New Year Intentions

I’m not really keen on making resolutions, but more into setting intentions for the year. Resolutions leave little room for grace through life’s inevitable and unavoidable changes and challenges throughout the year, however, intention can grow and change along with you. Intentions are more about cultivating a mindset and embracing personal growth throughout the year, rather than the typical resolutions that often focus on specific, short-term goals. By focusing on intentions, people can build resilience, embrace change, and create a roadmap for a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life in the coming year. Although I am grateful because my 2023 was mostly full of positive things, I still feel that end of year burnout that most people feel after many very full months followed by a bustling holiday season. Even though I wouldn’t change too much about the year behind, I feel its always a good for at least some light reflection on the activities, values, habits, and attitudes I want to continue foster for the year to come. While I have many intentions for 2024, so this doesn’t become a super long New Year’s diatribe, I am going to focus on my top 3 intentions:

1.) Cultivate my Healthy Relationships: I want to focus on nurturing the most meaningful connections I have with my family and the friends who add the most to my life. Too often we get caught up in relationships that are one-sided, drain us emotionally, or make us feel plain bad about ourselves just be cause we don’t want to “abandon” people or even believe we should/can move on from a friendship. Any relationship that doesn’t serve both people involved should not be nurtured.

2.) Set Boundaries: For me this looks like letting go of life’s FOMO and establishing clear boundaries to protect my time and energy. I need to get even better about saying no to events, commitments and opportunities that don’t align with my priorities and values. This one is particularly hard for me, especially when friends and colleagues are involved, but I need to continue to let go of that guilt.

3.) Further Embrace Creativity: This is the intention related to my new fashion and art pairing feature. I want and need to make more time for my creative pursuits outside work. Last year I went 6 months without a blog post and too many times I went month after month without visiting a gallery or a museum or making even a small the trek to see something that inspires me because the was “just no time.” Art and creativity are my most powerful stress outlets and battery rechargers, and this year I will be more intentional about putting time into these much needed moments of art-respite. I have already begun “manifesting” this one for January and some exciting things are really close!

Keeping these intentions in mind, even though the holidays are so so busy, I decided to make time to check out this colorful new architectural mural by Scarlett Bailey and put tougher a quick shoot with my pal Bronson. This one is a simple color-blast art and outfit pairing that just makes me smile so hard. It feels full me, and to be super trite, I will say here’s to more in 2024!

Featured Art: “Home” by Scarlett Baily at Liberty Station Arts District
Photos: Bronson Pate of Bauman Photographers
Fashion Deets at the Bottom!