EXPLORING 2016 - GOALS & WISHES
To me, the new year starts today. Since December 23rd I've been around and about traveling (Switzerland & France), and it's only since I stepped into my apartment again yesterday that I could really feel that clean break that separates the new year from the previous one. So today I'm writing resolutions. Or well, I've been thinking about 2016 for almost all of December, but today is the day when all those swirling ideas and abstract wishes are turned into comprehensible bullet points.Are you Swedes okay with reading texts like this in English only btw? Personal writing like this often comes to me in English (maybe because I begin to discuss these thoughts with Hannah, who's first language is English) and can take a lot of effort to translate. Let me know if you would like me to always write in both languages and I will try make that happen!When writing goals and wishes for the new year I don't promise myself to do anything. Unexpected things might happen that could make it impossible or too difficult to pursue a certain resolution, and I don't want to push myself to do a thing if it doesn't feel good anymore. Instead I write down things I wish would happen and things I would like to do more of. After writing this down, I leave it. Most of the times the things I've written down end up happening "by themselves", as if they were somehow guided by my subconscious. Writing things down or saying them out loud is such a powerful affirmation in itself, that I really don't need a more specific action plan than that. At least that's how it works for me. How do you prefer to "save" or "process" your ideas/wishes/goals/resolutions for the coming year? Do your write any at all?When reading what I wrote last year I realized that pretty much all of my goals came true! Everything from the most concrete thing like getting a tattoo or setting up my business and start freelancing to the more abstract and difficult wishes such as doing a several days long hike or meeting someone to spend my life with. It's been such an eventful year filled with adventures that has made me grow so much! For this year however, I wanna focus more on my own health and mental balance. Let the small and basic things be my number one priority.A calm atmosphere and finding my own pace when it comes to work and social life is central.I often think that my natural rhythm is slower than most people's, and most certainly than the city life, so it is a constant struggle for me to live in tune with that rhythm. I have the expression "it's okay" written on a note over my desk, to remind myself to say no, let go of or postpone less important things.2016 doesn't have to be grand. I'm happy with quiet. Nourishing what I already have. Although I have a feeling it's gonna be a very exciting year with lots of changes anyway ;-) In that case, I will go with it.Even though many of my resolutions focus on working less and having more spare time, working hard is not something I'm afraid of. I have big plans for Cashew Kitchen, but during the last few months my achievements in this area has happened during a lot of stress and worries and hence come from a pretty bad place. I'm certain that giving myself more free time and going easy on myself will only generate positive effects in the work area. It will allow me to work more effectively with less effort, setting the ground for a more sustainable work practice than what I've had so far. I really look forward to dig into the work of developing my business, and I can feel that this year is going to be an exciting one for this blog!Here you can read my goals and wishes for 2015.I'm letting a few of the photos from mine & Hannah's hike along the alpine pass route in August illustrate this post. That hike is probably the most challenging thing I've ever set out to do, and somehow that symbolizes all of 2015. Who knows, maybe we will continue the trail in 2016?Here are some of my goals & wishes for 2016:
Prioritize, plan & value: yoga, long breakfasts, movie & tv series marathon, single sitting reading, hikes and day trips, writing/drawing/painting or similar mindful tasks.
Separate free days from work days better.
Bike in the summer.
Go to a Farmer's Market really early in the morning when I can.
Develop my photo editing skills. Watch tutorials.
Practice on expressing my gratitude towards the small things. Like the simple but awesome fact that I get to drink coffee and eat delicious food several times a day! Realize that people can't read my thoughts ;-)
Not plan for more than a week ahead, except when I have to, like for work and travel.
Travel to a warm country.
Cook more from cookbooks.
Go see performances of various kinds. Theatre, ballet, circus, music. Get cultural input from other places than the internet.
Experiment wildly with food styling :-)
Finding a couple of permanent business partners for Cashew Kitchen, for sponsored posts and such. A kitchen supply company or design company would be an interesting addition!
Practice living on a tighter budget (this one stays from last year). Think twice before consuming. Save my monies for travel, vacation and periods of less work.
Structure, organize and tidy up in general. Minimalize my life so to speak :-)
Do yoga outside, preferably in tropical heat.
Get to know you guys who read this blog better! Try to activate the comment section and be better at reading and commenting on other blogs as well. This is such an awesome community and I want to explore it further!
Learn stress management through therapy. Seek help rather than trying to fix it myself alone.
Get a somewhat regular menstrual cycle. Learn to truly listen to my body and to deal with my PCOS.
I would love it if you also wanted to share some of your goals for 2016 in the comment sections! If you also have a blog and have written about it there, feel free to link to it and I will check it out!I hope your Christmas and New Years was fun and relaxing, whether you worked, traveled or spent the time at home, and that you feel ready and energized for yet another year. Let's dive into 2016!xo AgnesAll photographs, recipes and content are Cashew Kitchen originals. Always link back here and credit Cashew Kitchen when sharing. Thanks!