appreciation and aspirations

The beginning of a new year is always a good time for review and reflection and looking ahead to our next steps forward. I'm not a big believer in resolutions per se. I certainly am into goals and planning. People who know me well recognize that I am a total Type A planner and organizer.
That's probably apparent even to those who know me casually!

In my professions as a flute teacher and personal trainer, I've set many goals myself and helped dozens of my students and clients identify and set their own goals. In most cases, we've achieved what we wanted. This is definitely cause for celebration!

Instead of doing the standard resolution dealio or even the goal-setting scenario, for 2009, let me give you a different model: appreciation and aspirations.

I firmly believe in savoring life and to me that means appreciating the fullness of what's been given to me. Specifically I think of all the wonderful people I'm in contact with, from clients and class participants to club members, my colleagues, friends, family and students. Also my friends back East as well as family in Maine, New Jersey and Vancouver, BC. New friends, old friends, friends I'm about to meet. I also appreciate most of my personal traits-like anything else these can be both a blessing and a curse depending on your perspective!

In general, appreciating my life is an area I feel comfortable with; I regularly give thanks and blessings for what I have. However, one of my aspirations is to more fully enjoy all my good fortune.

I tend towards the ascetic lifestyle and can be a hermit pretty easily. Some of that is due to my
job. I'm in customer service and love my clients, however, I find that I need time by myself. Maybe it's also all the years spent in a practice room, working on my flute skills. I generally like my own company and I can amuse myself very well.

I find that it's easy for me to slip into the rut of working, working out and sleeping. I do have to point out that I'm not all work and no play. Since I LOVE to exercise, I consider working out to be my play time.

I see, though, that I could more fully enjoy the wonderful life I've created here in California.
The Bay area is such a great place. I've been to some fun events and want to do more.

I will share with you several ways I want to savor my time in CA for 2009:

go to the Ballet 3x
attend 2-3 concerts at Biscuits and Blues (love Biscuits and Blues!)
go to the "new" Yoshi's in Fillmore (well, it's not really new, I just haven't been there)
explore more of the museums and special events in SF

I'll continue with more aspirations in the next post, "appreciation and aspirations part 2".

In Health (and Happy New Year!)

Laura