2016 - the year for creativity and joy

I have decided to have two words to describe my coming year as both are and will become more important to me in the year that is unfolding. Creativity is a positive action that leads to positive changes: mentally, emotionally and physically. To try something new will help me grow in so many ways. It is difficult to eat if your hands are fully occupied elsewhere. It also becomes a thought out process when you decide to eat as you have to stop what you are doing creatively, get up and walk to where the food is. This means you can trick your brain and say "I'll get something in ten minutes." Most of the time after 10 minutes you will have forgotten that urge because you are involved in something you find enjoyable.

I like to write as evidenced by this blog ( forget last year's slacking) and I like to do handcrafts. I completed a jumper in aran stitches for myself last year and a castle for the library from my knitting group. Others did their bit too. Meeting with good friends has brightened my year especially when they usually live overseas and it was a serendipitous meeting that led to us having a good meal together with lots of talking done while eating.

Joy comes from friends and their caring. It comes when you reach a goal you were not sure you would complete. It comes from loving times with close and extended family. It comes from time with your grandchildren or children. Sometimes life just hits you with a gust of happiness unexpectedly. Being present in the moment is helping me have more moments of joy.

So this year I create:

1. A Middle Grade book
2. An erotca book (under another name)
3. A picture book
4. Knitted clothes for me and my family
5. Knitted goods for people in need
6. A slimmer, healthier, stronger me
7. A lovely bedroom for me I love to be in
8. A clean and healthy environment for my family 
9. A garden of food, flowers and joy
10. Exercise I do daily

[Image] | These Lamps Create Incredible Art On The Walls Surrounding... - TIMEWHEEL

[Image] | These Lamps Create Incredible Art On The Walls Surrounding... - TIMEWHEEL When you stop worrying about your weight and can put effort into something creative you never know where it will lead you. I have taken to writing and being in two writing groups. I am also doing a monthly Fun Craft morning, an adult colouring morning monthly and a fortnightly Knitting in Public group.



Whatever you decide to do to bring creativity into your life is correct. You know what makes you happy. If you don't know what that is yet then get out there and start trying things out. Something you do will make your heart sing. Grab onto it with both hands and keep doing it. Often we eat because of boredom or stress. Doing something you love is the best counter for both of these. Don't take notice of anyone who scoffs at you especially if they are not doing something they love to do on a regular basis. TV watching is not creative unless you are watching the TV series you wrote yourself to see if it came out right.



Trying different forms of exercise is creative as well. You are creating your new body. Muscles will grow. Fat will lessen. Health will improve. Finding out foods that work for you is creative for your health. New foods may work better for your body. Changing what you eat means your body has to work differently to absorb new minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats and carbs. Variety is the spice of life especially if you use different spices and herbs in your food.



Be creative in your home. Get rid of the things you have not used in the last year. Clearing space in your home creates new space in your life for something good to enter. Get rid of old craft tools and goods if you have not touched them in any way for a long time. Donate them to a charity shop, win/win.You may have liked it once but some-one else would love the use of the old crafts things as they would be new to them. My mother always made my father sell off his old hobby goods when he went onto a new one. It cleared space and gave him extra money for his new hobby - win/win.



Go into your computer and delete old files (not photos) that no longer have any relevance to you and your life. Gain space in your computer. It will probably run faster too. Get rid of programs you haven't used for the same reasons. If you are not absolutely sure about deleting them save them into an external hard-drive just in case.



In January it is a good time to look at all aspects of your life and see what needs changing. Make Intentions not Resolutions. Go get your new life.

2016 Intentions and Affirmations not Resolutions

I don't keep my resolutions like most people so I might try to use Intentions and Affirmations this year to help my life in every way possible.

Health:

• Exercise every day but not necessarily the same exercise; so walking, swimming, weights are  my new friends that I like to see and do daily in some form that I love.
• Eating right; the food I put into my mouth is fresh and full of the minerals, vitamins, carbs, proteins and fiber my body will utilize so my body remains fit and full of energy.
• I practice walking freely and straight and sit well; I move freely and pain free through life as I love my body and do the best I can to keep it healthy.

