Alacrity

I'm not sure if you remember but at the beginning of last year there was a trend of posts going round where bloggers were almost setting their goals or the tone for the year ahead and my choice was to Be Present. This year I gave this some serious thought because it worked for me to come back to my main focus for 2014. 

This year I wanted to be anti-procrastination and I had to search for a word that fully encompassed this and Alacrity is the word. The meaning is simply:

1. Cheerful willingness, eagerness
2. Speed or quickness; celerity

This is what I want for myself. I hate that I procrastinate so much so I think if I make a conscious effort to completely opposite it then I'll be 1000 times better than I've ever been.

So, what's your word for the year?

Let's Make December White Hot Passion!

Firstly I wanted to say thank you to all of you that sent positive thoughts and kind words about my last post. I'm still reeling from it all despite attending his funeral on Saturday. 

However I will tell you that someone shared this quote at his funeral and I thought, WOW I need to adapt this! I need to reach my white hot passion! It's obviously the first of December which also makes me anxious because my to do list hasn't got a huge dent in it and I've literally got 31 days left to complete them.

If I reflect on where I was a year ago things are sooooo different and I am so different but sitting at the funeral on Saturday listening to all these incredible things people said about my friend (knowing I wasn't the only one who felt that way about him) I decided when I die, I want people to say those things about me. She was a girl with so much passion. 

Seriously though, I crave White Hot Passion, don't you?

What's your December plans?

A Resolution? I think not...

For those who know me outside of the blogging world, you know I have the tendency to reflect on the past - a LOT. It comes with the fact that I am an over-thinker, at times to my detriment so this year, while I have made a list of resolutions I've decided to keep them to myself.

Last year, without planning I aimed my year against a search for "SERENITY" and while it wasn't complete success I definitely moved closer to living a more serene life.

Therefore this year, I gave this some thought and I decided the thing I needed most this year is to " BE PRESENT". To the best of my ability, I need to keep in the present and stop harping on the past and what could have been.

I know just about everything is going to change this year and I want to enjoy it.

If you could pick one word or term you would aim 2014 around, what would it be?

Also, I wanted to say I wish that the best moment of 2013 be equivalent to your worst of 2014. Expect greatness, it's coming!

December

Firstly, let me say that I apologise for being so completely out of it recently, there has been a LOT of stuff going on and as the month progresses I'll let you in on the happenings but for now I will tell you that I am feeling a lot better but unfortunately I still have a nasty cough so I am hoping I can get rid off it (I'm willing to try any home remedies!)

Secondly, how did December crawl up on us like this? I have been waiting for a long time for December to arrive because I knew things were going to change this month but it's still a bit crazy and the response I've received to some off the things going on has been overwhelming.

I think the most scary (and exhilarating) thing about December is knowing that this is the last chance to check off all those resolutions that you planned for 2013 and completely forgot about.

While this is a short post - I just wanted to say I will be posting regularly again and while I am navigating my way through things - this quote is very relevant.

 

But more so, I have been holding onto this simple phrase:

 

 



 

What's been going on with you? And do you have any suggestions on how I can get rid of this cough?

 Tell me about your December plans?



2013 Halfway to where?

I often think about my contiki trip and when we were entering Lyon, France from crossing the English Channel and Bon Jovi's "Livin on a prayer"came on and practically the whole bus was singing "Ohhh whoa we're half way there ohhhh whoa we're living on a prayer..."that has to be one of my favourite moments of my life because it felt incrediably freeing!

The point of my story is we were singing we're halfway there even though we didn't know how long it would take us from Lyon to Paris or what the traffic would be like but just knowing we had passed the channel already felt like an accomplishment and that's sort of how I feel about JUNE 2013. This year is flying by quicker than any other and I thought why not consult my 2013 resolutions list to see how close (or rather how far) I am from keeping to my inital goals for the year.. turns out that all the "big" ones, the ones I actually have control over I'm doing really well!

This year I have: crossed the biggest item off my bucket list and my first 2013 resolution;
                        : I've been reading a book a month, well I'm one behind but I'll catch up this month
                        : I have started my first blog but more so I have made this blog grow
                        : I have danced more (even if it is all by myself in my room - isn't that the best kind of                            dancing?) and smiled and laughed more than I had last year this time.

BUT I have also done things that I didn't even think about at the beginning of this year:
        * I started baking again

        * My blog is growing and even though I write completely for myself, it really is amazing when receive           feedback
       * I have manged to reconnect with a whole lot of friends which is great

I think the best part of 2013 is that I can't tell you what the rest of the year holds but  I hope it does include my trip to Germany, Spain and Ireland, that I do finish 12 new beautiful books for the year, that maybe I start writing my own book (eeek!) , I bake some really good cakes and perhaps some romance.. why not, right?
Also I received these fortunes for my birthday and I think the second one links to my blog, writing is an art form after all!

Either way, if you are feeling down about the mid year blues.... I found this link which could provide you with some motivation for whatever you need.

Good luck all with the rest of 2013 xxx

April/ May book review : Sing you home by Jodi Picoult

I've made a rule that after each Jodi Picoult book I read I'll read 2/3 frivolous  easy reads but after this book I'm going to go about 6 books before another book.

Firstly I have to say that I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and her novels always push the boundary of what I think may be an easy answer or not. In fact for those that read her books will be well aware that she usually has you guessing the whole way through and therefore you are so hooked you can't seem to put the book down but in this novel, I felt similarly to my previous book review which forms part of my 2013 resolutions to read one book a month  on from Notting Hill to New York actually, in that the storyline was pulled further - unnecessarily.

In this book, the main characters are Zoe and Max who start the book as married, trying to have a baby but encountering numerous  problems. Eventually they split  up and both seem to hit rock bottom and then each character finds strength from other relationships.

When they remember that they had three fertilized eggs still available for insemination a court battle ensues as to who should take custody of the eggs/pre-born children... 

Along the way there are a number of surprises but essentially I feel that the actual crux of the story, being the court case was rushed.

This novel illustrates a lot about preconceived notions from ministers to alcoholism to homosexuality and the question that I had to deal with is simply - what is your tolerance level? The beauty of Picoult's novels is that each chapter is usually told from a different character's point of view which is usually how your confusion comes in because you don't know which side is the one you're supporting!

Nevertheless this was a good read but definitely one of my favorites. I really enjoyed the references made by Zoe who is a music therapist as to how music can change your mood, day or life and how it can connect people. In fact I'm trying to read 12 new books this year but this book took me 2 and half months which is ridiculously long! So I'm going to have to read two books this month to make up for lost time *sigh*

If you're a first time reader if Jodi Picoult I do not recommend you read this as your first try as its likely to put you off her style which is in fact quite beautiful. Try The pact or 19 Minutes ... They are among my favorites!   

Maybe you should wait for the movie, I hear Ellen Degeneres is making the book a movie...