Melonius Thunk

Happy New Year 2012!

Here we are again, a mere 363 days since my last post.  Once again we meet here at the intersection of old and new, the past and the future, closing the books on one year and planning for the new.  I always have been quite the sucker for a fresh start -- filled with possibility and promise.  And so here I find myself, once again, pondering the new year and what I will make of the days ahead.

As I sat down to reconnect with Melonius Thunk, I re-read my 2011-The Year of Good and Right post.  My immediate thoughts were: (1) my goal to focus on "Good and Right" hasn't changed, and (2) I wasn't so successful at that in 2011.  Hmmmm....

But then I started thinking about it and doing a quick mental inventory of 2011.  Guess what I discovered?  I may not have lost X pounds, totally eliminated clutter from my life, cured cancer, or mediated world peace, but I did, in fact, do a lot of the types of things toward which I aimed.  It's not an exhaustive list, but here's a sampling of what was Good and Right for me in 2011:

* Prepared more meals at home
* Tried new fruits and veggies
* I drink more water today than I did a year ago
* Stopped adding artificial sweeteners to my iced tea, cereal, etc. -- although I DO still enjoy the occassional diet cola, just not as many as I used to!
* Learning to sew
* Crocheting
* Took a cruise to Alaska with NaNa
* And I've had some pretty awesome laugh-fests!

Good and Right.  I like it.  I really like it.  I still really like it! 

I do want to shape some of my goals into a more concrete, measurable form for 2012.  I'm working on that and will share more details later.  In the meantime, check out this video clip by Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project explaining why measurable goals are important.  [Sidebar: I've always been of the opinion (fear?) that "concrete & measurable" only helped in identifying when you failed, rather than to support success.  But why not try something different, right?]

So what about you?  Have you made any resolutions for this sparkly new year?  Care to share your goals? I'd love to support you in that which is Good and Right in your life!

Hello 2012!  I hope you're ready for a good dose of Good and Right, because I'm bringing it!

2011 - The Year of Good and Right

One of the things I miss most about school is the fresh start each new semester would bring.  A new schedule, new classes, new teachers, new notebooks, fresh paper . . . all organized and full of promise.  So you can imagine the weight I put on the start of a new year.

Every year late in December I start thinking about the upcoming New Year.  I intend to spend some time reflecting on the year about to pass and planning for the new.  For example, I intended to take an inventory of what went well in 2010 -- my many blessings, things I accomplished -- and what I'd like to focus on in 2011.  

Thus, I did *think* about these things over the last few weeks.  But only in an esoteric way.  That sort of way in which I say to myself "I should really think about such and so" or "Wouldn't it be neat to have a word / phrase / symbol to represent my goals and intentions for the new year?" There was no heavy mental lifting in this *thinking*, I assure you!

I also have a thing for Resolutions.  I mean, if "tomorrow is a new day", then a new year must be all that and a bag of chips.  Right?  Like most Americans, each year I intend to lose X pounds, banish clutter from my life, cure cancer, and single-handedly mediate world peace.  But I'm also a realist and I know that some extremely high percentage of Resolutions are broken within like 5 minutes.  And, frankly, I don't want to burden my dreams with such an obvious death sentence as to make Resolutions around them.  I need my dreams, damn it!

So what's a girl who's giddy about the promise of a fresh start yet too jaded to really buy into it to do?  I don't know!  But here's what I did: 

I did make a resolution.  I'll call it a *soft* resolution.  One that has the potential to help me progress toward most any goal I may have for myself in the 364 days remaining in 2011.  Are you ready for this?  Drum-roll please . . . . . . .

In 2011, I resolve to do that which is good and right.

What's right for my physical health?  Preparing fresh, healthy meals.  Trying new fruits and vegetables.  Drinking water.  Taking Riley for a walk.  Practicing yoga.  Turning up the volume and shakin' it like a Polaroid!

