Friday, December 27, 2013

This is the End

I have been working through Susannah Conway's Unraveling The Year Ahead 2014. It is a free downloadable PDF workbook. It is a super helpful way for me to organize my thoughts regarding reflecting back on 2013 and for setting goals for 2014.

At the end of the reflection time for 2013, Susannah asks us to write out anything we need to say to the old year or things we want to say goodbye to.


I had three things:

1. Goodbye to the Edge - I have been standing on the edge for a good part of 2013, watching and waiting and wondering when it was going to be the time to step off the edge. The time is now, 2014.

2. Goodbye to Fear - I took Brene Brown's e-course The Gifts of Imperfection this fall. A quote that was a big catalyst in her life has also really inspired me for 2014. The quote is by Theodore Roosevelt from his Man in the Arena speech.

"It is not the critic who counts;
 not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. 
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
 whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes up short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; 
but who does actually strive to do the deeds; 
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
 who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
 and who at the worst,  if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
 so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
 who neither know victory nor defeat."

Finally the 3rd one, which is the hardest one for me to say goodbye to, but it is time. I have been toying with idea for the latter half of the 2013.

3. Goodbye to Becoming a Finisher - This blog has served me well for two years and it was a great starting point for blogging. Some of my best and favorite stories are here, but it is time to put my focus on Paisely Rain Boots. No need to worry though the writing will not end, if anything I will be devoting more time to writing in 2014.

The words from Adele's song Skyfall from the James Bond Movie of the same name kept playing in my head as I wrote these three things out.

This is the end
Hold your breath and count to ten
Feel the earth move and then
Hear my heart burst again

For this is the end
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
So overdue I owe them
Swept away, I'm stolen

Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together


Time to stand tall in 2014 and go forth courageously.

17 comments:

  1. Love this idea, Sarah! I'm headed to Susannah's site in a bit, begin my own reflections, and say goodbye to 2013! It is time to take some bold steps into the unknown. Maybe I'll channel my inner Neil Armstrong, "One small step for Olivia, one giant leap for me!" --okay, so my paraphrase doesn't quite have the poetry of Armstrong's original, but you get the idea. And I'll read some more Brene Brown, too.

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  2. Great post, Sarah. I'm sure there are great things in store for you in 2014! Enjoy the journey!

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  3. Moving forward with you. I won't miss 2013 but I do welcome 2014 with a lot of hope.
    Lovely post Sarah.

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  4. Congrats! I know you can do it all. I wish I was as brave.

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  5. Best to you in 2014 with your life and your endeavors. I think I'm ready to say goodbye to 2013, too, and that's not really a feeling I've had ever before. It feels a bit strange. But 2014 is coming ... ready or not! Let's make the most of it.

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  6. "Becoming a Finisher" has been a real adventure! I've enjoyed joining your here! I am definitely ready to bid farewell to 2013 and ready to start a new year! Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  7. Wonderful post, Sarah. I've enjoyed getting to know you through the blogging/photography community this year and I'll be looking forward to seeing where the new year takes you. I'm pondering on my own intentions for 2014. I'm going to go check out the Susannah Conway link. Happy New Year to you!

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  8. So excited to see where 2014 takes you! Perfect last picture!

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  9. Sarah, please let me know where to find you so I can subscribe to you. Great for letting go of something. Always at this time of year, soon after the blog birthday, I wonder what to do. I do not know if I will know if the time is right. Thankfully you do. God Speed and again let me know where you will be either on my blog, or on facebook. Happy New Years. Loved the photos of your kids. S

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  10. Reminds me of Rascal Flatts song, "Movin' On," which was a HUGE inspiration to me over ten years ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed this blog...but love your Paisley Rain Boots as well! Enjoy taking these journeys with you.

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  11. You have been on on amazing journey and I for one have been honored to follow. Thank you from my heart.

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  12. What a lovely post, Sarah. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us as you say goodbye to 2013 and welcome the new year. I am still in the midst of celebrating Christmas (tomorrow) with my family since they were so scattered on Christmas Day. I have not had a chance to sit and ponder, but I will. And thanks for sharing the link to Susannah Conway.

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  13. Looking forward to seeing what 2014 holds for all of us! I hope I can get my stuff together and have a creative year. Proud of you for your 2 years here!!

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  14. I'm so glad that we have crossed paths...and I look forward to what 2014 will bring you. Letting go can be hard, but we have to do that in order to grasp the other side! xo

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  15. Good for you, I have to work on Susanna's PDF. That is on my list for this week... I hope. So glad to see how you are moving forward.

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  16. Wonderful post, beautifully written. Saying good bye, in this case at least, seems like a good thing. I look forward to following you via your other blog.

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