Happy New Year!

I can't say that this year was bad -- no year is ever bad, really. It's all a combination of things, but as Bob and I always say, as long as we have each other, it's all good.

But this year I did feel like I was always scrambling to catch up, especially in the last half of the year. As I look back over my journal entries for the year, one repeating theme was how busy I was. I don't really think that I had too many commitments, I think that I just failed to manage things efficiently. I wasted too much time, probably, although some of that I did intentionally, telling myself that I deserved some downtime, and I know I do.

One of the good things that happened this year was finally sitting down and teaching myself how to make jewelry, and getting up the courage to put it up for sale, and actually being fairly successful at it. One of my goals for 2008 is to explore other venues for selling my jewelry--craft shows or jewelry shows or the shows that I know some big corporate offices set up for their employees. I don't exactly know how to go about finding out about those things, but I'll figure it out.

It's not that I want to quit my "day job" -- I still love what I do -- but I really love making jewelry, too, and it's almost like therapy for me. Something I can do with my hands that produces something tangible, something physical, that gives me satisfaction, and that can also bring in a little money.

Knitting gives me satisfaction, too, but I don't have any talent (or interest) in designing knitwear, and there isn't any money in knitting, i.e., aside from being able to knit a few things for gifts, it's all about personal satisfaction, and while that's important, it would seem to make sense to do something that would bring me personal satisfaction, and supplemental income.

I guess that was my biggest personal accomplishment this year. I only managed to read 46 books in 2007, but I guess that's not too bad. I used to be able to read 100, but lately a goal of 50 seems more reasonable. I'd like to try to do that this year. I'd also like to try to write more here--an average of one entry a week is pretty pitiful.

I thought this was a very interesting, though-provoking article: Three Big Rocks. A lot of it doesn't apply, of course, but the questions are interesting:

What am I endeavoring to manifest now in my life?

How can I change my thought patterns to empower my goals?

What old connections can I release now, for my highest good?

What wisdom is seeking to reveal itself to me at this time?

What new idea has seeded itself this winter, and how can I best nurture it to fruition, as the Earth nurtures her seeds?

What are the imprisoning fears that I feel ready to release?

What part of me will awaken as the rebirth of Spring arrives?

How can I best focus on my blessings this season?

How can I turn negatives into positives?

How can I make the best use of this lifetime?

Some good things to think about as we enter the new year.

Barb was in town for the holidays, so she came over and we spent yesterday afternoon together. We went to lunch, exchanged Christmas gifts, and caught up. She left for the airport in the early evening and I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things.

Bob and I stayed home last night and had a quiet evening. I made cheese fondue and we had olives and bread--a very simple meal. I fell asleep before midnight, but he woke me up at about 11:45 for a toast and a kiss.

Today was quiet and simple, too. I made pancakes for breakfast, then we had little meals and snacks through the day. I heated up some black-eyed peas, the traditional New Year's Day dish for good luck, and we had cheese and crackers, and olives, and shrimp, and I drank a cocktail of my own devising: leftover Asti Spumante, orange juice, and maraschino cherries.

We read, and watched television, played on the computer, and took naps. An altogether lovely beginning to what I hope will be an outstanding year.

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