Bury and Grow // 2013 Word of the Year

My friend and fellow paddler, Jen Todd, created a fun little yearly activity called the Bury and Grow Hike.  It comes up every January where we head out to El Moro for a hike.  At some point in the hike we stop and dig a hole and add to the hole a leaf with something we want to let go of (or bury) and something that we want to make better (or grow) written on it.

El Moro View

 It can be hard to face somethings and really easy to face others, but it sets you up on the right track for the new year.  And you are surrounded by some of your closest friends that will help and support you no matter what.

The Group!

This year I didn't actually put anything in the hole, but during the hike amongst all the catching up and socializing I thought a few things to myself.  There are a few things I let go of in 2012 and there is A LOT I am excited to grow!  Since I am "burying" the things I am letting go of I wont be talking about them here, but I will let you in on what I want to grow!

Grow

1. My relationship with Jimi. Words really cant express how I feel about this person and it is hard to imagine that things will ever be bad or my feelings even deeper.  This year...the year of our engagement is going to amazing and I am so looking forward to preparing ourselves to take the next step together and learning more about each other. Thank you babe for the first 7 years together, year 8 will be one for the books.

2. My jewelry. All right I know, everyone can't wait to see what I got in store. And I got some stuff in store for you this year! 2013 is the year I get my jewelry up on Etsy and I am tackling inventory! I have spent the last year building up my internet presence and have finally made a good base to get my store online with a full shop in the garage. Thank you everyone for the support...2013 will bring rewards!

3. Myself.  I have spent about 6 months doing some good old reading...blogs, books, devotionals and websites, on things I want to grow about myself.  Well now in 2013, I plan to actually act on everything I have read and make everything I do including my blog, my wardrobe and my writing be 100% authentically me.  That is hard to do...knowing yourself, figuring yourself out. I have not done it in 6 months...I will not have done it by the end of this year, because it is a journey.  But step-by-step I am taking each part of my life and evaluating it...is this me? And when it is not, I am changing it.  I can tell a difference already and am so looking forward to continuing to grow in 2013.

Me and my cousin, Danielle

Putting these things down on paper also helps me realize what I want for 2013 and the one word that sums it all up.  My word for 2013 is...

This word came up in a discussion with a friend the other day and I was like...oh yes, I love that word! This is something I want to strive for daily! In my relationships, my art, my blog, my wardrobe, my life and in myself...I want to find authenticity.  This is a word that I would love to find describes me....in everything I do.

What do you want to grow this year? What do you choose to forget? What is that one word that really speaks to you for 2013?  Leave in comments below if you would like to share, because I would love to hear what everyone else is thinking of for 2013.

Enjoy!

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Being Thankful

Not all those who wander are lost. - J.R.R. Tolkien

My mind loves to wander, but it is not lost. It is exactly where it wants to be. It is in a familiar place, for it is usually somewhere in my heart with my memories and in my dreams. These are all things I know very well, but also wish I knew more.  

If my heart holds all that is dear...it is the center of my thankfulness. In order to be thankful I must go to what is in my heart, respect what is in my heart, live what is in my heart and above all else guard my heart.

I am not talking about playing it safe, or acknowledging the things I am thankful for in a single moment. I am talking about going deeper, taking a leap of faith, and living the thankful life. We were all put her for a reason, a reason that only He knows, a reason that only we can find through Him. We are not in it alone, He has that plan, we have his support. This is something to be thankful for. This gift is one that we will spend our life thinking on, acting on and hoping on. This is the thankful lifestyle.

Living the thankful life is not only a promise to yourself, or a connection, but it is self care and in this you can guard whatever makes your heart warm. Let your mind wander there often, let your mind find what your heart dreams of and let those dreams become truth.

All images can be found on my Pinterest!

Come and play.

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Influence, Vision and Beauty

Both of the these videos are done by Karen Walrond of wildly convinced that you are uncommonly beautiful and the author of the bestseller The Beauty of Different.

The mission is to change the perception of beauty and accept the fact that we are beautiful in our differences and that the only way to change the world's perception and definition of beauty is finding the beauty within ourselves and in our differences.  

She has found her calling and how she can contribute to the gift of life through the spirit she was given by showing you how to love yourself.  It is inspirational and amazing.  We are all here for a reason, we all wish to influence some or many people, but the question is how?

This comes to a book I am reading by Jessi Connolly Be Quiet & Say Something.  She talks about how we need to look past ourselves and our own lives to see the greater picture, to see the bigger plan that is dealt to us.  The plan that gives us purpose and that allows us to share our gifts and spirit with the rest of the world...to make the world a better place, a beautiful place.  Her vision is equally inspirational and amazing.

I have not finished her book and I have not read Karen's book, but I can tell you right now, that these are the kind of women I want to read with, learn from and maybe someday actually be living proof of their influence.

I too want to influence, maybe in a smaller way, to capture the attention of the few and make this world a better place.  I have an idea of what, but I am not sure of the when, the who and the how.  I am for sure still learning, and have so much work to do...but I at least hope I am on the right track.

That is what influence does.  It gives you hope for something better, something bigger, and something beautiful.  We all have it, we can all find it, and we all get to contribute, but we all get to do it in our own beautiful way if we allow ourselves to go out and get it.

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