Was it only one short year ago I quietly sat sipping my tea and contemplating my goals for the 2013 year?
The looming new year ignites many random notions, ideas and feelings and I have a precious little note-book I use to record them. Scrawling them down and capturing those valuable thoughts on goals and personal growth to be revised and revisited as needed throughout the year.
The added value of this notebook is the opportunity to reflect on all my previous years notes and how reality unfolded in comparison.
As I flick though the notes I made, one year ago today, the words BE COURAGEOUS leap off the page.
2013 was the year I courageously unfolded my crumpled wings. The very delicate, sparkly parts of me I had unknowingly tucked away several years ago.
Once I began to expand them so began a journey, a new chapter and a time in my life when I began to soar to previously unimaginable personal heights.
As promised, in my very first blog post, on May 9th 2013, I was about to courageously step out into the arena.
Here is a snippet of what has happened here on my blog.……..
Made a video completely with my selfies
Challenged myself to walk 50km
Eaten a frog to share my most unusual time management tip
Realised I may have celebrity potential
Challenged you all to dive into your hard drives and pull out a story
Captured Bliss for 31 days straight
Discovered the rewards of 3528 days or preparation
Embraced the marching forward of time
Completed 184 consecutive photos a day for my year-long, 365 day challenge.
Now I am not doing anything that thousands of others are not already doing. I am writing, photographing and exposing my vulnerabilities online while opening myself up to critique. Challenging myself physically, mentally and emotionally and sharing my struggles publicly.
Nothing new to the world and yet crazy scary and all very new for me.
I have been out of my comfort zone this year more than I have been in it.
I have experienced enormous growth and pushed through incredible self-doubt.
There have been mistakes made and many lessons learned.
I have jumped for joy and days later cried in despair.
As my notebook lies beside me, expectantly awaiting this years thoughts and scrawls, I want to offer a huge and heartfelt thank you to each and every person who has ever joined me here in my humble home on the web.
2013 has been more than I ever imagined and you have made that possible.
In 2014 dream big, grab onto your courage and leap out of that comfort zone. There is some wild magic out there, trust me.
Happy New Year everyone.
It’s been quite a year! I’m so glad that we met, both having been inspired to take that leap of courage in Liv’s class. I’m looking forward to seeing where your journey takes you in the upcoming year! Before you know it we will be here again, reviewing the highlights of 2014!
Mo I too love how we met, why we met and that we met. Love hanging out online with you and the other girls. Here we come 2014.
Wow, Karen, you are so prolific and write so beautifully! I had no idea that you had only been blogging since May! If courage was your theme for 2013 and you accomplished this much, I can’t wait to hear what your theme is for next year. My theme for this year was “shine” and it lead me to start blogging this summer. Here’s to unfolding our wings! Happy New Year!
Stacey thank you, it seems we were unfolding wings together as we blogged our way though 2013.
Happy New Year.
I am so glad that you took the opportunity to spread your wings in 2013; I am excited to see what 2014 posts bring!
Kim, now I have my wings open the possibilities seem endless.
Eating the frog. I’m so intrigued by this post. You’re a beautiful thinker and writer. What a theme for 2013! So curious to what 2014 will bring you.
Tamara eat the Frog was one of my more quirky posts and one of my favourites.
2014 is shaping up to be quite exciting, all to be revealed here online for sure.
By the way thanks for the comments tip, all sorted now I hope.
Karen, Thank you so much for sharing your journey in 2013, from your courageous first step, through your triumphs, despairing lows and exciting discoveries you have made about yourself… Your way with words and your photography has been wonderful and I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of your journey. You have, as always have, inspired me to challenge myself, to put myself out there and enjoy the discomfort that being out of your comfort zone can bring. Have an awesome 2014, I am looking forward to what the year may bring for us all….
Xx
Ainsley you, my wonderful gorgeous friend have been one of the people who early on helped me discover the voice I now share. You embrace the world whole heartedly and your incredible achievements speak of this. Happy New Year to you and I hope 2014 brings us more opportunity to connect in person, I would love that.
Thanks for linking up with me! Sometimes sharing can be uncomfortable, but we all have a story to tell. Keep up the great blog and good luck in 2014! I look forward to following your journey!
