#NameYourYear – A Mid Year Review

If you have just recently found us, 'naming your year' is an annual tradition my cousin challenges me to commit to. At the beginning of this year we invited the CWMS community to join in with this conversation and there was a terrific response! This simple, but not always easy exercise is a positive way to begin the year and can be a helpful point of reference during certain decision making situations and for guidance with achieving goals. It is never too late to start...

Posted by Shea on July 13, 2014

Many of you took up the challenge in January and decided to ‘Name Your Year’. We are already halfway through 2014 so, right now is the perfect opportunity to check-in and see how you are going honoring your personal focus and hear about the lessons you have you have learnt so far?

If you have just recently found us, ‘naming your year‘ is an annual tradition my cousin challenges me to commit to. At the beginning of this year we invited the CWMS community to join in with this conversation and there was a terrific response!

This simple, but not always easy exercise is a positive way to begin the year and can be a helpful point of reference during certain decision making situations and for guidance with achieving goals.

It is never too late to name your year…

Inspiration For Naming Your Year

Being frustrated with constantly being ‘busy’ is the main reason I decided to name 2014 the year for ‘Striving for Balance’.

Ask anybody ‘how they are’ and the most likely answer you will receive is –

“Busy, how about you?”

You will most likely casually nod your head and reply –

“Busy!”

Does this mean we are all just surviving through our week rather than thriving?

The key ingredient I am aiming for during the year I named Striving for Balance is shaping up to be simply stop being consistently ‘busy’ and schedule in somedowntimee. There is no balance to a day which starts and never stops.

For example:

Our Baby Girl loves her ‘bippies’ (biscuits) and everyday she sits down, where ever she is, to enjoy this little treat. Her favourite thing is for the two of us to sit down together so, instead of me saying –

“Mamma will just do ‘etc etc etc’ then sit down with you.”

Which can lead from one thing into another and before you know it a whole day disappears being ‘busy’. My new answer is –

“Mamma will just make a cup of tea and come straight out and join you.”

After all, a cup of tea without a biscuit is a wasted opportunity!

We both have a great little chat (she has just turned two) and flick through a magazine, all while having a little tea party. Far more important than finishing the ‘etc etc etc’ which will still be sitting there in 10 minutes or so when we are done.

To help keep this ‘busy’ Mother on track with Striving for Balance are two children and a supportive Husband. One child constantly reminding her to stop and admire the many treasures which can be collected for the garden, one who will always sit down for a chat and a ‘bippy’ and a Husband keen to pack a suitcase and head off on regular family holidays and mini-breaks.

In between, there are nights such as Friday Night Movie Night where extended Family and Friends are always welcome to come over and celebrate the start of the weekend and join us for fish and chips and a catch up.

There is no one, simple, solution to balancing a busy schedule as chores, Family, Friends and responsibilities come with the territory but, everyday there is time put aside for tea and ‘bippies’ and that is a start.

Hopefully when our Baby Girl calls in to see her Mamma when she is all grown up we will continue to sit together for a ‘tea party’ and a chat; after all, she is the one who initiated our important morning ritual. It will be just as special in the future as it is now and my tea will still be poured in the cup our Little Man made-with-love for Mothers day, during his first year at school.

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Enough about my discoveries, what lessons have you learnt or what new ideas have you implemented so far as you strive to achieve your goal and be true to your personal motto? I would love to read about them if you are happy to share, especially if you did decide to name your year…

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