Making sure 2015 is your best year yet: Day 9 - Family

I feel like this quote really just says it all. In fact I am not even sure how I can top it. 

I am at a loss for words - SHOCKING.  But true. 

Here is all I will say for this post and this 9th day of our best year yet. Family are the first set of people you will scream and yell at when you are mad, frustrated, annoyed. But they are also the first people you will call or go to when you are feeling the urge to scream, be mad and cry your eyes out. 

They are the unit that will always understand, always forgive and always love you unconditionally.

I may not always say it to my family, but I do try and show it as much as I can. I am the luckiest girl in the world if not for anything but just the people that are my family. They are my rocks, my strength and that mirror that I look into that gives me the guts and glory to face each day. 

Spend today loving your family and knowing that in your best year yet, they will stand by you through everything no matter what. 

-A

Making sure 2015 is your best year yet: Day 8 - Taking time for you (PAMPERING!!)

As hard as it may be for some of you to believe, I was actually quite a tom boy growing up. I think I really only began to discover the girl in me, as I started University and then suddenly i graduated and joined an army of professional woman dressed head to toe in fitted suits, high heals and glamorous jewellery. 

There was no way my flat shoes and orthopaedic running shoes were going to make it very far, not to mention my love for baggy clothes. 

However, before I could really transform, I needed to learn to deal with my nails, my hair, my skin and everything in between - and ladies you know all the things I am referring to. 

So with that I emerged into my first spa related experience and from that point on there has been no turning back. I LOVE GETTING MY NAILS, HAIR AND ALL ELSE DID. I am a slave to the beauty pampering world and am likely a sales persons dream. Walk me into the spa for a massage and walk me out with a massive bag of creams, fat burning techniques and nail growing oils. I AM OBSESSED. And for no other reason other than the fact that I love that all these places I go to allow me to shut out the rest of the world and just enjoy some calm and serenity time. 

ITS MY ME TIME. Well one of my me time like activities and I am simply at a loss with out it. It's this time that lets me recharge, re energize, rethink and just relax. And what better way to start off YOUR BEST YEAR YET than with a day, a week, a moment of just you time. Doing what you need to just relax. It will give you a chance to just clear your mind and really allow the important things to float back in. It will make designing your yearly goals THAT MUCH EASIER. 

So as I head off to my slumber and count the minutes to when I get to get my nails did tomorrow, think about how you can carve out some of that you time. CANCEL THOSE DINNER PLANS AND JUST MAKE A DATE FOR YOU AND YOUR BAD SELF :)

To typing with manicured nails, 

- A 

Making sure 2015 is your best year yet: Day 7 - Taking responsibility

Now there is a word that will send shivers up and down my spine - RESPONSIBILITY. Its as though just saying the word alone makes me feel adult like. 

So here is the deal. I am from a family where I am the youngest of two. And while I definitely stand by the fact that I have worked my ass off to get to where I am, I will admit openly on this inter web, that the things that never seemed to be a struggle for me, were the things I likely took for granted. 

Having parents that seemed to give me what I wanted / needed combined with this desire to just fit in somewhere in this world, resulted in a clear weakness in me growing up. And I am not blaming anyone, hell I think for the first time I admitted it was my fault to my parents prior to moving to this crazy city I live in now. But after a year of admitting fault, I realized over the past few days after staring at the vision board that hangs on my wall, that it was time to stop admitting defeat and instead take care of stuff like a REAL LIFE ADULT WOULD. 

But being an adult is hard work!!!! And it is by no means fun at times. I had to write an email to a dear friend today admitting weakness and likely letting her down and it KILLED ME. I sat at my computer in the office all day grumpy as hell, snapping at everyone. It took so much of me to not get up and stomp my feet like the 6 year old that I know lives inside of me and just throw a plain old tantrum, while praying that my parents would come to the rescue. I KNOW, I need to grow the hell up. Well in some respects, in others I would argue that I air more on the side of a wise senior citizen. But I guess taking responsibility for your actions and mistakes, is about facing yourself in the mirror and admitting that it's time to get serious, regardless of how hard some of the steps you may need to take are. 

And with that I am beginning to make my focus - RESPONSIBILITY (minus the shivers up and down my spine). 

If there is one thing I have learnt it is that you can not ignore the mistakes you have made and the wrong you have done, hoping that they will go away. It's like KHARMA, it all comes back. And so sooner or later you gotta bite the bullet deal with the tough times and face the music. So in order to make 2015 your best year yet. Take a look at some of the things you know you have run from, or ignored. AND CLEAR THEM OUT. Face them and right the wrongs. Only then as I realized today, will you begin to really feel like you are taking ownership for your life. 

HERE IS TOOOO RESPONSIBILITY (arghh...) and day 2 of not being tardy :)

-A 

Making sure 2015 is your best year yet: Day 6 - Become a morning person

Now I for sure know you all think I have gone mental. Yes this is right, I am suggesting that in making 2015 your best year yet - you commit to becoming a morning person. 

