Happy new year people!
I apologise in advance if this post contains few coherent sentences, lots of grammatical and spelling errors and a complete lack of flow. It’s a sweltering hot summer’s evening here in Sydney and I’m still recovering from a really nasty throat infection which has left me with aching eardrums, swollen lymph nodes and a groggy head. Oh and I’ve just downed a Corona… which probably wasn’t the wisest choice of drink given my condition but it was ice cold and super refreshing (What? It’s hot!). My writing is rusty, given my 6-week blogging hiatus, so it might take a while for my groove to come back. Bear with me.
So… it’s 2014. Eeek. I’m still in denial that it’s 2014. I’ve been journalling consistently since 1st January (the year always starts off that way) so I’ve written the date (ie year) at least 5 times, but it’s still a little hard to swallow the fact that another year is upon us. Don’t get me wrong, I’m super excited for this year. I know, for a fact, that this year will be waaay more awesome than last year. Bigger, better things are on the cards for this year. 2014 is going to kick 2013 in the behind with a feisty “Take that!” and maybe even a “Good riddance!”.
Why?
Because 2013 kinda sucked.
Ok, ok, it wasn’t all bad. There are heaps of amazing moments, accomplishments and blessings that I am grateful for; my son started walking and talking, I started writing again, I went to Hawaii, my marriage got stronger, I went back to work, three of my best friends got married (not to each other) and two of them had a baby, I learned who my real friends are, I got to spend a lot of time with family, I laughed, ate, prayed, read and smiled a lot… the list is pretty long. Hell, I filled a whole Kikki-K journal full of things I am grateful for.
But I gotta say, even as I look back at all the cool things that 2013 did bring, I still feel like it sucked. It’s hard to pinpoint precisely why, and I don’t really feel the urge to dig into the finer details of all the hellish things that I did experience last year (not now, what with the groggy head and all). All I know is that I was not quite myself. My confidence took a huge, ruthless beating and I spent a significant chunk of 2013 wandering through my days with a distinct lack of direction, fervour, passion and courage. I look back at the person I was last year and it pains me to remember how many opportunities I passed by, friendships I let slide, and how easily I allowed my misery and uncertainty in myself to stain what could have been a bright and glorious chapter of my adult life.
I don’t want to be that person this year. I want to be better. I will be better.
Like most people, I have “new years resolutions”. I have heaps of things I want to achieve this year, but I’m not going to publicise them (not today anyway). What I will do, though, is tell you one thing/project/habit I’ve started which will help me to become the better person I am praying/hoping/planning to be.
You see, if there’s anything that last year taught me it was the importance of gratitude. A heart and mind that is grateful has the strength to turn any dire situation into a hopeful one – and a miserable person into a happy one. Sure, the year had it’s shitty crappy emotional and challenging moments, but it was full of really good ones too. And it’s those moments that are simple and fleeting, and too easy to forget. But when we do remember them we realise just how much we already have… and how much we can be hopeful for.
So this year I’m keeping record (ie my proof) of the best/funniest/silliest/inspirational/most accomplished moments of 2014. Moments that, at the end of the year, I will look back on and be truly grateful for. And instead of waiting until the end of each day (when I am ultimately way too sleepy to be bothered) to write it in my journal, I’m going to jot them down as they happen and keep them in a jar. A memory jar.
The jar looks a little something like this:
It’s a big fat glass jar from the dollar store and it’s sitting on the kitchen table (therefore easily accessible throughout the day, when we are coming and going from the house). I prettied it up with some craft paper, a poem I found on Pinterest, and loaded it with some fine-tipped permanent markers (for writing notes and labelling my Instax photos). Despite the subject of the quote, I will fill this memory jar with the following:
- funny things my kid says/does (there are plenty)
- things accomplished
- pretty/inspirational things found/noticed/picked up throughout the day
- prayers
- simple joys (eg sunny days, yummy food, lazy Saturdays, quality time with loved ones)
- photos
- quotes
- historical events
Cool, right? A super simple project that takes just a little effort every day/week, yet has the power to turn a mediocre year into an amazing one. I made a couple of memory jars for some of my friends (who are also mums) and gave them as Christmas gifts because I know they – like me – struggled through last year and deserve to be reminded of how good things actually are, even in the midst of all the craziness. I’m hoping they commit to filling their 2014 memory jars with good stuff that will happen in the next 3650 days. I certainly will! (As of the time of writing it contains 4 photos… not bad)
Feel free to make a memory jar (or box, or book… whatever floats your boat) for yourself – it’s not too late!
Happy new year, friends. ♥
Here’s to an awesome year and all the good that is to come! Wooooot!!!