Hi, Friends! Happy 2013!
I hope this first day of the New Year finds you joyful and well… and not too hungover from last night. I welcomed the new year from the comfort of my couch, and with a handsome date by my side and a few glasses of fantastic champagne, it was really everything I could have asked for.
This past year has been nothing short of amazing! I was blessed to have 12 months full of traveling, new friends, and incredible personal growth. While I don’t make resolutions for the year to come, I do write down what I learned from the past 365 days of living.
12 Things I Learned in 2012 (and hope to remember daily in 2013):
1) Open up your heart. Even if it’s been broken a million and one times, even if you’re scared to death it’ll just be broken again, do it. Keep it open. Keep it full of love. Keep it ready to accept the gift of friendship and joy so that when it comes along you don’t miss it.
2) Life is short, so live the heck out of it. This has been a constant thought on my mind since the terrible tragedy in Connecticut. I think about it everyday when I wake up, and I pray for those families every night before I close my eyes. But like most things, there’s a lesson that can be taken from it, and for me, that was accepting terrible things do happen in our world, and tomorrow’s never promised, so live in the moment.
3) Get rid of toxic people in your life, no matter how close to them you might be. This is pretty straight forward, but it took me years to learn. When I was going through a rough breakup a few years ago, a good friend told me “the company we keep is a mirror of ourselves” and I’m finally starting to like the way that image is appearing.
4) It’s OK to say no. Really, it is.
5) Taking time for yourself is essential. And if you’re anything like me, it’ll make you a nicer person. Go to that yoga class, buy the boots you’ve been drooling over for the past month, or just spend the morning in bed with your phone off! It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as it’s something that soothes your soul.
6) Smile at people. Smiling at people sounds like it should just be a natural… but I’m totally awkward when it comes to eye contact. I learned the hard way that people will be far more inclined to start a conversation with you if you just smile.
7) Family is really important. Even if you want to run away and hide from them the entire time you’re with them, they’re a part of you. A big part.
8) Nothing will change if you keep living life the same way. This is another one I have to constantly remind myself of.
9) Hobbies are a great way to discover new things about yourself! I’m planning on learning French and painting more this year… do you guys have any hobbies?
10) Know what you want before you ask for it. Knowing what you want in life is so important, but it’s not always an easy question to answer. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I really want to be doing with my time, and writing it down always helps me focus on turning the thinking into doing.
11) If you want it, do it. I’m really good at making excuses, but this past year has taught me that if I want things to happen, I have to do the work to make it a reality.
12) Be grateful and humble. I always find myself attracted to people who are down to earth and in touch with the reality that they are no more special than the other billions of people on this planet. Hard work and success doesn’t grant you the right to a haughty demeanor. Humbleness may be the most attractive quality in a person, and certainly one I strive to consistently obtain.
Whew… that was a lot of words! This was definitely my longest post to date, but this blog is as much my space as it is yours, and I’m grateful to have a place to share sugar, love, and life with you.
Here’s to an incredible 2013 full of peace, baking, and success! I really, really love you guys.
(All photos from this post are from my Iphone)
I can’t get over how powerful your list of 12 things learned in 2012 is. 3 & 4 have been major for me this past year and man, it is so true to keep those toxic folks out of your life because you don’t want to turn into them too! It’s hard to say no a lot of the time because I feel guilty but then I get so overwhelmed. I definitely learned A LOT on how to say no this year and it was a great feeling. Happy 2013, Ashley! I can’t wait to meet you
This is a great list! I especially love #3! Happy New Year
I love #6. Smiling is much more powerful than one might think! What a great lesson to learn–and the more we smile, the more than will benefit from it!
Ashley, great list! I love that instead of making empty promises for the future, you choose to mold you future from what you learned in the past. You are a very clever girl! Thanks for sharing.
WOW – what a great list!! I honestly agree with every single word – thank you for putting it so perfectly (and with gorgeous NYC photos to boot!)
This post is full of so much wisdom. Happy new year!
Love your top 12 list! You can live by 1, 3 and 12 alone but, your entire list is wonderful! Happy New Year girl!! xoxo
Happy New Year! Let’s live it to the max, shall we?
xox
I loooove this post, Ashley. Truer words were never spoken! I resonate with everything, but especially 3, 5 + 9. Shedding the toxic people from my life was such a smart decision–even if it was a little heartbreaking that two of those people were my best friends. 5 because of everything that’s happened this year and in years past, I got so caught up in the stress and forgot to take time for myself to just think and live and breathe. And 9 because I am DYING to get back into other hobbies other than baking! Dancing, speaking French as well, writing. Let’s declare 2013 our year, missy!!
I love this post, Ashley! It’s VERY ok to say no. I’ve been slowly teaching myself that every single day. We both should not spread ourselves thin over multiple projects and favors and end up going mad and stressing out. It’s much more important to take time for ourselves. Shedding toxic people from our lives – yes. I’ve silently had to do this because those people will only bring you down in life. If you want to do it – do it. Exactly. Put your dreams into actions. I’m doing that this year for sure.
Such a motivational post Ashley!
Great post, Ashley! Happy New Year!
I’m still learning #4. As soon as someone asks, I always say yes. I need to learn to say no.
All of these 12 things you’ve learned are definitely great lessons that I seem to have to relearn time and again. I love #6 – I find that simply giving people eye contact and a little smile makes their day brighter. It’s a great way to pay it forward. SO cool that you’re going to learn French! Learning a different language is so great for your brain and is lots of fun! Great post!
I really resonate with your list – especialy #5 since I had my son. It is so hard to take time for “me” now but I need to do more of it. Anyway, Happy New Year – great list and outlook – thanks for sharing it!
Ugghh, didn’t catch the typo on especially – fast fingers!
Happy New Year Ashley!
I cant get over how full of wisdom your list is. So true and powerful.
My husband and I have been traveling in Asia for over a year now. While it is hard at times to be away from family+friends at least we have technology to catch up with them. And somehow all these toxic people have disappeared. Turns out they were never really close enough to keep in touch with over the distance.
And so much emotional stress has disappeared as well, being replaced with love and happiness
Happy new year! This is such a great post, I love your reflections on the year. So thought provoking!
oh isnt 8 the hardest to remember!! Im always telling myself ‘if you dont change the input you wont change the outcome…’. Loverly list – so pleased youve had a wonderful year gorgeous! xo
Those are some great lessons, and can be translated to great “resolutions”
Here’s to another great year!
LOVE all your lessons learned this year! Sometimes it takes AGES to realize many of these…you’re quite insightful! Happy New Year!!!
Happy New Year, Ashley! Love your list. You’ve learned some important things this past year!
I don’t make New Years resolutions either, but I do select a theme word for the year (my current blog post tells about this). My word this year is finish — guess I better get busy!
Happy new year, Ashley! This is such a great list, and number one couldn’t be more relevant at the moment. Cheers to 2013!
I enjoyed reading your list, and I really wish that I can put my thoughts in words like how you did it (I don’t think it’s just the language issue… you know how to write so well!). Happy New Year to you, and I’m happy to be connected with you here.