I'm hoping they become a longer fixation in my life.
Of course, not as strictly inforced as what I'm planning for the next year but hopefully some of that strictness will remain forever.
Some thing are just general ideas I have about life I would like to keep living and possibly deepen.
2. Which brings me to point number 2. I need to enjoy the things I already have. (this goes for both perfume and books)
I have so much of both that I haven't given any attention to, and I believe it is causing some underlying stress that more accumulate and I haven't even started with those I have.
In case of books, not buying doesn't count for the series I'm following. Everything else will wait.
3. Point number 3 would be, I will try and enjoy the bounty of my life. As shown by previous too, I obviously don't lack in life's leisurely pursuits and honestly, this recession has demonstrated very clearly to me that I have more than enough and don't lack for anything.
Yes, I'd love to be rich but if I weren't happy as the person I am, money wouldn't be able to change that (just make it more difficult for me to understand that happiness doesn't come from it).
I really, really have enough of stuff in my life and don't lack for anything. Now I need to start enjoying the things I have and taking good care that the new things that arrive are really those I need.
5. And speaking of character strength, I sincerely hope I'll have enough to enroll in a 2-month program here that teaches people how to run effectively and prepares you for a half-marathon (I do think I'll skip that part).
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| Running on a beach like this would never be a problem |
So, I hope I'll win against myself (and that will probably be a good opportunity to present myself with an iPod as I have nothing for music if I decide to do it).
Feel free to show your support in this because I am pretty sure I will be needing it. :)
6. I also hope I will write more (often). :) I want to, I just need to work more on making my wishes into reality (especially those that are only dependent on me).
7. And last but not least, I hope I finish my thesis (unless it all comes down to nothing as the university is no longer inclined to extend the deadline for quite many of us left) but in any case, I hope it gets finished in any way, and then I hope I'll have more time to spend with family and friends and finally restore the feeling I have all the time I need to enjoy the little things in life, instead of the opposite.
It all basically comes to the fact that I want to enjoy the life I have and not the one I need to pay for.
* I am pretty sure an exception or two to the rule of non-buying will appear but I can't say in advance what they might be.
I absolutely love this post, and you have encouraged me to do much of the same. Slow down and smell the roses, so to speak. Thank you Ines! And HAPPY NEW YEAR!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post! I love your approach of enjoy life more. Will definitely have to try this in my own life. x
ReplyDeleteYou have my support!!
ReplyDeleteI think you are stronger than you think you are and I am sure you will manage it easier than you think right now.
Few years ago I was very active in volunteering and it took me a lot of strenght to decrease that activity. I felt like someone is taking half of me. Now, I know that the only way to achieve your goals is to be focused. And in that extra/free/leisure time that we have - we should enjoy life as it is. Simple and beautiful.
Hope to see you soon <3
Heya Red! Well my friend, you've knocked it out the park yet again - Gorgeous and Inspiring Post, you! :)
ReplyDeleteLoving what we have, Aye, that's wizdom. As for perfume, well the more I read from my fellow passionistas, the more our shared burden becomes clear: Part of the Love of Perfume is indeed the Hunt! The Questing for something new we may fall in mad Love with and simply Must have. And the epic 'fails' are part of the Fun! Alas, the Price of feeding this finest of habits is a tricky monster indeed.
And SO, Yay for SWAPS! The Journey continues for nothing but postage. I'm with you, mate - decants all the way! And I shall email you soon with my humble collection of ready-to-shares and see what you may have and we're off! Another Christmas in January Yay!!
Oh by the way, you're reading my fave book of all time The Hobbit :) :) :) LOVED that post!
I wish you Total Success in completing your thesis - Wow! Go you! What an accomplishment!
And your heartfelt words on living in Gratitude for the bounty one has and diving into simple pleasures - you inspired me. I'm gonna fetch some parchment, trek to the beach and write a few of me own this week. :)
And my longwinded reply doth end - ha! THANK YOU, Ines, for being you and doing what you do! Your blog is so personal, heartfelt, fun, informative, ... Z's a big fan of ye!
Salute and Here's to a New Year ripe with Groovy Peace and Serious Boogie!
Zanne
Ines, you have not only my support but my admiration: It's a wise woman indeed who is able to say "I want to enjoy the life I have and not the one I need to pay for."
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list, and I will especially be rooting for you to finish your thesis, as my feeling is that you've put so much work in already, why not finish the thing that will give you the "official" credential you deserve. (And I'm not usually big on "official" kinds of things, but where they can benefit a person, then I think it's smart to play the game, so to speak).
If you decide to take up running, maybe we can go for a jog together in a beautiful city this Spring?
Ines, you are so right. Being happy with what we have is a gift to give ourselves. The fact that we are lucky to sample wonderful fragrances is a joy.
ReplyDeleteYou really should start running. Meeting a challenge is rewarding and provides a sense of personal dignity. You. Can. Do. It.
