Sittin,Thinkin, Wishin, Hopin

I am such a slacker on this whole Blog thing. :) Its ok at least you get little blurbs from me.

So here is the newest that is going on in my brain!

I have been reading Eat, Pray, Love and I am IN LOVE. Have you ever read a book, saw a movie or heard a song that just completely meshes with your way of thinking? Well this book does it! After high school I realized that I was not built for religion. There are too many unanswered questions and too many do this and not that rules that I never understood. Plus, I am not a labels person. I don't like being labeled something I am not 100% behind. So I have labeled myself spiritual and found that it fits me best but now I have found a better word, cherry picker. One thing that I never understood about religion is how they can state they are "peaceful" but religion is one of the main causes for strife in our world. The main reason I see behind this is because they believe they are the only ones that have a connection with God. Well that's just plain stupid in my book. Every person in this world has a connection with God, with or without religion, why do we have to label it? So here are my thoughts on the subject.

While I haven't researched all religious attributes, I do know a small amount about a few, but plan on researching more and finding pieces of each to create my own world of becoming closer to God. My relationship with Him is private and personal, why can't we create a relationship all our own, just like every relationship I have? I want my relationship to work for me, not what works for the next person, I am not that person.

So here is my plan of action. I am going to the library to do some light research on some religions and see what touches my heart. I would like to read and understand more about ways to find peace in the mind and heart too. I am going to start doing meditation, small steps with this, like 10 minutes and then gradually add time. I am going to continue my yoga practice. I am going to continue to look inward to find peace, instead of looking for it in others or activities. I would like to try to remove my negative thoughts and replace them with better thoughts. And try to just be a better all-around person. Get Jason involved with my progress. He is a big supporter of me and they things I want in life.

Small steps are definitely needed in my progress to a better relationship with God. I know I can do it I just need to get more focused. FOCUS FOCUS!! :)

So today starts a new outlook, a new direction and a new me!

Hello 2011, its so nice to see you

YAY! 2011 is finally here. Last year was neither great nor horrible, just one of those years that you deal with, so here I am in 2011 hoping this year is GREAT, FABULOUS, TERRIFICAL! Come April it will have one fabulous addition, Miss Aspen Noelle Brantley will be making her debut! I should also be graduating from The Art Institute with a degree in Interior Design. Almost a decade in the making but at least I never gave up.

So on to the purpose of this blog post: goals for 2011! (If I write them down somewhere public people can get on me if I am not doing them.)

1. Get to California - ticket is bought, so this should be an easy one ;)
2. Finish school
3. Eat healthier, not going over board but actually making wiser choices in food.
4. Get another room renovated in the house - Aspen's room does not count
5. Work on crossing off some of my 30 before 30!
6. Work on my craft projects. Make some extra cash!!
7. Get a job I appreciate and that appreciates me back.
8. Weed out the bad people in my life. I need more two-way relationships instead of one-way relationships.
9. Get active. . .pregnancy has given me an excuse to be lazy.
10. Put together my recipes.

I think 10 is a good place to stop. These goals aren't set in stone and I am sure some will just get knocked off but these are some of the things that have been needing to get done so there we go.

For 2011, I need to keep telling myself that I am important and worthy of everything that I want. I need to be more selfish with my time and quit wearing myself thin trying to please everyone. I also need to realize that I have feelings and I should express them instead of wearing the happy face all the time. Its important to express myself and quit worrying about how people perceive me. If they want to be a friend they should understand all aspects of me instead of just the good. I am a GREAT person! I just need to remind myself of that!

As I sit here and write this I realize there is so much potential for this year, the things I can do and create. I am ready, bring it on, there is nothing holding me back. Bring it on 2011. I am ready for whatever you have for me!