I’ve always been a working mother. That helped me learn how to juggle many hats, be more flexible and find joy in the moments. Especially when our daughters were young, life was particularly hectic. Now that they’re both in college, the daily schedule isn’t as filled with their schedules, but juggling, flexibility and joyful moments are still very much part of my life.

Recently, our girls came home for their winter breaks. I worked some, but also took off time to spend with them. For those of you that have college-aged kids, you know that their hours are quite different from most parents. They stay up very late and sleep even later. There are frequent comings and goings between visiting friends, running errands and taking day trips. With our different schedules, it was important to grab time with them when I could, even if it was brief.

When I think back to the girls’ winter break, it was full with wonderful memories of both short and extended exchanges. Time together sometimes included a car ride and conversation on the way to an errand. Sometimes the moments were longer when we had leisurely meals together. This beautiful collage included walks in the snow covered woods, sipping tea and coffee at assorted cafes, snuggling and watching movies, grocery shopping, cooking, listening and dancing to music, visiting family, having friends over, laughing, donating blood, going to our favorite cupcake shop, getting lots of extra hugs and seeing our girls enjoying each others’ company.

Our lives are made up of moments. Joy is present if you allow yourself to feel it. What moments have you recently enjoyed with your kids? I’d love to hear one or two of your favorite memories.

Like a tea bag steeping, sometimes you need to wait and let the flavor get stronger before you can take a sip. The same holds true for our beginning of the year plans. Sometimes we are ready to dive in and go full speed ahead on January first. We are determined to keep the resolutions that we’ve set like saying “no” to desserts, exercising three times a week or finally getting control of our chaos. At other points, we need more time to let our ideas deepen before we can move forward.

There are many possibilities. What if you’re almost half way through the first month of the new year and you’ve already indulged in “several” desserts, you haven’t exercised even once a week and organization is nowhere in sight? Or, what if you find yourself halfway though the month and you haven’t yet determined what your resolutions or goals are?

I’m personally straddling the two camps. Several weeks ago, I made a list of possible 2011 goals. I haven’t officially committed to any of them. I simply compiled a list of things that I am considering. The list includes items such as redo my Oh, So Organized! website, design and build a new desk area, try some new recipes and spend more time with friends. Ideas are still being added. No actual resolutions have been made or goals set because I’m collecting and processing. I’m getting closer, but need more time to decide what I want to pursue most.

An odd thing is happening, though. Since the thoughts are on this list, I’m aware of whether I’m doing or not doing any of them. So, when I say, “yes” to a sweet, I’m justifying that it’s fine to eat because I haven’t yet committed to “no desserts.” I am conscious, but not guilty because I’m still in the deciding mode.

Whether you’ve set your goals and slipped, contemplated your goals but not committed or are working hard to keep on track, let’s remove all guilt out of the equation. Remember that you’re human. There is no perfect, especially when it comes to making changes. Give yourself the time you need to figure out what you’d like to accomplish. Along with that, give yourself a dose of forgiveness as you experience the ups and downs of striving towards your goals.

What 2011 ideas are you contemplating? 

There’s nothing like “fresh!” Here we are at the beginning of a new year. We’re just a few days into the month. Each of us has an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, reset our goals and design our next twelve months. There are many great ways to harness this energy on a daily basis. I’ll share some of my ideas and I’d love to hear from you too.

5 Ways to Get a Fresh Start

Find Your First Sip- Conjure up the scent of that morning pot of coffee brewing. After delighting in the aroma, now imagine taking your first sip from your favorite mug. For me, this simple act of enjoying my coffee not only is pleasurable, but also signals that it’s time to begin again and sets a hopeful tone for my day.  If you’re not a coffee drinker, perhaps brushing your teeth, taking a shower, or doing some deep breathing will work instead. The idea is to find your starter or first sip.

Display the Vibrancy- Another way to create a new start atmosphere is to add fresh flowers to your environment. I love getting flowers before their petals have opened.  Cutting their stems, arranging them into favorite containers and placing them in full view creates a tone of vibrancy, life and hope. I particularly delight in bouquets of tulips this time of year. Their joyful shapes and colorful blooms remind me that the cold of winter will soon be followed by the warmth of spring. It’s hope in a vase.

Pump Up the Positive- Take time to reflect on your accomplishments and good memories from last year. These thoughts will create a positive expectation and increase your confidence as you take on new projects and goals. When I think about the past year, the two things that stand out most for me were successfully launching our youngest daughter off to college and writing regularly for my own blog and others. What are you proud of from last year? What experiences did you have that boosted your happiness?

Let it Go- It’s all too easy to stay stuck in the Land of Didn’t Dos. To make the most of your fresh start, let go of your mistakes, disappointments and failures. We are human. None of us are exempt from these experiences. The key is in how you process them. Depending upon the depth of the disappointment, you might not be able to put it aside without some outside help. If something is holding you back to the point of contaminating your days, get the help you need so that you can let go and move ahead. Learning, forgiveness and understanding are essential.

Bring On the Sparkle- There’s nothing like a little bit of glitter to lift my mood, create some daily magic and set the tone for experimentation and possibilities. This season in particular, shiny things are everywhere and I love it! However, long before the design industry deemed it so, I have enjoyed being surrounded by glittered-laden pencils, sparkly eye shadow, reflective glass, sequined pillows and jeweled picture frames. These external sparkles remind me to pursue the people, places and things that bring out that inner twinkle.

Sometimes it’s the smallest of things that lets us take a deep breath, forgive ourselves and allow us to move forward. Whether it’s that first sip of coffee or a glitter-covered Eiffel Tower ornament, surround yourself with cues that encourage you to make the most of the New Year. What inspires your fresh start?

We all experience days that we just love. Today is one of those for me. It’s a Sunday. Life seems quieter, sleepier and more peaceful than usual. The family is around and without any special plans on the agenda other than relaxing and allowing the day to unfold.

This calm was accompanied by the anticipation of the first big snowfall of the winter and the new year that is rapidly approaching. Today’s peaceful feeling was a welcome contrast to this time of year, which is often focused on the angst of change and transition. We make time to let go and unclutter ourselves from stuff, negativity and busy schedules. We evaluate, plan and decide what we want for coming year. There are endings and new beginnings, which can elevate our stress levels.

I find myself sandwiched between these two diverse states of calm and anticipation. I feel happy simply enjoying the here and now, yet excited thinking about the snow and goals for the coming year. I am looking forward to the future while still being grateful for the present.

Around noon, the flurries began ever so slightly. My thoughts became filled with being snowed in and cozy with my family. I imagined cooking together, sipping hot chocolate with marshmallows and just hanging out. My list of plans for 2011 seemed far less important.

There will be plenty of time for planning. There will be plenty of time to prioritize my goals. For this moment in time, I am grateful for the blanket of snow, the family being together, the homemade soup we just shared and the hot chocolate with marshmallows that will soon be enjoyed.

What are you enjoying right now? What are you looking forward to for the coming year?