I used to try to sleep as long as I could in the morning and then rush out of bed, get to work and count the hours till the day was done, so that I could do the things I wanted to most. But than I got staffed on a project with someone Senior to me that used to begin his work days at 530AM and log off at around 530-6pm at least for a few hours to get his me-time in. Since he had started early he felt no guilt, for logging off when he did. Even if that meant that some of us were meant to pick up the late night shifts. 

Now, I am not that type of a morning person. It takes me at least 30-45 minutes to be able to properly converse after emerging from my slumber. So I have learnt to love and do the reverse. I AM ADMITTING TO THE CYBER WORLD, that I, little old me, am a 530AM riser from Monday to Friday. But this little bumpkin does not emerge to respond to emails, but rather to pack up my belongings, head to the gym or for a run or for yoga, a hot shower, a relaxing get ready time and than to wherever my office may happen to be for the time being. 

By becoming a morning person, I feel like I have woken up, by making my well being a priority. Therefore when anyone asks me to help or do something that may take longer than the 6 o'clock hour, I don't feel annoyed, angered or guilty because I have already spent time doing what was really important for my mental health. 

Now I am not asking anyone out there to wake up every morning to exercise or do work, but rather to think about what's important to you and what isn't getting included in the day to day, simply because you are distracted or feeling like there isn't enough hours in the day.  I think its important for us all to understand the things that are most important to us and to make time for them. I mean we are all living lives that are an endless game of searching for more time - So why not create it? Lessen the stress? And along the way increase the enjoyment and happiness?

Come on - you know you all want to try it???? GET INTO BED and set your alarms at least 30 minutes earlier to do something you know you love to, but haven't had a chance to lately. 

Signing off so I can retrieve to my slumber in preparation for this 530 AM wake-up call

- A 

Making sure 2015 is your best year yet: Day 4 & 5 - GET ON OUTSIDE!!! and MAKE SURE YOU EXERCISE!!!

Okay, okay I apologize over and over again to the Gods that I have promised my daily blogging to. I am never this tardy when i set a goal, but something about travelling between continents and being pulled from reality for so long has made me overly exhausted and craving nothing more than the comfort of my sweet little comfy bed, with my lap top streaming The Good Wife on repeat (ADDICTED!!!!). But I think after a double post this evening i will find myself ahead of the game and finally back on top of life. 

Let's hope all of you, yes my little cyber friends shall enjoy what I have in store. 


Day 4 - GET ON OUTSIDE!!!!!!! 

I never believed it. But after going through a tough time a few years back, self-help books became my best friends. I was searching for an answer of how to cure my life, if that even makes sense. And along my path I listened to and tried everything you can think of - hey desperate times call for desperate measures, what can you do? Anyhow, in all the hocus pocus I read, a repetitive pattern emerged. No matter what I read there was always something about getting outside in nature at least once a day. And unplugging yourself while you do it. Which means - no people, no phones, no distractions.  

Now i know what you all are thinking - ITS WINTER ARE YOU MAD!!!! And the answer contrary to what some of you may think is that NO I AM NOT MAD. I know it's winter, but that's why all of our favourite stores created such awesome and fashionable winter accessories (and HELLO WINTER SALES!!). So hold up on your excuses, get to the mall, buy some winter protecting gear and then commit to at least a 20 minute walk outside a day. Even if it means going out at lunch and taking an extra 10 to just walk outside. 

I have found that on even the days that have just passed where I feel glued to my bed, getting outside and getting some fresh air change my mood, my health and overall feeling. And while i used to be glued to an iPod or some electronic source blaring music. I have found that a walk with nothing at all, actually allows me to think with out the emotional songs of the past and the future influencing which way my head will go. 

Day 5 - EXXXERCCCIIIIISSSSEEEEEE

Keeping up with the trend of being active. EXERCISE!!!! I know some of us love it, most of us hate it and no matter what group we fall in, we sometimes equate it as a chore - a must do that will make eating that dairy milk seem okay. 

I don't know. I equate exercise to writing in some ways. Meaning just as writing as a solace, I find exercise the same almost, i find it not therapeutic but empowering. Celebrities always talk about their ultra ego's and I think that's where mine emerges. I can be in the crappiest mood and have been crapped on all day at work or in life, and no matter what I will lace up, get my butt on the treadmill, and my body directly emerged in the weights and will walk out feeling like a serious champion. 

Your body releases such positive endorphins when you exercise, it's hard to not get addicted to that feeling. So commit to it. And don't do it for the weight loss, or for the dairy milk you ate. Do it because it makes you feel good, because that good feeling will be there on your fat and non-fat days. Its consistent and will make you fall in love with the sweat that drips down your face :)

And remember I am not just preaching but also following. Even in recovering sick state I headed both to the gym and for a walk today :) 

SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?!!?!? GET OUT THERE and allow these outlets to let you formulate the visions you have for 2015 and how you plan to make it YOUR BEST YEAR YET. 

