2012 Intentions

It's that time of year again and I've got some fantastic Intentions set. This week I plan on getting my new Vision Board together and putting together a schedule to keep me on track. I'm really excited about some of the things I have lined up and in continuing some of my Intentions from last year. This year will be about healing and growing. 

1. Make a Plan and Stick With It. I have a plan, and I keep making plans, but then somehow I never get them fully implemented. My goal is to focus on Green Smoothies, Enemas and my Supplements, and continue to add in other aspects of my plan as I create my schedule. This will be a year of healing. I also have some cleanses planned as well. 
2. Get Physical. This is something that I struggled with last year, mostly due to my heart. And while that is still an issue, I believe that I am at a point where gentle exercise can be added. I got a new yoga mat and DVD for Christmas, and so that's where I will start. 
3. Read, read, read. You may have noticed that I joined several reading challenges this year. I used to have a book attached to my hip; I read daily, at dinner, in the evening, doctor's office's, wherever I could. Last year my brain developed a bit of a fog, and I had a hard time focusing on reading. This has improved, and I've already read one book for 2012! My goal is at least 52, a book a week, and the reading challenges will keep me motivated and give me variety. 
4. Write Daily. I will schedule daily writing sessions, whether it's working on my book, my blog, etc. I will write for at least 2 hours daily. 
5. Publish My First Book. I have 100,000 words ready to be edited and turned into a fabulous book on the early years through 2011 of my healing journey. I have purchased a great program to help me in this endevour and fully intend to have a book deal by year's end. 
6. Grow my Blog. By year's end I intend to have over 250 followers, at least 100 on Facebook, steady traffic, etc. You can help me with this by becoming a follower, retweeting posts, liking posts on Facebook and joining my Facebook community. 
7. Meditation and Visualization. These two tools are so important in healing the mind and the body. I have done visualization exercises that have shrunk tumors and healed wounds on my body. There is no excuse not to continue to do this. Meditation is a great tool for creating balance and peace. 
8. Spiritual Growth. I wish to continue on my Spirit Junkie path; I will be re-reading Gabby Bernstein's book, posting about it, and completing the exercises. I also plan on diving into a Course of Miracles, and have already discovered a weekly study group and online social network. I will incorporate prayer into my life and learn to "let go and let God". We are Spiritual beings living in a physical body, and it's time I gave some love to my ~ing. 
9. Travel. My health prevents me from doing anything too wild, but I do still want to travel. One of my 31 Things is to have a Missouri weekend, and I intend to make that happen. I also will do some weekend trips to Columbia to visit friends and am looking into possibly going out to North Carolina and spending time with my grandparents. As I heal, I will expand my possibilities. 
10. Friendships. I really want to focus on developing the friendships I have, and growing new ones. It seems like each year I have people come and go, and so working on those relationships and continuing to put myself out there and create new ones is so important. My friends are what got me through my health battle this past summer, and I want to make sure I keep them!
11. Give up TV. My Time Warner account renews in May, and I'm seriously thinking of giving up  TV.  I only have 5 shows that I watch, 2 of which are ending this season. Anything worth watching I can either Netflix at some point or watch online. I find that TV is just a distraction and I really don't care anymore. There is so much more out there, and why spend $60 on cable per month when I can increase my Netflix and spend $10 or less. 
12. Learn to Knit. This has been on my 31 Things for awhile, and I actually took a class and never got a project started. So something at the first of the year I'm going to either retake the class or simply go to this wonderful local knitting store and get some help. I found an extremely simple scarf pattern for an easy first project, and intend to grow as a knitter. There is also a weekly Meetup group for young knitters, and I think it would simply be a great hobby. 

So there you go. What will your 2012 Intentions be? 

