Mindful Beginnings: Embrace a Slow and Thoughtful Start to the Year
My New Year Rituals for a Vibrant and Fresh Start ✨
Happy New Year, sweet friend! 💛
When it comes to new beginnings, I feel more connected to the energies of the solstices and equinoxes since I try to live cyclically, by the rhythms of the Earth and the Moon, but since this year January 1st decided to fall on a Monday, I will humor it all.
I also happened to finish my journal on December 31st, which seemed auspicious enough…
The end of the calendar year has been losing more and more significance as the years go by, for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good fireworks or drone show, and I enjoy some of the Catalan traditions that surround New Year’s Eve, but in the last few years, I have found it challenging to use January 1st as this crucial demarcation from who I was and who I want to be.
To help me connect to the New Year shenanigans a bit more, I’ve gotten into the habit of keeping a glass jar where I add joyful moments written in colorful Post-its. At the end of the year, I open the jar and read through them.
It’s odd to think it has been another year of making mistakes, of learning to love myself and others, of moving in this world.
It often seems like the growth, although palpable, is slower than it should be…
But then I open the jar and look back at 2023 and can’t help but feel gratitude for the journey.
This past year has been filled with countless joyful moments, captured in my 'Joy Jar.' Here are some:
Meeting my nephews
Traveling to Ireland
Getting chickens
Working at the TV station
Kayaking with my partner
Getting back on the ice
Acting in a play
A weekend trip to Charleston
Traveling back to The Netherlands
Playing my ukulele on the rooftop
These are just a handful of the many moments I've collected in my jar, a testament to a well-lived 2023.
I encourage you, too, to start a 'Joy Jar.'
Each day, jot down at least one joyful moment—there’s no limit to the amount you can add—and place these notes in your jar.
This practice allows you to cherish and revisit the daily delights of life.
It’s a simple reminder that every day brings a new opportunity, not just January 1st.
A fresh start can be any day or moment; all you need is a deep breath and a clear intention.
So after taking a moment of gratitude for all that I experienced, I find myself entering 2024 softly and rather slowly, planting seeds of intention that I am willing to water, nurture, and watch how they grow.
Here are some of my favorite practices to embrace each day anew in a way that feels aligned and full of intention:
JOURNALING FOR A FRESH START
Journaling can be a great way to get your thoughts organized, and to also set clear intentions any time you need a reset, and to reconnect.
Sit down with pen and paper for 10 or 15 minutes, and let yourself fill the page without judgment.
Here are some prompts that you can use to inspire your creative journaling:
What does a fresh start mean to you personally? Describe how it feels, looks, and what it represents in your life.
Imagine your ideal morning that signifies a new beginning. What activities, thoughts, or rituals would be part of this perfect morning? Commit to one.
Write about something you want to leave behind from the past year. How will letting go of this help you embrace a fresh start?
What is one hobby you want to rediscover or give more time to? Consider one thing you can start to do immediately and commit.
Design a simple daily ritual that symbolizes a fresh start for you. It could be as simple as a deep breath, a moment of silence, or a positive affirmation.
Describe a situation or aspect of your life where you want a fresh start. What steps can you take to initiate this new beginning, and how can you remain committed to this change?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the journaling prompts. Which one resonated with you the most? Feel free to share your reflections.
NEW YEAR, NEW READS…
I heard on the radio today that reading books is on the rise, especially among young people. (yay!)
Replacing some of your daily screen time with reading a book can be a great way to kickstart your 2024 intentionally.
Here are some of my current picks:
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (fiction): I am about 75% through this book, and I am loving it! If you like tales of friendship, life, and video games, this is such a well-written story.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (non-fiction): If you’re truly ready for a fresh start and to discover the artist within you, this is a must-read. This manual can help you reconnect with your innate creativity.
More Myself by Alicia Keys (memoir): I am not much into celebrity memoirs, but Alicia is my girl, what can I say? Read about her creative process and her beginnings in her casual and down-to-earth tone.
Have you read any of these books or do you have a book that inspired you this year? Let's start a conversation about our favorite reads!
A FRESH START | YOGA & JOURNALING TO WELCOME THE YEAR
Get on the mat with me and start your year with a ritual.
Here is the replay of the class I taught live on InsightTimer this New Year’s Day.
Welcome 2024 with this gentle practice designed to help you pause and set intentions to support you at the start of this new year.
We will be doing a bit of journaling, breathwork, meditation, as well as accessible yoga postures.
What are your favorite practices to start anew? Do you have a go-to yoga pose or a calming ritual? Share your experiences!
And finally, let me share with you a little music that could be good for your yoga practice or to accompany you in your day and support your emotional wellness.
Enjoy these tunes! 🎶
**Do you have a song you love to practice yoga to or wash your dishes with? Send me a message and share it with the community! I love finding new (to me) music.
PRACTICE WITH ME LIVE
If you’d like to practice with me live, here are two upcoming opportunities:
January 14th | Soulfull Sunday at Sun Yoga Tampa (in-person or Zoom)
January 24th | Midweek Flow on Ekhart Yoga Live (on Zoom)
Stay tuned for upcoming in-person workshops both in Tampa and Barcelona!
Until we meet again, remember to pause often, breathe deeply, and stay kind.
Much love,
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