Inspiration : Four Simple Goals

AE_cartwheel

Loved Elsie's recent idea of creating Four Simple Goals for the remainder of 2010. I especially love her focus on choosing things that will make your life richer & happier on a daily basis.

Here's mine:

1. BREATHE DEEPER. Take the single second or two to actually feel the full inhale and the full exhale.

2. EMBRACE CHILDLIKE EXCITEMENT WITHIN MYSELF AND ACT ON IT WITH MY KIDS. When they want to chase, play chase. When they want to be silly, be silly. When they want me to do somersaults and cartwheels in the grass, do it. When they express joy, mirror that back to them by letting my own joy overflow.

3. STAY HYDRATED. Drink more water. Simple, simple, simple.

4. GET MESSY. Artsy messy. I'd love to carve out time to make a couple large mixed-media canvases. This one will likely be the toughest to implement as we come into the busy season - preparing for & celebrating the holidays (and all that December Daily entails). I've got a bunch of scrapbooking projects on my list that I'm feeling inspired about (moving does that to me) but something in the paint/gel medium/collage arena is whispering to me as well.

Writing these up also made me think about my 2010 One Little Word(s): "story" and my not-so-secret-word "athlete." I think this year, more than any in the past, I've really tried to live my word on a daily basis and take action on ways to change the way my story was being written.

Each of these four simple goals play into ways I'm steering my story...they're things that will make my life healthier, fuller, and even more enriched.

Thanks Elsie - loved setting some concrete thoughts for the rest of this year.


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I also wanted to say thank you to Parenting and BlogHer for including me in their 2010 list of Mom Blogs We Love. You can see their full list here and read what they shared about my blog here.

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20 thoughts

  1. Shelly K says…
    08/25/2010

    You are in a good time of life right now!

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  2. Jessica Woodford says…
    08/25/2010

    I LOVE Elsie's 4 goals too! Need to get mine down....thanks for reminding me! :) Also are there (or are you teaching) any mixed-media classes in Oregon (or Pac NW)? I would love to take a class.
    Thanks!

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  3. Peaceliving says…
    08/25/2010

    I like this idea. This year is the first year that I've not really connected with my word (it's my third or fourth year choosing a word) and I'd thought about abandoning it and picking a new one. But maybe just choosing a few goals is a better idea.

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  4. Katie says…
    08/25/2010

    I love this idea - and the photo of you doing a cartwheel! Thanks for sharing your journey with us as you live out both of your little words.

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  5. Karen G says…
    08/25/2010

    I just bought two large canvases not knowing what I would use them for, in the spirit of 'buy the canvas and the ideas & inspiration will come'. After reading your post, I can feel the creative spirit begin to percolate. Thanks! I'll have to swing by Elsie's online home & see what her four goals are.
    Oh yea, and to simply breathe would be a great goal to finish this week off for me! Happy Wednesday, Ali! :>

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  6. Mary M says…
    08/25/2010

    Glad to see you included in Mom Blogs We Love ~ love the way you share yourself in a way that inspires and enriches all of us.

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  7. Sabbyscrap says…
    08/25/2010

    Thanks Ali for sharing this great idea. Sometimes, all it takes is going down to the basics. Breaking things down to manageable little implementations is simple, but yet efficient if we really stick to them! It's one of my goals for the next months! Cheers!!

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  8. amy tangerine says…
    08/25/2010

    loving this list. every single thing. especially the cartwheels.

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  9. Robyn Meierotto says…
    08/25/2010

    awesome! showing joy to our children is so simple, but so rewarding to them & ourselves! oh & you rocked that cartwheel!

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  10. heidig says…
    08/25/2010

    Congrats on the props from Parenting and BlogHer! I never fail to find inspiration when reading your blog. I'm still not sure though how you manage to do it all!

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  11. dawn says…
    08/25/2010

    love the cartwheels that is pretty awesome, did Simon take the picture for you or is it self-timer?? Congrats on parenting choosing you as a favorite blog, I agree 100% you inspire people everyday. love the goal idea too, thanks

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  12. Christine H says…
    08/25/2010

    Re-thinking the year's goals....this summer went by the fastest I can remember.....Decemeber Daily????? Not Yet!!!!

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  13. Suzie says…
    08/25/2010

    I made my own goal too! Such a great idea to focus on what is actually important.
    http://suzie-here-i-am.blogspot.com/2010/08/4-simple-goals.html

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  14. Lisa Baker says…
    08/25/2010

    This is the BEST! Look at Anna's face!

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  15. Wendy N says…
    08/25/2010

    You are such an inspiration to me, I love this blog post, thank you!

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  16. Beverly D-M says…
    08/26/2010

    you are an inspiration to me today! love that you shared about your triathelon...you go girl!

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  17. Loretta Artful Yogi says…
    08/26/2010

    Hooray for cartwheels!

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  18. jen chesnut says…
    08/26/2010

    Ali, I needed this post, right now, today!!! I am stressing over a wedding I have to photograph tomorrow and I just need to breathe! Embrace what I love, trust what I do, and know everything will be okay! And lastly I just need to get down & dirty and face that fact that I can still take great wedding photos, even if it rains and I have to be there 3 hours prior to the event itself for multiple rounds of photos! That is why you are so great Ali...you gave me what I needed to hear!

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  19. Marilyn Nimmo says…
    08/29/2010

    Great cartwheel!!! Love the 4 simple goals . . . will have to set 4 of my own!! Thanks for always inspiring me to appreciate the simple things and embrace LIFE!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Jes says…
    09/04/2010

    i saw the mention of your blog in Parents and was so excited! :) i love your goals, they each hit home with me as well... learning to let myself be silly and happy, to enjoy this time molding my daughter and learning from her as well. thanks again for the inspiration, i always walk away from your site happier! :)

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