Goal for the day...

Okay enough with new years pledges and stepping outside of the box... today I am incredibly irritable and the confines of my comfort zone should be respected, at least by me!... or there is a great likelihood that I may snap at someone... although I am not feeling much different from yesterday... sorry to the innocent souls I thoroughly confused, argued with, and sought unheeded advice from.

While I should feel refreshed and revitalized from the nearly 2 hour nap I took yesterday and almost 10 hours of sleep last night, alas I am wearing a frown and I already sympathize with anyone willing to make eye contact with me. It doesn't help that the chipper city workers were trimming a tree outside of my kitchen window at 8:30 this morning - not conducive with a peaceful morning coffee. And to shed even more light on my miserableness, I was already awake for an hour before this....

So, while there are several reasons for my simmering moodiness, most juvenile, and some legit... I will spare the details and simply say my goal for today is to take a deep breath, keep my mouth closed, and laugh when I want to scream!

Maybe I should remember too that I live in freaking France! Really why am I... and what do I really have to complain about?

A pledge...

As an extension to my previous post, I also pledge to do the following this year:

Converse and engage with the inquisitiveness, sincerity and purity of an 11 year olds wisdom and optimism!

Listen to the inner calling of my heart and wrenching of my gut well before it reaches anxiety level proportions. All in all recognizing that intuitive spark before it is extinguished.

Continue to walk with confidence and direction whether intentional, believed or improvised.

Dream a little dream of infinite possibility, pure intention and honest action.

Laugh at the obvious, the oblivious, the triumphs and the tribulations… all the while laughing while loving and giggling with joy!

Allow the dust to settle into convenient little dust bunnies after patiently drifting and floating in effortless time and space.

Silence opinions and assessments that are not positive, supportive or encouraging.

Consider buying a cow or a goat to offset my mass amounts of dairy consumption!

Exemplify the remarkable qualities of my role models with sincere effort and purpose.

Parler en français avec les erreurs et les fautes!

Care less about timelines and milestones and more about others.

Have fun in honest living without regret, guilt or apology!

Bonne Année

Jan 1, 2011, marks exactly 10 weeks since I left home, cheered on by two of my dearest friends, Anna & Sarah, and tons of family and friends days before the voyage. In many ways, this milestone marks the beginning of a new year, including fresh perspectives and forced resolutions simply from the decision itself.

But the actual New Year is upon us, and like any new beginning comes renewed spirit, reinvented identity and renowned resolution.

So this year I resolve to….

Be healthier… nah, considering I consume a brick of butter bi-weekly,

this one won’t stick… err well the butter might!

Travel more…nah, travelling to 3 countries in the last 3 months

I think is a good start and as such doesn’t make for a

good declaration of new or unconfirmed wishes.

Learn French…nah, um well sort of…

This one is a no brainer; I am kinda forced to learn the language for basic survival…

I could probably try to acquire the language faster and with greater fluidity,

but considering I gave directions in French the other day speaks volumes for me,

as it was in French and I knew where I was (never mind that all I had to say was,

”toute a droite pour 5 minutes”).

So instead, I resolve to do nothing new or extreme or overly exciting, but rather to continue on this new path of limited expectation, infinite possibility, and ambitious living outside of the box! To cement this new pledge, I will start by wearing mismatched socks!... baby steps in trudging the New Year with non-conformity, flexibility, youthfulness and simplicity!

Bonne année tout le monde! May this New Year be filled with love and compassion,

learning and wisdom, renewed relationships and self admiration!