Over the weekend I was driving to Banff with my daughter for New Years celebration. We started to talk about what we may do differently in 2012. I talked about making more time to relax, have more fun and to try and stop caring so much about what others may think of me. She talked about her New Years revolutions! I didn't correct her and asked what they would be. She of course said that she would work hard at school and help around the house more. I asked if she could do what she wanted and not what I perhaps would expect, what would that be?

She said, "laugh more". This made me smile and then I told her what a revolution really is. She then laughed as she preferred revolutions to resolutions, I think I do too.

This made me think about the pressure a new year can cause and conversely the relief. 2011 was not the best year for me and frankly I was glad to have it over with. It didnt mean that I stopped feeling the emotions I had in 2011, but more it gave me the oppurtunity to start to move forward. I know each time I have lost something important to me I have to deal with those feelings. This new year allowed me to look at this and for once not avoid them.

The biggest difference was the idea of being in the moment. The problem is, that I have never really understood what that means. I'm a predictor, I like to know what going to happen next and I plan. So living right now and not thinking too much about whats going happen tomorrow has always been tough. Being in Banff allowed me to try this out. While floating in a hot  swimming pool outside the hotel, where the temperature outside the water was -16C I tried to be in the moment. Really what else could I do. I looked at the snow covered rocky mountains, the blue sky and my daughter. It was perfect.

I experienced the relief that living right now can offer and that will be my New Years Revolution!!

Warmest Wished Judith P