30 New Things Before I Turn 30 on March 29th!

I've been following this lovely blog called Yes and Yes, and blog owner Sarah Vonbargen has this wonderful concept; to experience a certain number of new things before your next birthday. She's turning 32 this year, so she has 32 items on her list, one of her followers is turning 20, so she's posted 20 new items, and so I'm doing 30 in honor of my 30th birthday. I realize at this point I don't actually have a year, more like 5 months, but I feel I can do this and it sounds fun! Here's my list:

1. Learn to Knit; complete at least one project
2. Write my first e-book
3. Watch "Gone With the Wind"
4. Achieve Giant Squid status on Squidoo
5. Attend a service at Rime Buddhist center
6. Learn to make tiramisu
7. Take 5th Dimensional healing class
8. Attend an Opera
9. Create my Vision Book
10. Complete a jigsaw puzzle on my own
11. Convert our family videos from VHS to DVD
12. Schedule myself a Spa Day
13. Go to a Shooting Range
14. Go to the roller derby
15. Attend a hockey game
16. Read "To Kill a Mockingbird"
17. Meditate daily
18. Go on a Missouri weekend and see all historical landmarks
19. Send snail mail love letters to at least 10 friends/family
20. Clear out basement
21. Try Kimichi
22. Get a psychic reading
23. Buy lunch for a homeless person
24. Reconnect with my cousins Alex and Sloane
25. Watch the "Godfather" trilogy
26. Read "Siddhartha"
27. Find a mustard greens recipe I love
28. Write at least 5 letters to people who inspire me, who I don't know personally
29. Read Gala Darlings e-book "Love and Sequins"
30. Throw a slumber party (as an adult)

What are you going to experience before your birthday? Any suggestions to help me reach my goals? I am going to post them on the side of my blog, and update my progress as we approach my birthday. Post your list here and let me know how it goes!

Love and Gratitude,

Shanna ♥

No TV for 30 Days Challenge

Recently Crazy Sexy Cancer chic Kris Carr release a challenge based on a blog by Skinny Bitch Diva Rory Freeman Giving Up TV . While this may seem daunting to most people, I'd like you to take a moment and do a couple of things for yourself.

1. Add up all the hours you watch TV each week.  How many TV shows do you watch?  Do you watch the commercials?  News?  Random flipping?  Have a number yet? Good.

2. Take that number and divide by seven.  This will give you an average daily viewing time.

3. Now ad up how many hours you sleep, work and eat. Subtract this number from 24 and you'll get the number of hours on average you have each day to exercise, attend your kid's activities, socialize, read, enjoy a hobby, have some "me" time, etc.  Then take that "free time" number and subtract your daily TV viewage. Think about it, is this number "big enough" to fit all of the things you want to accomplish?  Do you feel like you "never have enough time" to do what you have to do?

4. First, things first, cut out the News.  This will create a HUGE opening for joy if you eliminate this one program.  The world will continue spinning, regardless of how many murders, rapes, wars and crisis are reported.  Mentally and emotionally, the News is draining, and shouldn't be a daily focus.  Also, reality shows are simply gossip mills.  Eliminate those life suckers.  Check out my blog post Peace, Love and Happiness for a refresher on how going on a Media diet and eliminating gossip can create Peace.

5. I want you to envision all the shows you watch, and recall how you feel during each broadcast.  Any of your scripted programs leave you feeling a little sick, frightened, angry, dirty, shameful, guilty, depressed, disgusted by the world? CUT THEM OUT!!!

6. What is your TV viewing number now?  Could you reduce it further?  Are there shows you watch out of habit, simply because you've watched all the seasons, but truly don't enjoy anymore?  Cut them. 

Look at all the free time you have now!! If you choose to continuing watching TV, focus on shows that inspire, make you laugh, are uplifting, bring you joy.  If you are interested in tackling the challenge, or maybe want to try cutting out TV for a day or a week, just to start, follow it on twitter #notvfor30days. 

Now, what to do with all the extra time....

Knit, crochet, Yoga, read to kids in the cancer ward at the hospital, meditate, read a book, join Meetup, start a blog, adopt a pet, Soduku, jigsaw puzzles, plant a garden, visit a museum, go to the park, attend the ballet, exercise, go camping, dance in your living room, take Tango lessons, learn something new, draw a self portrait, meet your Spirit Guides, journal, listen to podcasts, send letters to friends, become a Soldier penpal, volunteer at an orphanage, clean out the basement, learn Reiki, attend a spiritual service, create your own Vision Board, go to the Symphony, play with a child, visit your parents, write a poem, learn an instrument

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!!