The Second Act

I am of two minds about resolutions.  You'd think that with two minds, I should be able to process information, make decisions and think in double time but, alas, no such luck! Does sharing resolutions take the steam out of your plans because you feel as if you've already done something or does it act as an accountability guide?  Not sure.


But I've been making resolutions for as long as I can remember and not just at the dawn of a new year.  As a student then teacher, the end of August is always prime intentioning time.  Then, I'd do it all again in December,  and, for good measure over a green beer on my birthday and then one more time at the beginning of summer break.   This has always included tweaking a goal when, on the path, it has become clear that an unhealthy pattern played too much a role in the original planning stages.


To see the incredible power of intentions, put them down on paper and then tuck them away somewhere out of sight.  I've recently found lists of resolutions from 5 years ago and am amazed at how almost every single one has come to life, even the ones I'd not worked on strategically.   Not that I'd recommend not breaking down a vision into manageable, short-term to long-term goals but it's amazing how setting your frequency for where you want to go has a power all its own. 


I once heard of a man who cut a picture out of a house that he wanted to own one day and adhered it to his vision board.  Years later, after many visioning sessions, many jobs and moves later, he found his vision board packed in some boxes and was flabbergasted to realize that he was now living in the very same house he had cut out of a magazine!  


So this year is already the best one of my life so far.  What incredible abundance I have in my life.   And I've been able to say that every year since I've been more specific and strategically writing out resolutions.   Although I feel far too young and on the verge of a personal revolution to consider this my second act of life, the plans I'm envisioning do involve a change in career (again) which always seem like real page turners in the chapters of my life.   These next chapters will need to have more breath given to love and less to fear.




2012 will see the seeds of the following planted, watered or begin the glorious germination process:


1.   Create a viable small business that falls under category of Wellness Guide, Coach, Teacher, Mentor, Transition Counsellor for teens, Meditation/ Yoga Instructor.   NOT Life Coach...that term barely scratches the surface of what I'm thinking and seems too much like professional cheerleader.  I'm much too cynical and sarcastic to pull off cheerleader.  Plus the costumes are just ridiculous!


2.   Generate a vibrant, evolving client base for above business  by staying on guest teacher list at two local yoga studios, initiating contact with others doing this work to see what it takes, offering workshops & experimenting with current students who are in transition.


3.   Build a solid business plan and save enough in advance to leave my current job and still suffer the slings and arrows of a small business in its first few years of operation.  


4.   Create a unique selling proposition that clearly sets my services apart from others.


5.   Create an online presence to help promote the business and to eventually sell all the books I have inside of me waiting to be written.


6.   Explore the available funding (gov't community housing grants, green initiatives, angel investors) for building a community-based apartment complex in my backyard.  This is a longer term goal that could be a base of operations for the above business.  

7.   Run a 5K race in June in under 30 minutes. 


8.   Risk being in relationships.  Open my heart enough to risk having it be broken, to love deeply without attachment.  Risk not being in an intimate relationship.   Risk being alone.  Risk asking for help!


9.   Confront trepidation about all the above with self-care, nourishing myself with whole foods, a consistent spiritual practice, gratitude for what I already have and by realizing that I am surrounded by spirited, open-minded, generous, supportive and competent friends and family.  I couldn't be alone in this, even if I tried!




Deep breath!   Here we go.  We're all in this together.