Saying that 2017 was an emotional rollercoaster is bit of an understatement in my opinion. Between the political climate, the actual climate, and a year of huge personal changes, I sometimes felt like I cried just as often as I smiled in 2017- but I know that was just my anxiety talking. Looking back on 2017 with a clear mind and an open heart this New Year’s Day, brings to light that the good far outweighed the bad.

While I feel like I took a step back where my anxiety and panic attacks were concerned, I still was able to push past the fear and achieve goals. I bought my first home this year! I’m slowly filling up the walls with artwork and memories, and I absolutely adore this house. It is beautiful and comfortable, and best of all has a backyard that allowed me to bring feathered bundles of grub-loving joy into my family. (Chickens and ducks if you don’t follow my Instagram and are confused!) I am also loving being able to vacuum in my underwear at midnight if that’s what I feel like doing- it’s the little things.

 

I received the final ‘kick in the pants’ to transition to full time self-employed late last year (it feels SO weird writing that!) I had been using my part time IT work as a safety net for years, and the time that I dedicated to that job kept me in a ‘one foot in and one foot out’ limbo for years. But, when the company was sold and the contractors let go, I jumped and didn’t fall! Between teaching yoga, social media here on Habits of a Modern Hippie and my cutie pie fluffy pups, and my bath and body care line based in herbalism, The Spiral Collective, I am never bored and always creatively stimulated! It is way more exciting to me than analyzing data in front of a computer screen.

I know I could go on for pages (some things never change- I still write all of my posts by hand with pen and paper before typing them up!) about all of the friendships I’ve deepened, new friends I’ve made, and falling in love, but instead I am going to bring all of the goodness into 2018 and start the year off full of positivity.

I am not big on New Year’s resolutions. Usually mine turn into a to-do list that causes too much stress, and thus creates the opposite effect than intended, so this year I am continuing my tradition of setting a simple intention for the year. My mom and I have a yearly New Year’s ritual: on a piece of Flying Wish Paper (if you haven’t heard of it, the paper flies and disintegrates when you burn it!) we write everything that we would like to leave behind in the previous year and burn it, letting the wind blow away the ashes. I follow this by cleansing the house in a little ceremony- lighting sage and Palo Santo, and letting the smoke press toxins and bad energy out of my space. Then finally, in a brand new notebook, we write down our intention for the coming year. Mine this year is simple, and a single word:

Enjoy

I want to enjoy life, the people in it, the beauty of the outdoors and the muddy paws that come with it, the smell of fresh baked bread, and the rush of travel. I have been ‘grinding’ for so long that it is time to breathe with intention and to give myself a break and the permission to enjoy my life without needing to be constantly busy- putting it in a cliche, it is time to stop and smell the roses!

Happy New Year to all of you lovelies; may 2018 bring you health, happiness, and the ability to enjoy everything that life has to offer!

What is your word for 2018? Let me know in the comments below! Feel free to use my ‘enjoy’ as well!

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