I never make resolutions for the new year because I don’t think you have to wait until the start of something new to change something or better yourself. We tell ourselves that in the new year it will be different but it won’t. The only way anything can change is if you put in the effort to change it and when you put in the work it won’t matter what day or year it is. However, I will say that because of the weight we put on a new year, we do have a heightened sense of awareness as to how the current year went versus how we wanted it go which then leads to how we want next year to be different. When I look back on this year I remember how often I wasn’t home and I remember how many places I traveled. It was full of experiences and memory-making which was incredible but when we bought the house in March I actually thought we would be in it more. Not just in the house itself, but in the community. Learning how to wheel throw and joining the art studio planted a few roots but they didn’t last because we went off traveling again. I have this great yearning to be going, always moving, but this year I’m going to focus less on going and more on cultivating my home and the friendships that are blooming around it. I’m going to focus on creating more — on writing and editing my book and the hundreds of other art projects I have floating around in my head. I will have to resist the urge to leave and I’m sure I’ll still do lots of traveling because I’m nomadic at heart, but it won’t be every month. So yeah, if anyone finds themselves in western North Carolina next year, come visit me and bring your adventures to share. And if you’re wanting to change something, just do it already. Stop waiting for the new year, or Monday, or the “right time” or whatever. When December rolls around next year you will feel lighter. Oh, and don’t try to take on so much at once. Pick one or two things and put your all into them and when you’re happy with that move onto your next thing. Having too many goals or things you want to change will only lead to overwhelm. One thing at a time my love. Thanks for being here and adding a little extra to my life ❤️✨ (at Pisgah National Forest)
