some of the deadliest animals on earth, or snorkling in high risk waters teeming with box jellyfish (Yes I’m from Scandinavia where the most dangerous animals you’ll find are ticks. I probably overestimate the possibility of getting killed in the waters of Australia. My brother says I’m more likely to win the lottery than to get eaten by a shark.Yes plz.).
The photos are from Trinity Beach outside of Cairns. That's where we're currently holding up for a couple of days :)
When I started food blogging at Food and Green Forests in June 2013, I didn’t really have any plans or hopes on what it would lead to. Now that I enter 2015, my hopes for Cashew Kitchen are clear as drinking water. How to get there is however not as easy, and the path may take unexpected turns that I have to embrace. One thing is clear though: I couldn't do it without you! Your reading and sharing of thoughts means the world to me. I hope you're as curious as I am on how this blog will develop during the coming year!
I find it hard to separate personal goals from work goals. Rather, I’m striving for a certain mind set or perceived life situation that runs through my work practice as well as my private and social life.
For 2015 the mind set evolves around challenges of various sorts.
I want to challenge myself to create the work situations that I truly want, and trust that I am qualified for that work. I also want to, and need to, challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and into situations that I find difficult but that I know will be rewarding. I know I’m a go-aheading person, but I’m also a very comfortable person who's first impulse is to say no rather than yes. I’m not saying I want to say yes to more things in general, but I want to say yes to the right things. To the things that are truly important to me, and not because it is easier to say yes rather than explain why you don’t want to, or why you want something else.
Beside this general strive towards engaging in more (to me) challenging practices, I’ve tried to write a list of things I want to change or get done that isn’t too pressing or stressing. I wanted to avoid the word ”don’t”, because I want 2015 to be open to possibilities and not be restricting. I already have way too much ”good girl complexes” so I don’t need to strive towards an even better version of myself.
Some of the resolutions I find too private to share, and my specific goals for Cashew Kitchen I also keep to myself. Mostly because I would feel pressed to have achieved them all by the end of the year if I shared them. But as soon as something exciting happens I promise I'll share it with you!A selection of my New Year's Resolutions:
Live the way I want and in a pace that I’m comfortable with, and not strive towards living the way others do. It is okay to feel tired, unmotivated and to need longer time to process things. I’d rather live on a little less money than have too much work.
Dare look for or create the jobs that I really want, and trust that I’m qualified for them.
Practice living on a stricter budget. Sell stuff I don’t need, plan meals, capsule wardrobe, DIY etc.
Remember to charge for my work. I don’t work for free.
Finish my bachelor thesis.
Get a driver’s license.
Go on a longer hike for several days in the northern parts of Sweden.
Get to know more food bloggers, especially in Stockholm.
Get a tattoo.
Travel somewhere on my own initiative.
Try to worry less. Especially about achievements and about body complexes. It’s just a waste of energy.
Start the day with physical activity. Not necessarily workout, I just want to get away from the computer more regularly.
Vary the spots from where I work and study. The university, library, cafés etc.
Start a long time savings account.
Decorate my apartment.
Set up my company and start freelancing.
Did any of you write New Year's Resolutions that you want to share? Do you also enter into the 2015 with a certain mind set? I would love to hear about it!
Oh, btw! I just created a facebook page to make it easier to track and share any new blog posts. I'll probably also post inspirational links there too. I'd love it if you checked it out!Best wishes,Agnes