Valeria Nascimento

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Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.

- Denis Diderot

This lovely quote really resonated with me today. The truth and wisdom in these words just seems to align with my current peaceful, confident state.

Today I also have one more little practice I want to do for the New Year. I would like to set some intentions for 2012. I looked back at my list from last year, and I really like the intentions I shared last January, but this year I think I am going to take a slightly different approach. I feel that all my intentions from 2011 still apply to my life in general, but this time I am just going to be a little more specific.

In 2012 I intend to be even more like a kid. Yep, like a kid…

In 2012 I intend to (continue to) look at life with curiosity and wonder . I intend to play, be silly, and do things that make me feel happy, and not worry so much about what others may think or believe about me, or about my own high expectations. I intend to make time for doing things that I enjoy and make me feel alive, while fostering a deeper understanding of why that is so important to me. I intend to continue to share my genuine, child-like exuberance, as well as my gratitude, and nurture that part of myself to the fullest. I intend to try my best to live in the moment and do what feels right for my well-being. I intend to love unconditionally, and openly request and welcome the love I need in return.  I intend to continue to explore, create, learn, expand,  and whole-heartedly enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

Some of my requests may be a bit detailed, but I also want to express that I am not closing myself off to the idea that my requests may manifest  in different ways. I want to remain open to being surprised with how some of my requests may work out for me. Some of my requests from last year still stand and some of them I believe were fulfilled (I will put the repeats in green). Regardless, here goes for my requests for this year!

• I would like continued healing and growth in the challenging parts of my life, and the courage to face my issues and fears in order to fully receive the lessons and wisdom from them.

• I would like a genuine, meaningful, healthy, lasting relationship with an amazing person who reciprocates the abundance of unconditional love I have to give. I ask that I will be brave enough and wise enough to open myself and embrace this person completely, whoever it may be… 

• I would like my forward momentum with my artistic endeavors to continue, whatever that may look like! I would like to expand my skills and even more than ever let my creativity shine through. I would also like to find a deeper clarity and focus for what I need to do in order to successfully begin my own creative business.

• I would like a day job that does not suck my energy. One that challenges me in good ways; allows me to be me and use my creativity; allows me to continue taking classes; understands the importance and value of time off; pays well enough to support my needs as well as my passions; has decent health insurance;and maintains a positive atmosphere at least majority of the time.

• I would like to be better with my money this year, and save more (so that I have more savings, but also so I can afford to do more meaningful things that I would like to do, as well).

• I would like to continue to stay as fit as I am now, if not even more so! 

• I would like to continue to unfold into the confident, genuine, spunky woman that I am, and I would like to remain open to whatever it is that is going to help me to continue on that path in my life!

Also… all that being said, I do not, by any means, expect that these requests will be answered or fulfilled without my own hard work and/or dedication… So… I would also like to whole heartedly promise that I will do my best to aid in the process of these requests coming to fruition.

2012, I am ready to receive the gifts you have to give me! …the ones I’ve requested, and any that I may not know I need or want just yet, but will come my way nonetheless!

Oh, ps. Please let there be snow for my 30th birthday trip, so that my first skiing experience is a fun one! ; ) And let the weather be nice when my family visits, too!

Lots of Love,

Jamie

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Of course there is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.

- Arthur Rubenstein

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Some52things Photo Challeng #29: Something from above

Some52things Photo Challenge

So here goes, this year I give myself unapologetic permission to:

…be picky about the people I share my life with… to nurture positive relationships and release any negative or draining relationships.

…make beautiful art, as well as make mediocre and possibly bad art in the process.

…make mistakes.

…learn and expand from the good and the bad.

…say no when I need to and when I want to.

…be myself, no matter what,  despite the fact that others may not understand, and furthermore not allow others to make me feel small or unworthy.

…be angry, sad, silly, spazzy, giddy or anything in between!

…play : )

…be selfish (in an honoring my well-being kind of way)

…forgive (myself and others).

…continue to foster that which makes me feel most alive, well, happy, and authentic.

