"New Year's Eve. Almost midnight. You're not here for me to hold." -Truman

That's what the band said and I love that song.

Miss J and Steph and I rang in the New Year at my soon-to-be sister-in-law Janie's house, with my brother - obviously - and some other friends. 

New Year's day brought nostaglia as I got together with high school friends for our annual soiree. It is a great beginning. 

I adore goal setting. In fact, goal setting is probably the best thing for me when I am feeling blue. It gives a sense of control and direction. I set goals twice a year - once at New Years and once around my birthday, which happens to be perfectly placed in July (another of my perfections).

From July, I've already made good progress. I ate seafood (only twice but that's progress), I'm definitely better at owning mistakes and dissenting, I'm more financially generous, and I joined the bone marrow registry. I'm still working on the others.

Bravery and courage are still my overall focus and I'm finding that I relish the difficult and stretching.

Milla gave me this for Christmas. I wear it often as a sort of talisman and as a reminder to be brave. Usually though, I hear Dan Radcliffe/Harry Potter's voice from the fourth movie saying, "Be brave, professor! Be brave like my mother!"

I want to talk with people I know, even slightly, in public places like the grocery store. Usually, like most people, I pretend I don't know someone because I can be a wimp. 

I will create the book of my father's mission finally. It's been years in the making. 

I'll quit my job. And start a new one. 

I will call people more instead of texting. Let's make more human contacts. 

I'll eat at least two fruits or veggies a day. It's brave to admit that the goal is required. And to offer myself to the judgment of others who might consider two a number that should not be so difficult, but it is. 

In NYC we wrote our hopes and dreams on a bit of confetti to be dropped over Times Square. Here's hoping.

Brave New Year

Every year on my birthday I like to get a hotel room by myself and wake up on birthday morning at will, have breakfast, then sit down for some reflection and goal-setting. I didn't do that this year because I could only come up with one goal: learn to make a proper paper plane; and I was with people. Since my birthday I've tried to come up with some goals- a girl does like to move forward- but couldn't really land on much I passionately wanted to do.
Earlier this week I stumbled onto this music video from Sara Bareilles. The song is called Brave and I find it incredibly encouraging - both lyrically and within the concept of the video. And, for where I am in life right now personally, it was a message I needed to hear.

The video also gave me the inspiration for my goal setting: Brave New Year. I will embark on several feats of bravery, hoping to grow and stretch just a little more.

Go a day or two without my phone, several times
Take singing lessons
Run a half-marathon
Eat unfamiliar food that I have heretofore shunned - the dreaded seafood!
Own up to mistakes
Dissent and/or advocate for myself and/or question
Share the gospel with someone, like for real, like giving away a Book of Mormon or inviting them to church
Ask for and accept feedback that might not be flattering; don't wilt; possibly disagree with it
Stop coping in ways that aren't helpful in coping - like TV or surfing the internet for useless hours
Be financially generous
Learn to be handy around my own home
Ask to be mentored
Seriously already, join the bone marrow registry

“Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose.” 

Tom Krause