When I looked back upon 2012, one of my favorite things was all the thoughts-related posts. As I was planning out my year and creating projects, I told myself that I would come up with a way to continue those. And here we are almost at the end of the first month and I’ve written like two posts.
Dismal failure.
The funny thing is, I think about writing stuff all day long. But then I have no ideas. I don’t know what to write about. I don’t have time to write. I am too tired. I have a headache. I’d like to catch up on TV. I want to read. I have art to do. On and on it goes.
I have nothing to share, I think.
I’ve even sat in front of the computer and stared at it for a while a few times. No ideas came and I figured if I don’t have anything interesting to say, I really shouldn’t waste anyone’s time, right?
Well I went back to my intentions and January was all about taking time off. Being quieter. Listening. And, in many ways, it’s been a quieter time than usual. My crazy life is about to get a notch or two crazier in a week when certification process starts and work starts getting more insane and I have to be super-organized to keep it all from falling apart. So taking time off in January makes sense. (At least that’s what I’m telling myself.)
But here comes February. And my intention for February is to be JOYFUL. I could use some more of that in my life. A LOT more actually. Even though my word this year is present, I’ve been trying to do a lot of gratitude and a lot of celebrate. I think those two things keep me in the now. So February is all about celebrating.
Here’s what I wrote on my card: celebrate the joy of life. drink it up. buy a present. spread the joy. how could you celebrate more?
So that’s the plan for February. Celebrate.
I want to remember that, like all things, writing comes with practice. Ideas come with practice. The more I write these posts, the more ideas come to me. And I love having a place to write down what I’m thinking. What’s important in my life right now. What are some of my struggles, my successes, my learnings. This is my little place to celebrate my life. To celebrate my every day.
To celebrate me.
So here’s a good-bye to the quiet January and a welcome to the joyful February. My hope is that even as my life kicks up a notch in its hectic-ness, I will still find a way to show up here and celebrate my life.
If you read this today, I hope you can come by the blog for one minute and tell me something you’re celebrating. Or something you want to celebrate more. I’ve come to believe celebrations are super-important and will write all about that sometime soon, I promise.
I’ll start: I am celebrating starting my certification process even though I am quite scared of it. I am celebrating selling a little art, getting published, and making a lot of art. I am celebrating getting to hug my kids in the morning and at night. Getting to take them to school and getting to pick them up. I am celebrating all my clients and their wanting to take their life to the next level. I am celebrating my quiet-er time at work. I am celebrating my husband and his pursuing his dream. I am celebrating teaching Nathaniel how to read and teaching David a little programming. I am celebrating how much David loves reading. I am celebrating all of our good health. I am celebrating the miracle of getting to go to bed early and getting a full night of sleep.
I can go on, but I will stop. I have to say just writing that all down made me smile. So I hope you’ll take a few moments and share yours with me, too, however small or huge. I will read each one of them, cheer with you and smile that much wider. I would love to celebrate with you.
Here’s to a February full of celebration!
Hi Karen,
I have literally just found your blog a few minutes ago! I am brand spanking new to Art Journalling, doing an on-line class, so I am looking around for inspiration. And then I found you and I love everything I have seen so far! You really have inspired me with all your beautiful, beautiful pages! I am not an artist, I cannot draw, but I want to learn and at the same time I want to enjoy the power of journaling! So please continue your beautiful work so that people like me can continue to be inspired! I’ll add my name to receive your blog posts via e-mail so that I can make sure I do not miss any! I wish you a February filled with celebration!!!
thanks so so much for all your kind words Brenda. I hope you enjoy your art journaling journey. it’s super-fun! 🙂
This month I celebrated begin able to “see” clearer…in various senses.
well if that’s not something to celebrate i don’t know what is!
I decided to follow your example and blog about it!
yey for playing along!! i have so much to say about your cleaning post from this week. i always love reading your thoughts amy!
After your posts about your word Savor for last year, the word resonated enough with me that savor is my word for this year.
I am celebrating all things lately. The laundry getting done, another day of playing with paper and ink, another story recorded, another book read, another hug from my kids.
I really enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for sharing so much!
thank you so much for your kind words Tiffany. I love love love savor as a word and i am still keeping it near and dear to my heart this year. I know it will serve you well 🙂 i love your list too. the magic of ordinary life. it’s so so beautiful. thank you for sharing!! 🙂
February is a perfect month to celebrate. I really enjoy your “thoughts” posts.
I’m celebrating the fact that me and my boy have got through the first month of my husband’s deployment without any major dramas! (only another 6 months to go!)
hello karen!! i’m a 19 year old girl – i stumbled across your blog a couple of months ago. you are the reason i have begun art journaling (and loving it!)
i always enjoy reading whatever you write, as well as admiring your artwork :))
i also loved your ‘be present’ mindset for this year. i’m going into my second year of university this year (living in the southern hemisphere!) and i’ve quietly been inspired by your one little word – am taking it to be part of my little words for the year 🙂
i have to say, that i am celebrating being in recovery. i’m recovering from an eating disorder, and art journaling has been helping in its own little way. it’s a real struggle, not going to lie, but i’m celebrating the help and support i’m now getting! i am also celebrating the last month of my holidays before uni starts again 🙂 celebrating the time i get to spend doing ‘me’ things.
thank you for your blog! xx
first of all, thank you for your kind kind words!! I am so so glad you’re diving into art journaling, I think it’s wonderfully healing and it can’t possibly be done wrong! 🙂 I think that’s a wonderful thing to celebrate and I am very inspired by your courage!!! thank you so so much for sharing with me 🙂
LOVE LOVE THIS KAREN!! So happy to hear all this, happy dance!! I am celebrating STORIES, the past, present and future. Celebrating all the ways I’m sharing/telling my stories this year, it’s only been a month but I love it already.
Celebrating today by putting up all my Valentine decorations, sooooo ready to give LOVE this month and continue thru everyday after that.
Celebrating you and the inspriations you give me. I’m slowly getting use to my new PL size and style. I’m trying something new in this weeks pages, should be fun!!
I am celebrating the fact that, although he had a very frightening health-related event last week, my father is at home recuperating and doing well. I’m celebrating safe traveling to and from work through some bad weather this week. I’m celebrating the quiet weekend I crave, in advance.
Oh Laura, I am so glad he’s well and i will say i am also celebrating the quiet weekend in advance!
Hi Karen,
I just found your site via AmySo (whom I love & adore). Your words are wonderful- I can’t wait to explore your blog further. You reminded me that my birthday goal for this year (set in August) was to find greater joy in life. SO – I am celebrating the glorious clean, blue, cloud-studded sky outside my office window (at last!) – celebrating the pleasure in eating more healthfully – celebrating today’s extra-good connection with family & friends – and celebrating the happiness of learning new and worthwhile ideas. I have already incorporated some of Amy’s terrific journaling ideas – now I’m interested to try art journaling. Thanks for the inspiration!
hi judy, welcome! I love and adore Amy too! 🙂 Thank you for your kind words and thank you for sharing all your celebrations with me. I am so excited that you’re interested in art journaling, for me, it’s been a truly joyful experience and i think it’s a great form of art to explore!! I hope you come back and share some of your beautiful art with me 🙂