…succeed and live up to my amazing potential!

So there we are, 12 permissions for 2012. Feels good to say all that! I definitely think we tend towards being to hard on ourselves, so I appreciate the idea of releasing some of that… Allowing ourselves our mistakes, as well as our successes!

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Who you are, just as you are, is precious and totally perfect. Make friends with yourself and become empowered by your own specialness. -Ed and Deb Shapiro

Quite seriously, the one word that seems to keep coming to mind when I think about my year ahead is “awesome.” I know not every minute of every day will be so (as I sit here feeling a bit blue)… and maybe it is just my positive thinking that has kicked in over the last couple of months, but I really do feel like it will be a truly awesome year for me.

It just feels like I’ve done so much fostering, and manifesting, and working through of stuff, and trying to release the unhealthy… that this is the year it all begins to come to a head. I still foresee more ups and downs (such is life), but in general I feel like some big stuff is going to happen for me this year… some really meaningful stuff : ).

On top of that, I turn 30 in a month, which I actually am excited about… and because of it I get to see a number of my great friends on my birthday ski trip, and then some of my family who will be coming to visit me the end of that month! I also currently have my art showing at a coffee shop in Tucson (Ike’s on Speedway, if you happen to be in the area), and I’ve already sold a piece to an old high school friend via my art page on Facebook! All of that make for a pretty awesome beginning to the year if you ask me!

So here is to 2012, may my gut feelings be right about you!

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Next post on the new year will be: permissions or requests… not sure which yet : )

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Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What are those alternatives you might ask?

Well, here they are with links to last years posts for examples:

Making requests for what I desire for the upcoming year

Setting intentions for the year ahead

Picking a word or words for the year

and giving myself permissions

… And like last year, and like I expressed yesterday, I will get to it all, but the plan is to spread these posts out, so that I can truly think about each and manifest/foster the feelings and thoughts behind the words!

For now I will just bid 2011 fair well. It wasn’t the most amazing year, but it was one that expanded me and helped me look more honestly at myself and my choices. 2011 has helped me realize more than ever what I want in my life and what I want to foster for the future through showing me what I don’t need or want.

2011 was a year of processing and finding more closure with the death of my dad and for the not-so-great relationship we had. It was the year I found the courage to do my own “solo” art show at a coffee shop. It was a turning point year for me as an artist. I am very proud of what I accomplished amidst some difficult stuff and some continued confusion in other areas of my life. Though 2011 had its ups and downs, as it ended I found myself feeling lighter and positive about what is next for me in my life. I’ve gained confidence and a deeper sense of peace about things working out as they need to.

So all in all, 2011 was pretty darn tough at times, but I really can’t complain

Thanks 2011 for all that you gave me to move forward with, and for helping release more of that which was holding me back.

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Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, and I will soon catch up on my photo challenge pics as well…

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Now that I’ve relinquished my fantasies of all the people I wish I could be, and stopped feeling guilty about [them], I have more time for the things that I truly enjoy. – Gretchen Rubin

What will you say no to in 2012?

I will just try my best to say no whenever I need to say no. I will attempt to avoid saying yes when “no” feels more in line with what I need…

31. Yes
What will you say yes to in 2012 that you didn’t say yes to in 2011?

I will say yes to new experiences, people, places and things that resonate with me. I will say yes to love, compassion, hard-work, fun, learning, expanding, caring, relaxing, and being me!

I will say yes to releasing whatever is holding me back or holding me down…

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Release. Before you can embrace all that’s being offered you must release that which you’ve been holding onto. -?

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. - Anatole France

Challenge #23 - Family: The newest addition to our family! My nephew Isaac.

I could not do Challenge #24 due to not having the right kind of camera/lens.

Challenge #25 - Jewelry: My sister-in-laws necklace

Challenge # 26 - Christmas: The beautiful Christmas day sunset

Challenge #27 - Smiles: My niece smiling after catching a fish. That little game was nostalgic for me, so I was also smiling because Aleesha liked it too!

Challenge #28 - Eyes: My kitty's beautiful blue eyes