2010 Lessons

A few brief lessons as 2010 comes to an end: 

Remember the simple joys of being a child. 

Like making sugar cookies. Ray and I felt like we were five years old when we were decorating these. And by the look of them, five-year-olds might as well have made them. 

But that's part of the lesson, too. Not having to be perfect, trying to simplify. These are from Trader Joe's DIY Sugar Cookie Kit. Yes, a kit! They were so easy and surprisingly delicious.

Less stress = more joy.

And they were a pleasure to give away. As one colleague said, "These cookies have magical powers. They made me forget my horrible commute."

Cheers to the power of food -- creating, consuming, sharing.

 Simple gestures are often the most beautiful. 

This gorgeous gift is full of sand from the beaches of a faraway place I'll probably never visit. But my dear friend brought these tiny granules back for me, placed them in a little orb, and created a beautiful memory. 

Possibilities are everywhere.

Even though we said no gifts this year, my stepdaughter gave us these sweet little things. These lovely notebooks remind me of the joyous possibilities of a blank page.
They nearly giggle with optimism.

Who knows what the next year will bring? This last year, I took a few risks, and they paid off in unexpected ways. And for whatever reason, I do feel optimistic about the year ahead and am ready for some big, positive changes.
May the year unfold and bring peace, joy, and inspiration to everyone. 

Happy (almost) New Year!