Ashley sharing has been exciting and scary and as i am discovering blogging seems to get even more fun all the time. So happy to join your linky and to also with you an amazingly wonderful 2014.
Happy 2014 Karen – you are amazing!!!
Tressie Happy New Year wonderful lady and a big juicy delicious hug too.
great post!! You’re doing an awesome job 🙂
Thanks Angis so thrilled you stopped by and Happy New Year
It sounds like a fantastic year! Here’s to even better things in 2014 🙂
Thanks Rachel, blog life seems to get better and better with age. Bring on 2014.
What a wonderful post! Stepping out of your comfort zone can be hard, but it’s amazing when you see what you can accomplish, isn’t it?!! Happy 2014 Karen!
Thanks Michelle, I am looking forward to 2014 and using more of that delicious courage.
A Happy Happy New Year to you too and a virtual hug to go with it.
Onward and Upward for 2014! It will be a great year for you and everyone 🙂 Stopping by from SITS Sharefest.
Rebecca sounds perfect, onward and upward.
So thrilled you stopped by.
What an inspiring post! I really love the title and the whole concept of taking something that was once closed and beginning to open it up. I feel like that’s what 2013 embodied for me too. Best wishes in 2014!
Melissa so scary to open up our wings and yet so exciting. Sounds like you had an amazing 2013 too. Happy New year and heres to opening those wings more in 2014, I plan to.
Hello, Karen! Just dropping by from SITS for the first time this morning. I have to admit that your post made me smile. Such courage it took to do all those things. Yay for you! I am a new follower – following through my WP reader. Looking forward to following along and connecting more with you in 2014. May it be a wonderful year for you! <3
Hi Dawna you have me smiling too, thanks for your kind words and I am utterly delighted to have a new follower. see you online very soon and Happy New Year
Really beautiful,Karen. It does take a lot of courage to live outside of ourselves. I am really looking forward to reading more of your insights and experiences in 2014! And I will definitely go back and look at some of those archive posts! All the best to you for 2104. 🙂
Hi Katie so thrilled you stopped by and I wish you a an amazing 2014 too.
Very inspiring post. Glad I decided to check out the SITS sharefest posts today. I shared it on Twitter. More people (including me) need to do what you are doing.
Thanks Erica have an amazing 2014 and when in doubt imagine those wings spreading wide and soar.
I am adding your blog to my favourites. This post is so beautifully written, my heart is filled with warmth right now. You have done so much with this blog in such a short time…I am impressed and inspired. This year, I created a ‘Gratitude Journal’ for the first time and I am looking forward to recording the moments and memories that I never want to forget.
Stopping by from the SITS Sharefest.
Have a great weekend,
Tami
Oh Tami words cannot express my delight with your kind words. I am very proud of my little home on the internet and to know it is appreciated means a lot.
I love the idea of a gratitude journal, I have been a big journal writer for years and yet I often forget to be quite simply…grateful. Enjoy recording those moments.
You links look so intriguing. Going to have to put on a cup of tea and lose myself in your back posts. Definitely curious about Celebrity Potential 🙂
Susan, Oh yes a nice cuppa and a long read, I am with you.
Love the look of your blog, and I too am intrigued by you posts. I will have to find some time to have a look see.
Ohh Kelli thank you for the gorgeous compliment. Hope you make it back for a peak soon.
I really love the idea of hang a journal like that to look back on once the year is over, or even during the year to keep your ideas/plans/resolutions. This year I am doing the One Little Word project which will leave me something similar. While I am not scrapbooking my prompts like many, mine is more like a digital journal. I look forward to having something like this, this year to use to keep me accountable and as a reminder.
HI there, I am coming over from LBN on facebook, we have an incredible group of ladies on there that are more like family then strangers.
I love your blog, so inviting and im glad to “meet” you my friend
Terri thanks for the visit, I feel very lucky to have stumbled across Tami as we have enjoyed some fun blog banter of late and to now meet this group sounds even more wonderful.
I have so happy to have found you and follow along with your inspiring words in you beautiful space.
Hi Monica and thank you.