[C]an I tell you one of my personal truths? The new year… the box marked January 1st on my calendar, makes me all sorts of nervous.
The Internet would have you believe that everyone is full of glee, rainbows, hope, excitement, possibility and plans. It’s fantastic, right? Unless you don’t exactly feel that way… unless you’re a little nervous like me. Now, it’s not that I’m not tremendously hopeful and excited, but the vastness (glory be!) of the 364 days ahead sometimes feels paralyzing with possibility.
Do I sound like I’m complaining? I’m not. Do I sound like I might have a scatterbrain? I do. Do I sound like I don’t know where to place my feet as I step into this year? Pretty true. So far I’m thinking one foot in front of the other is the best (and only) way to go.
What are your resolute intentions for the new year? Do you have a few? Have you written them down on your bathroom mirror in lipstick? Tell me how you’re working this new year!
Here are some things, large and small, I’m thinking about for 2015:
• Dear Joy, turn off your cell phone. Seriously, what would happen if didn’t check your phone when your dinner companion gets up to use the restroom? The world would end, right? Well… let’s try anyway.
• Social media anxiety is sooo 2013. Whether it’s a fear of missing out or a fear of participating… none of it is actually real, so just calm down and maybe try turning off your phone.
• There’s always room to make your kitchen life better. And I think it’s time for a new kitchen skill. I’m thinking I’d like to be a chocolate master. Is that a thing? It’s about to be.
• I speak Spanish and Italian. The only problem is that I speak both at the same time in the same sentence. Helpful to no one, ever. This year maybe I brush up on my Spanish and kick the random Italian out of my Spanish sentences.
• New rule: Two drink max then walk your butt home and turn off your phone.
• Charitable resolutions like Be The Match or Compassion International are always in my year.
• There are all sorts of year-long projects to get involved in at the start of the year. My favorites are: Journal52 (prompts for the 52 weeks of the year… like brain food!). A self-portrait a day with The Everyday App. And journaling with technology using DayOne App.
• When in doubt, when excited, when curious, when hungry for all the things: GUT CHECK. Our guts know.
• Have some fun. Have some dang fun! GEEZ.
Happy New Year. I love you.
xo Joy
Angelica
I’m also trying to cut down on the amount of time I spend checking my phone, as well as social media (and using electronics in general). Good luck with your goals and Happy New Year :)
Raffaella
What a list! This year I’m not going to make any, I just want a simpler and decluttered life :)
Se vuoi fare pratica di italiano, sono disponibile :)
Happy New Year from Italy!
Cecile
Wow – you not only want to learn how to create delicious chocolate creations – you also want to be a Chocolate Master. I’m very impressed and I have absolutely no doubt that you’ll achieve your goal… even if becoming A Master takes more than one year !!
emmajeanne16
I learned French and Spanish. I was always doing some kind of combination of both. This post is lovely. I cannot wait to see what comes of the chocolate master. i hope for you sake it involves a lot of tasting.
Margeaux Vittoria
One of the things I’d like to do more regularly (like you mentioned) is journal! I was reading through my sporadic journaling from 2014 the other night and the little that I did write really helped my perspective. It helped me see my life as a cohesive, mostly-positive continuum and not the series of overwhelming little crises I can sometimes (ehem) see it as.
Astrid
My hopes for 2015: to become better at guitar playing and drawing.
Have a great day!
Astrid
Heather
Great resolutions , especially like the social media/ cell phone ones, I think I’ll try to pick up my cell phone less & instead pick up a book :) Happy New Year Joy!
Millie l Add A Little
Totally my goal to brush up my spanish too – I desperately want to be fluent!! feliz año nuevo!!
Liz
Truly lovely intentions. I will continue to follow, enjoy, and repost your blog entries. Thank you for all you do! :-)
dani
Wishing you a year filled with happy memories!
Ivonne
The electronic leash (phone) seems to be a big one for a lot of people. I am making an effort to shut it off at bedtime and trying not to do things like flipping through it while watching tv or while out for dinner. Good luck and may your 2015 be awesome !
ecaroline23
Great intentions!
https://mademoiselleaventure.blogspot.ca
Kristin
Have fun.
Thank you for the reminder. Life seems to have gotten really serious.
Kaileen Elise
Love reading and listening to all things Joy the Baker. Happy 2015!!
Nicole McClure Kurlbaum
I also really want to know what incredible resolution-defying bread you made there!
Side note: If you ever need beautiful food illustrations for a cookbook or to provide contrast to your photography, I’m constantly inspired by your use of color and texture in your cooking!