The sky was this color for a mere 30 seconds. What a treat to capture it with my camera.
For over two decades (my notes start in 1988), I have shunned the traditional New Year’s Resolution in favor of a New Year’s Intention. Each year, I thoughtfully select a topic on which to focus my curiosity, interest, and attention for an entire year. 2012 has been the Year of Courage. When an opportunity arose to become certified as a “Courage Coach,” I signed up. This past year I found myself making brave decisions and discovering an inner courage I hadn’t realized was there.
My focus on courage led me to accept several speaking engagements, create and hold new boundaries, travel alone to my home town for a high school reunion, and most harrowing of all, take part in Karaoke Night at Unity of Kanawha Valley! Now THAT took courage! Best of all, I kept a “courage journal” this year with lots of evidence I can use to reassure myself when my knees get shaky and I want to fearfully retreat under the covers.
For 2013 I’ve considered many topics, but I keep coming back to “Appreciation,” which seems to imply something a bit deeper than gratitude (my 1998 focus). Webster says that “appreciation often connotes a sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing’s excellence.” Appreciation involves “sensitive awareness and recognition of value.” Synonyms for appreciate include “treasure,” “cherish,” and “value.” There is also the idea of “increased value,” which reminds me of one of my favorite Wayne Dyer quotes: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
What would change in my life if I were to APPRECIATE the ordinary details? Could the mundane minutiae I take for granted be transformed and cherished? I think there’s possibility here. Even as I think about the concept of “sensitive awareness,” I feel a bubble of eager anticipation rising in my heart, something between planning for a vacation at the beach and opening an elegantly wrapped gift. It feels special, heart warming, and life affirming.
I hope you’ll join me in choosing your own New Year’s Intention. I know several who have already set an intention to make 2013 The Best Year of Their Lives. If that sounds good to you, send an email to bestyear4u@hotmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list. My appreciation to Alan Yoke for taking this on. Alan, I understand your deep level of commitment, and I acknowledge the work you’ve put into creating this support system. I promise to drop in regularly on teleconference group meetings to lend my support.
Happy New Year!
Coach Barbie Dallmann 
Barbie,
Your writings always touch me and are beautiful expressions of ideas I truly appreciate. I’ve been participating in an online meditation with the focus of finding a word that holds meaning for me. I love the way you’ve transformed resolutions into intentions. Thank you!!!
Barbie,
Did you take that picture at the Keys? Those palm trees look familiar! I have been choosing intention words for the past several years, and then looking back at the end of the year and saying, “Hmmm, I should have chosen a different word.” For example, my 2012 word was “nurture”. In looking over the year, I think “explore” would have been a much better choice. So I’ll let you know my 2013 word in about 12 months.
Hi Barbie, what a stunningly beautiful picture – the three birds doing a salute to the sky and the trees as they fly by – I love it. Your idea of commitment and focus on one area throughout the year really appeals to me and will definitely participate. My focal point in 2013 is on ‘discernment’ – .saying more ‘no’s’; looking less for inspiration outside of myself and diving deeper into intuition and self- expression.