take a peek as to what 2007, 2008 and 2009 looked like. {2009 was a complete mess!}
all day i've been thinking long and hard about 2011. what will come from it? what's in store? what am i hoping for? {and so on. . .}
i contemplated and contemplated this morning while eating some jelly toast and a piece of pumpkin roll.
i thought about my expectations. which i decided on keeping low. for obvious reasons. low expectations lead to no disappointment. usually. i'm pretty much always a high expectation kind of gal, except for new years resolutions. which i never technically make, anyway.this year, like in 2008, i want a lot of the same things. i still want the world to be a musical. i still want my dream job and to meet someone completely jaw-dropping. i still don't want people to suffer or starve or hurt. i'd still like a blizzard in the middle of july. i still want to capture every moment on {my new} camera. i'm still looking to be inspired and i'm still ready to experience every day miracles every.single.day. and i'd still like to learn to ballroom dance. {you'd think all the dancing with the stars i've watching, something would have rubbed off!}
but there are a few other things i have on my plate for this year that i feel to be oh so splendid. am i perhaps putting 2011 on way too high of a pedestal? eeep.
as i was bringing my gifts into my room from under the tree this afternoon, my heart smiled as i picked up my gps.
i am kind of known for getting lost. it's like my thing. sadly. i just have no sense of direction whatsoever. so this baby above {long overdue} is slightly god sent. and while holding it, i instantly thought-2011 will be my year of not getting lost. but i quickly pondered upon a different thought. not only will i not get lost...but i think in 2011 i'll find myself. in so many ways. if that makes any sense. mark my word! volunteer. i did a lot of volunteering in college. and it grew to be a serious passion of mine. however, i've done very little of it since i've graduated and returned to my hometown. but alas, i'm going to get down and give back. in any and every possible way i can. mark my word!
organize, organize, organize. starting with my bills. lil' miss holly chatted about getting her credit card debt in order and taken care of. i'm going to take a note from her and get errrr done. color-coded binder equals my friend. mark my word!
read. i went through a good spat of reading. hardcore. the summer is always a good time to get reading accomplished or while i was traveling on the train every morning. perfecto. but i've really dropped the ball. and i am setting a small goal of one book a month. that's not asking a lot. anything more is a treat. mark my word!
discover the perfect bacon burger. i've been on the hunt. i've tasted a lot of good ones. but the perfect one is still out there. mark my word!
i'd like to travel somewhere. LA specifically. i've had hollywood on the brain since i could talk. but i'd take anywhere, really. {philadelphia, new york and new jersey are not included} but besides those three-traveling i shall go. mark my word!
attend church. throughout college, i rarely missed sunday mass. it didn't hurt that i adored our campus chapel, was completely smitten for our campus priest, swooned over our campus choir {and the fabulous drum player!} and had great friends to go with every week. it was a win, win, win situation. i'm not so tickled pink over the parish at home, however. but regardless, church will be involved in my 2011. mark my word!
i love the written word. but i think i take it for granted. thanks to santa, i am set and ready to journal the hell out of 2011. mark my word!
run. i don't care where or how far but to just do it. run, amanda, run. mark my word!
ohhh! and i still do think new years eve is overrated. i'd be perfectly content with some china food take-out, in my pj's, on the couch, warm cups of coffee*, and watching the ball drop. and banging a few pots and pans, of course!
*perhaps some norman rockwell themed coffee that is
