2016

2016 started out rough. I'll spare you the gruesome details, but the very first thing that happened to me when I woke up on January 1st involved swallowing ants. Looking back now it's comical, but it was one of those semi-traumatizing incidents that took me a few days to find the humor in. Anyways.

Friends, I don't believe in omens, and despite my ant incident I still feel that 2016 will deliver a quality year. I've chosen a word for this year that I hope shapes my approach to how I design my days: balance.

I've noticed consistently over the years that I am the most happy when I feel a sense of balance. Like when I have enjoyed a hard, sweaty workout and then indulge in something sweet. Or when I enjoy a home cooked meal, and also take the time to do the dishes before moving on to the next thing. It sounds silly, but too often when I'm going a million miles an hour all day I don't focus on having that balance, and I just want to rest. But I've learned how much I like earning my rest time; to me, only when it's earned does it truly feel restful.

So I'm looking forward to a year of balance--not depriving myself of simple joys, but also being cognizant of my responsibilities and making sure they get accomplished in a timely manner. I look forward to more reflection, and doing what it is that I feel moved to do, whether that be journaling, listening to music, reading, exercising, cleaning, etc. etc. The temptation after a long hard day of work or an event when I'm on feet for 14+ hours is to want to simply rest. And sometimes that's okay. Balance gives me grace for those times.

May your 2016 be productive for your goals, restful when necessary, and full of dreams realized. Here's to a balanced year!

Malibu, January 2016. The colors were so breathtaking I had to pull over on my commute home to capture it.

-S