I truly enjoy your blog.
Happy New Year!
Dear Ines,
ReplyDeleteYour post and the emotions going with it, are something I am very familiar with. My perfume embargo last year did not exactly work out as I had hoped, mostly for the reason that I did not acknowledge my tendency to rebel against myself, if fenced in too tightly.
Your goals are very wise. You have my full support.
Enjoying what we have - and we have so much - is truly a wonderful thing.
But it is not easy to stop running after the next best thing...sigh.
All the best for your thesis! You can do it!!!
Ines, I must echo what all these wise and wonderful people before me have said. Support and strength to you! Plus, you are definitely inspiring me here to persist in my own plans for the coming year-- not just to make them but to FULFILL them. Let's all go for it together!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Bloody Frida! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, slow down to smell the roses which I support in theory but somehow need to implement in reality. :)
Happy New year to you too!
Thank you Beautiful things. :)
ReplyDeleteI think most of us lost somewhere along the way the ability to enjoy life as we live it and accept it as a journey with ups and downs, but most importantly, a journey shared with family and friends.
Bellatrix, thank you for your support! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I do believe we'll be able to find a little coffee time soon.
Dear Zanne, as always, your comment brought a grin to my face. :D (there it is)
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm thinking swaps and decants will be enough to satisfy my perfume longings without the need to spend on a bottle and I think I will probably be behind reviewing those as well (but you cannot break a perfume addiction). :)
Oh, I am jealous that you can go to a beach (any time of year) to enjoy the peace it brings and contemplate a little.
Btw, I know, in the back of my mind, that I wanted to send you a sample of something, but it will come to me. :)
Would love another swap with you.
Dear Suzanne, thank you so much for those supporting words. :)
ReplyDeleteI really hate leaving unfinished business and my thesis is the only unfinished thing in my life left. Although honestly, after so much work, I completely lost any wish to get "credentials", I just want it to end in any way (but I know my parents would LOVE those credentials, but parents are like that). :)
As for running, I sincerely hope I succeed. I somehow believe it will help me put my life into balance - I need something that will stop me from indulging some of my bad habits and it needs to come in the form of a difficult physical exercise (which running will be in the beginning for me).
And then, joining you for a jog down the streets of a beautiful city? Perfection. :)
Natasha, thank you for those words of support. :)
ReplyDeleteNow I really must not fail in my listed endeavours. ;)
I'm already considering possible perfume choices to boost my enthusiasm and energy.
Dear Olfactoria, yes, I'm trying to work around my faults with these points I listed. :)
ReplyDeleteI am also prone to rebeling against fences (however imposed) so I'm not stopping myself, I'm just limiting some thing a bit.
And others, I'm expanding (like physical exercise). :)
But honestly, I think you did remarkably well with your embargo. It lasted for more than 6 months I believe?
I think the point is to try, if it doesn't work out, at least you know you tried. Better than not to try at all because you think in the end it might fail (key word being might - you just don't know until you tried). :)
And thank you for the support!
I really appreciate everyone's support in this as I sometime tend to lose all confidence I can do it (and then I talk myself out of it eventually). :)
Ok, I need to stop writing now. :)
Olenska, you have my support for fulfilling all your plans. and thank you for yours! :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough, getting to know a little of the immense strength of your character (through your blogs), I have no doubt you will be successful.
Wishing you all the best in the coming year! :)
I agree, this was an inspiring post. You have my full support as well! I'm confident you can complete your thesis, and meet these other goals; I'll be rooting for you! :)
ReplyDeleteInes, This is an excellent post. Good luck with everything, especially completing your thesis. That's a wonderful goal for 2012.
ReplyDeleteYour intention to start running has inspired me to start back to running regularly in 2012. I love it because it's a meditative activity, and a reason to be outdoors for a while. Good luck with your running program. Don't expect too much, too soon. Training takes time. You won't be running a half marathon after 2 months, but you will feel great. And the smells on the way are amazing. When I run, I love to experience all of the smells of nature and human activities along the way.
Best wishes for success in all of next year's endeavors!
Thank you apb for the support and vote of confidence! :)
ReplyDeleteI will certainly do my best (and hopefully stop doubting that my best is never good enough).
Doc Elly, thank you for the kind words. I'm always a bit surprised my words can inspire anything, so thank you for saying that. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree, 2 months are a short time to prepare for a half-marathon but this class has done it with some people (I don't expect that of myself).
But what I do expect is a change of perspective which I'm pretty sure will happen with the physical empowerment that running will bring (at least that is what I imagine).
Ines, it's me, late again.
ReplyDeleteI believe you will be able to follow your resolutions (well, I'm not sure about non-buying one, some nicely priced bottle will tempt you ;) ). If you do go through with running you will be my hero!
Undina, you're never late. :) You come as the icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure a bottle will find its way to me just not as easily as it usually does, that's the point.
And if I manage to take up running, I will really be very proud of myself. :)