Creativity

• I will finish writing my MG novel by the 6th February; the novel I am writing will be enjoyed especially by boys between 8 and 12, but their sisters will enjoy it too.
• I will work to use my wool stash entirely by May 2016; many people in need of warm clothing will be the recipients of hand-knitted goods from me this year and like what they have.
• I will keep going to the Adult Colouring sessions monthly; my mind is soothed and relaxed by colouring books so that my body de-stresses in an enjoyable way.
• I will continue with my writing groups this year and encourage us all to have something published by 2017; our stories will be published in 2016 whether it is self publishing or mainstream as we have stories others are interested in reading. 
• I will learn a new craft this year; Creativity is good for the soul.

Home and garden

• I keep the house clean and tidy; everything is balanced, clean and full of love.
• We grow more of our food at home to eat better; our garden is a space of beauty and the vegetables grown in it are healthy and life-giving to all
• Tidiness becomes part of my day; nightly I tidy up so we start our day well

Weight-loss Intentions

• To loss steadily and safely throughout the year till I reach 70 kgs (154 lbs or 11 stone)
• To tighten my muscles up with exercise to lessen the effects of loose skin
• To have weekly, monthly and yearly aims met each time
• To understand why I may want to eat; comfort, de-stressing, thirst, emotions and address that rather than eat food I don't need.

Louise Hay affirmations are good ones to use especially those in her Little Blue  Book though I might have to find up my newer book as I think the other has disappeared into the Place of Lost Books. We have become more visual so putting supportive affirmations in you Pinterest Board and re-reading them regularly or printing them out and displaying them on your wall or fridge can be helpful. Vision boards help you define and display your desires to you and/or the world. Journaling helps in so many ways. This site is really an online journal of sorts. I used it regularly at the start of my journey but let life get in the way last year and ended up gaining 6 kilos. This year I am aiming to get back to at least a weekly post. It is a way to be accountable too. So I will try to show what exercise  I did, maybe talk about what I have been eating and any changes I make that are helpful, talk about positive changes in my life and how I deal with negative moments (other than eating).

I wish you a good year of joy, abundance where needed in your life, weight loss if that is your goal, a healthy energetic life doing the things you love and changing the things you don't. 2016 is Red Fire Monkey year in the chinese horoscopes

The top photo is my  writing group fo 2 Tuesdays a month throughout the year.

Christmas lilies and orchids that are flowering well this summer in our garden.

I am a Snake so this is my Horoscope http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2016/ to check out yours.

 You were born in the Year of Snake. The following is the Red Monkey year prediction for people born in year of Snake.

When Snake meets Monkey, Monkey will become a good assistant or escort to Snake.

Career: Monkey contains Metal and some Water. You will encounter little trouble in the career. You need to work a little bit harder. It will be worth after all, because you will get a satisfied return.

Job Change: If you have a promotion chance, then you can consider to take it. The sign shows both of your career and money luck are good.

Wealth: Your income and investment will have stable increasing. If you can find good financial adviser to manage your finance, then you might get much more return.

Love: The younger generations are easier to find their matches. If you are a female, then you need to push or encourage the boy to accept the relationship. If you are a male, then you have very good love relationship. A man will have more chances to meet the girls. If you are married or in love, your love relationship will maintain well.

Social Circle: If you can help people, then you should spend time on it. That will help you to expand social networks, and then the money making opportunity will come after.

Quarrel: If you have argument or dispute with someone, then you need to take care the business by yourself. You won't get a perfect result, if you only hire someone to handle the issue.

Health: Try not to over-exercise and then injure the body. Pay attention to arthritis, arms, legs and shoulders.

General Fortune: Monkey will bring a good fortune opportunity to you. Don't miss the opportunity in the year of Monkey.

Good luck in 2016