What's right for my home environment?  Hosting a yard sale for things I no longer use or enjoy.  Donating excess items to charity.  Doing *right now* those tasks that can be completed in just a short time.  Hiring cleaning help!

What's right for me in general?  Laughing.  Loving.  Enjoying quality time with my friends and family.  Painting.  Sewing.  Crafting.  Traveling.  Volunteering.  Helping others.  Practicing gratitude.  Seeking joy and being happy.

Do you see a theme here?  Instead of trying to eliminate the bad, I'm adding good.  And that, my friends, appears to be a win-win resolution!

Wishing each of you a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2011!

Vulnerability (AEDM - Day 11)

If you've read any of my early posts, you know that I'm in a period of life transformation.  I left my legal career of 14 years on September 30 to pursue the creativity that lives within my heart.  To say that this move was difficult or scary is an understatement!  But I know it was the right decision.

I don't know yet where this transformation will take me.  I have no idea what my next career might be.  Yet  life is in the living, not the final destination.

One of my first steps on my new journey is simply to engage in creativity and connect with other creative people.  So when my friend Courtney posted on Facebook that she needed artists to decorate hearts for a charity auction to benefit the Calvary Episcopal Church Food Pantry, I immediately said I'd be happy to decorate a heart.  Of course, I couched that by saying "I'm not an artist per se, but I'd be happy to help".  Thank you, Courtney, for taking me up on my offer - little did you know the growth opportunity you were providing!

I had a hard time deciding how to decorate my heart and actually changed my mind several times.  A lot of fears and insecurities arose in the process:  would my heart be too "crafty" and not "art"?  what if no one bids on my heart?  oh my goodness!  there are "real" (professional) artists participating! and so on. 

I don't know why this vulnerability surprised me.  After all, insecurity is what led me to a career as an attorney in the first place.  And here insecurity was again - this time chipping away at the purity of the creative process.  A couple of times I got so wrapped up in the end result that I got frustrated and discouraged and almost lost sight of the process - the juicy part.  So I acknowledged my feelings of insecurity - after all, this is the first piece I've done for public consumption - and reminded myself that my goal was just to have fun with being creative.  Once I let go of trying to make something that would please others, I created a heart with which I am very pleased.  AND I had fun doing so.

That's not to say my insecurities are resolved or that I no longer feel vulnerable.  I'm still plenty vulnerable!  But I now see the gift that I've been given with the opportunity not only to indulge my creativity, but to step outside of my comfort zone, to claim my creative spirit, and to share my spirit with a small portion of my community.  Now that is growth!

The auction is next Tuesday, November 17.  I've already got a few butterflies in my belly and I'm sure they'll have more friends joining them as the auction draws near.  And yes, I'll be a nervous wreck on the 17th.  But that's okay.  Because I'll be growing.  And growth is good. 

Happy Creating!
~ Melony

Oct 1 - The First Day of the Rest of My Life

Yesterday truly was the first day of the rest of my life - my new life after the law.  On Sept 30, I said goodbye to the legal career I spent 14 years growing so that I can seek my place in the creative world.  AND IT FEELS ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, WITHOUT QUESTION, FABULOUS!

I awoke with a renewed sense of excitement for what my future holds.  I was filled with an energy I had not felt in years.  My day was very productive -- I took my dog to the groomer, had a coaching session with my career counselor, washed 3 loads of laundry, took my dog to the vet, got a flu shot, went to the bank and the dry cleaners, attended an art reception for Teresa Bartenstein, and topped the day off with an incredible dinner at Lily's with my mother, grandmother, and two wonderful friends.  Could the day have been any better?  I don't think so!  It was a day of pure joy and giddiness.

What will my future hold?  What will I do now that I am no longer practicing law?  So many questions and so few answers.  But I am so looking forward to finding out!

So here's to new beginnings, fresh starts, and life makeovers.  It's going to be quite an adventure.  Enjoy the ride!