Looking back to look forward... Welcome 2018!
Today I am looking back and honoring all the goodness and life lessons 2017 brought me. It was the year of allowing ~ the word I chose to guide me this past year. I don't think I have ever lived with a word more deeply. It became the filter by which I experienced my life, always at the forefront of my thoughts. The most important thing that this word taught me was to trust in the natural flow and harmony of life and to allow for goodness and ease. I have been questioning "the hustle" and if there is an easier way (more on this topic to come). I developed a mindfulness practice that brought presence and peace to my life in a way that I never thought was possible.
I made time to be still and listen.
I allowed for more joy and followed where it led. Sometimes it was simply a walk on the beach, others times it was putting my feet in the sand on a tropical island, and other times it was sharing wine with friends in our backyard.
Some highlights from 2017. . .
I traveled to Baltimore and met up with my bestie Tina for Light City and a visit to the American Visionary Museum ~ Incredibly awesome! We took a train to DC for a few days to see some art and all the cherry blossoms in bloom (something I have always wanted to see). That was a magical day! There was a festival going on in the park and we watched people fly kites by the monuments, sipped wine and beer along the river, and chatted it up while listening to a great band.
I also met up with my friend Judy in Boston and visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum for the first time. The gardens there were so peaceful and gave me a much needed break from the cold, New England winter. I made two trips to the Brimfield Antique Show and found many awesome treasures. I can't wait to see what I will find this year!
I stretched myself in my business and joined a lovely online group of women entrepreneurs called the Sunday Society. Together we hold each other accountable and work towards improving our businesses.
I also took Kim Klassen's Lightroom Class (which I am still still learning) and developed a system to organize my pictures. I still have a lot to learn with the software and editing and look forward to understanding all that the program can do. My pictures were a MESS before this!
I worked on improving my photography and developed a love for instagram. I took Mayi Carles Class, The End of Boring and got lots of ideas I wish to implement this year.
I met bi-weekly with my Art Salon , a group of lovely friends who support each other's art careers.
I joined Stasia's Style School and am working towards a more congruent wardrobe (goal for 2018).
Artistically I contributed six new paintings to "The Collective", the ongoing collaborative mail art project with my friend Tina. Together we hosted our first two book clubs: "On the Road by Julia Steinem" and "Wherever you go there you are" by Jon Kabat Zinn. I learned a lot from both of these books.
I also created several series of personal work. One was a boating series where I was reflecting on my life on the water and the other was my little birds series. I have several more that are nearing completion that I am excited about.
Goodbye 2017! I have learned SO much from you! You gave me so many insights and things to aspire to in the new year. Thank you!
Wishing you the most magical year of more DEPTH, more MEANING, more CONNECTION, more SPIRIT, more PASSION, more ADVENTURE, more JOY, more REAL TALK and of course more LOVE!
Cheers!
laura :)
p.s. I am REALLY excited about my NEW WORD word for the year! Stay tuned or join my list to be the first to know! :)