MMM #16 Round-Up: Setting New Intentions For A New Year

January 27th, 2011 - filed under: Furthermore » Monday Monthly Mission

For this, the first month of a brand new year, we set our sights on a Fantabulous 365-Day-Plan. We got excited about living our truth in 2011; about being the very best versions of ourselves. We talked about resolutions and identified why they fail – they lack specificity! And so, we decided to draw up a plan of attack, to take 2011 by the proverbial balls. To make it ours!

Your mission was simple: to outline an ass-kicking agenda for 2011. To designate an overall theme, then add a few bullet points – aims or ambitions or general direction.

Mine was simple: Quality Over Quantity, for the first time in my life. I have a number of bullet points too, ranging from the likes of - send more postcards all the way to - happiness über alles. And many more in between!

So what about you, my dears? What dreams are contained in your Yearly Manifesto?

  • http://kiwimartini.wordpress.com/ Beens

    2011 is the year of learning to take care of myself. I can’t believe I’m saying that as I’m in my mid-twenties! I start work as a doctor in July and I have to get to grips with my physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, not only to lead a healthy, balanced life, but to actually practice what I preach in the work environment.

    I am already eating good food, exercising, meditating and spending time with friends and other nice people. Feb is the month that therapy begins. By April, I’d like to hop on a plane and have some adventures. That’s the plan, anyway! Any other suggestions would be welcome

  • http://oliviajeankeepinitgreen.blogspot.com Olivia Jean

    Hey Sayward :D I have been a lurker on your blog for long enough! Time to break the silence…..

    I have a lofty goal for 2011, I am going to open my own little preschool and I want as many people to know about it as possible, that way I stick to my guns. I am super stoked on the idea of being my own boss and getting creative with the kiddos (mine included!!) I am creating a second blog just to document my progress…and keep everyone up to date.

    Thanks for your time spent on this blog, it has been inspiring so far (I found you through your DDC on MDC :D)

  • Kathryn

    I’m not necessarily set on sending postcards, but I did get about three different stationary sets for Christmas so I can send letters!
    My big goal is to be more exciting and active, I want to live more and spend less time studying (gasp!). This is a biiiiiig challenge for me especially because all of my classes this semester are in the science building (except for my activity credit folk dancing class haha) so homework has been crazy. So mainly I’m working on time management so I have more time to spend working on contortion training & circus club and maybe joining the repertory dance group!

  • charlotte

    Mine are to be more organized. I’m getting there slowly on that one but I’ve made some changes to the house and how I spend my time. I’ve also started to take better care of myself and I’m already seeing major improvements. I’m trying to be a better parent and that is a life’s work I’m afraid. Go ask my kids in twenty years time. I’m using my live journal account to record and share my progress.

  • http://www.windycityvegan.wordpress.com Monika {windycityvegan}

    Mine is to start doing things for *myself* again, to shift the balance between Selfish and Selfless. Being run-down and stressed out is not beneficial to my husband, daughter, or myself. 15 months of debilitating ppd left me floundering, then I threw myself into my current job . . . and have yet to come up for air. It’s time!

    The only BY38 (Birthday Year 38) To Do item with a solid, carved-in-stone date is October 1. That’s when I will turn in my law school application. Eeeeeek!! But there are many other concrete items on my list, and the list is slowly growing!

  • Kathryn

    Mine is to decide to be happy and not let the unhappiness of others, or circumstances, take that away from me so easily. As part of that mission, I decided I need to do more random acts of kindness, because this reminds me that I do have control over the energy I’m putting into the world. This month, I picked 3 random strangers with recently updated Amazon wishlists and sent each person a gift from their wish list with a note of explanation and a request that they pay it forward by doing something nice for someone else. A good way to go about this, in case anyone else wants to try it: To search for wishlists on Amazon, you have to enter a name, email address, etc. I decided to pick first names of friends (e.g. “Bill) to use as search terms and pick strangers from the results. The search results come back with wishlists that have been updated recently at the top of the list. I picked from these since a recently updated wishlist is more likely to be accurate. I feel good about this and hope my gift recipients do too!

  • http://easierthanyouthink.wordpress.com Ginger Baker

    @Kathryn I completely, TOTALLY love that Amazon idea. I once got a LJ friend, whom I barely knew but knew was struggling, a Xmas gift for her son. It was awesome to be able to do that, and it cost me relatively little. I’m going to share your plan via FB and such and see who I can get to do the same!

  • Kathryn

    Thanks Ginger – I’m glad you like the idea! Let me know what kind of results you get on Facebook.

  • Kate in SB

    Re: postcards… Have you heard of Postcrossing? http://www.postcrossing.com/about

    It’s an online community for who like sending and receiving postcards from around the world. The more you send, the more you receive. I just joined last month and already got a postcard from Germany and one from Belgium. Pretty fun. :)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    Wow, these are all so amazing, you guys are inspiring! I’m wishing you all so much love and success in 2011 – not that you need my wishes! It sounds like you’re all dreaming big and set to get it. YAY!

    @ Monika – “to shift the balance between Selfish and Selfless”

    That’s powerful. So important. Good luck on taking care of you, I know how hard it can be especially as a mother. But you deserve it! (so does your family)

    @ Kathryn – That is AMAZING. I love it. In fact, I’m completely inspired and I’m changing the Monday Monthly Mission. Hope that’s okay – you rock!

    @Kate in SB – That looks awesome!

  • http://www.windycityvegan.wordpress.com Monika {windycityvegan}

    @Kate in SB – Thanks for posting, that looks awesome! I’m going to do this with my daughter, she’s starting to ask questions about a lot of different cultures and this will be a great way to jump start a new location.

  • http://lynniebee.blogspot.com Lynn

    1. (the BIG one) Build up my savings account and move to New York City, which I have been wanting to do for years but lacked the financial resources to do so.

    2. Be more active in the blogging community, and posting in both of my blogs at least once a week.

    3. Becoming an overall healthier person, I would like to lose 30lbs or 8% body fat this year, and also return to my Yoga Practice, which was so incredibly therapeutic for me, and I miss it very much.

    4. Use my time more effectively (i.e. getting up a little earlier in the morning so I’m not scrambling around right before I leave for work)

    5. Get myself out of the fashion rut I’ve been stuck in, re-learn how to take pleasure in getting dressed, dress more creatively, etc:)

    :)