As I write this, we are in the midst of the holiday season. December is my favorite time of the year, always has been, and I suspect, always will be – especially now that I have three young children to reignite the magic and wonder of the season for me. I look forward to Christmas all year long. The sights, sounds, smells, and sweet indulgences of the season fill me with complete happiness.
And then, enter January. The pine trees die, the Christmas lights dim, the relatives go home, the bills come pouring in; life returns to normal and we settle in for the gloomy, cold days of January.
So what do we have to fuel us through the later months of winter? Resolutions?! How depressing. A list of things we want to change about ourselves that probably won’t happen –again- this year. I am still carrying the 8 pounds of weight I had resolved to melt away last January! So, this year I decided to post my list of resolutions here, in the LocalsGuide, so when next January comes I can pull it out and say to myself, “Well, you failed again.” Oh I kid, I kid! Resolutions are a fabulous way to bring yourself back to the basics, shed the indulgences, take stock of what is going right (or wrong) in your life and commit to being a better person.
So, here it is – my (short) resolution list for 2014:
1.Shop local as often as possible. I live in Ashland, my husband and I work in Ashland, I grew up in Ashland, my kids attend Ashland schools; I care about this community more than anything. By shopping local, it’s a small way to give back to the community that has given so much to me.
2.Be more organized.
3.Be present. This is the most important one for me. As a busy multi-tasker, I am always thinking of the next task on the list, probably while sending a text, surfing Pinterest for a new crock-pot recipe and picking up my daughters from volleyball practice. I know I am not alone on this one!
So, for January and beyond, I would like to encourage all of us to be more present. Enjoy the moment, even if it’s not your best one. There are lessons to be learned if we are just open to learn them. (Oh and THANK YOU for supporting our little shop in 2013 – my customers, vendors and employees have taught me some great lessons over the past year! We have had some ups and downs, but anything worth having is worth fighting for – and I know that it truly is all worth it.)
Here’s to 2014!!!