Promise to try to no longer be tardy,

- A 

Making sure 2015 is your best year yet: Day 3 - SLLLLLLEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPP

I totally used to be one of those - you know the person that goes out till all hours of the night and then sets the alarm even in the most ridicules of states for something like 8AM on a Saturday or Sunday. I was in a constant state of tiredness and all because I felt the need to seize the day and not waste a second that I had doing anything completely irrelevant like sleep. 

I thought weekends were to do fun stuff and sleep was never on my list. But after moving to London and clearing my schedule so to speak, I realized just how good it felt to just let the idea of setting the alarm go and instead just sleep for as long as my mind, body and soul said I needed to. I mean i knew the grocery store would be open when I needed it, and there were yoga and gym classes galore that could be taken at all hours and most importantly I knew that the majority of my London clan adored sleep as much as I have learnt to, so I knew there wouldn't be much to miss out on. 

And with that, my love of sleep was found. 

The idea now of snuggling into my massive duvet and getting lost in my pillows as I dream things away is something i crave all week, after all it is something i desperately need after a long week of life. Hell even during the week I find that to make it through the day with my 530am wake up calls, getting into bed early is a must, even if I am going to bed at the same time as some 7 year olds. 

Sleep and rest have allowed me to live with a clearer mind, be more alert, aware and focused on anything I do in the hours that I am awake. My productivity has sky rocketed, which means I have more hours in a day TO DO THE THINGS I LOVE. 

So WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!! Do not pass go, do not move forward, just get into bed, cuddle into those covers and SLEEEEEEEEEEPPPPP till your heart's content. 

Happy dreaming, sleeping and hopefully not snoring. 

Til tomorrow, 

- A 

Making sure 2015 is your best year yet: Day 1 & 2 - Gratitude and Organization

Its been just 24 hours into the new year and I have already been tardy in documenting the first 30 days of this 365 day process - automatic fail, lol. However,  in my defence I have also just spent the last 24 hours commuting between continents and am now sitting at my lap top jet leg, sick and not sure of what time it really is. Which, means that this should turn out to be a rather interesting post with even more spelling mistakes than usual. Anyhow I digress. 

So regardless of my failing to document this process, I have actually been giving it much thought and have selected a couple of key focuses over the past couple days. 


Thursday January 1, Internal focus - Gratitude

It has been ages since I have gone out for New Years Eve. The whole process of getting super dressed up, paying a fortune and than getting stuck in and out of the cold between taxi and bar lines is a nightmare. Therefore for the past few years I have opted out of the chaos of new years and stuck to a more civilized and calming plan of action - ringing the new year in at the temple. Now I know what you all are thinking, this post is about to go religious, but fear not my dear cyber friends. I will not by any means be preaching anything about the big guy.

Anyhow the whole temple experience always left me feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for days and weeks following new years eve. So this year as I opted to join in the madness of new years celebrations, I focused my thoughts on all things I was thankful for and then like the overflowing bubbly, the clock struck midnight and I reached for my phone to text my parents and got emotional. I got emotional writing out my text, hugging my friends and just looking around at where I was. I was absolutely oozing of gratitude for the life I have and it left me feeling so amazing as January 1st continued. 

Sooo I ask you all - while we can not go back to the 1st of January, to take out your iPad's, notepads, diaries, whatever you have and just right down the numbers 1-20 on the left side of your page and list out the top 20 things you are grateful for. And when you are done, review that list, memorize it, hell stick it to the wall next to your mirror and review it EVERY SINGLE DAY. Because you will find that even in the hardest of days, that list will keep you honest to the belief that life is pretty awesome and will continue the flow of all your positive energies and beliefs. 

Friday January 2nd, Internal Focus - Organization 

God i totally sound like a parent  - don't I? I mean who focuses on organization? Trust me, if you knew me before you would know that the life of a travelling consultant is maddening. You live in and out of a suit case in a constant state of piled up bills, errands to run, laundry and dry cleaning to make time to do and everything else in between. And while travel for me has cut down, coming back after a two and a half week break, made me think of only one thing, from the moment the plane touched down - unpack, pay bills, go through mail, HELL JUST GET FREAKING ORGANIZED!!!!

I know it seems minor, but getting organized is like clearing out the clutter - YOU HAVE TO DO IT, after all a clutter free environment, clears the space for positive thoughts, energy and all else in between. 

So I ASK YOU ALL OUT THERE IN CYBER SPACE - DO YOU HAVE CLUTTER TO CLEAR?!?! THAN!!! Do not hold off any longer, do not continue another second. Clear your calendar to clear your clutter and really let it all get done!!! 

And that's that for now :) Let's hope that I can jump off this tardy bandwagon beginning tomorrow. Tootles cyber space, till tomorrow. 

- A