It is that time of year again: words and images audition for a chance to be on my 2013 vision board.
There are two things that I do in celebration of my birthday each year:
2. I put together a vision board (or two).
And while it might sound silly, those two things? Totally change the trajectory of my year.
A lot of times, we spend our time in our left brain- making comprehensive plans to achieve our goals. The birthday list is like that a little bit– it basically gives every year a bucket list. And because of it, I have learned how to surf, see whales in their natural environment, raised more than $10,000 for cancer research, gotten re-certified in CPR (yes, practical things make the list, too, not just lofty or fun things). That birthday list adds pizzazz and intention to my year. I’ve been doing it now for almost 15 years and I can’t imagine a year without it.
But the vision board is all about my right brain. It’s about using a creative tool to give voice to my visions. As I cut out words and images that resonate with me, as I think very deliberately about what I want in the next year both professionally and personally, as I start giving that vision a face on the front of my foam board, something takes root inside me. I make a visual statement of what kind of life speaks to me and then I get to go about the business of making it happen.
Yesterday, I had the honor of being with a local book club as they celebrate the life of one of their members who had passed away earlier this year. As one way to honor their friend, they asked me to do a program about helping them be intentional and hopeful in their new year. I called the workshop the Hopeful Year Toolkit and, as you might imagine, it was a really special time and a pleasure to be with such thoughtful women.
During our time together, I told them about several of the tools I use in my everyday life to keep me on track and living with intention and hope. One of those tools was my birthday list. As we were wrapping up our time together, I couldn’t help but think how much I would have loved doing vision boards with them. Because here is the thing, having a vision for your life is the very embodiment of living hopefully.
As I drove home from the workshop, my mind, as it is apt to do right now with my birthday just days away, wandered over to my birthday list and what would go on it this year. I also started thinking about my vision board. I will wake on the day after my birthday (usually I do this on my birthday but my birthday is on a weekend this year so I won’t get a couple hours alone until BF is back to work and Happy is back to school on the following Monday) and write out my list, then craft my board. Sometimes, the two share themes. Sometimes they don’t. But always, always, they provide me with vision. When I am done with that vision board, I will place it just above my desk so that when I stare into space, the space I am really staring into is my dreams.
On the way home last night, I decided that I wanted to do something special to honor the group of women who had honored the memory of their friend in such a lovely way. So, for the next 10 days (how many days were left ’til my birthday when I came up with this idea last night on the way home), I will be offering
visionSPARK: because intention matters
at a discounted rate– $10 off, making it $30 instead of $40. At 5 pm EST on November 19th, the cost of visionSPARK will go back to $40.
Want to join me and other women in a supportive, creative, inspiring environment where you will not only think about the vision you want for your life but also craft a vision board, choose a word to guide you, and articulate a plan to help you achieve your goals?
Then check out one of the visionSPARK offerings below.
Can’t wait to spark our year together!
Join me for visionSPARK: because intention matters.
December 7 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm, December 8 from 9 am – 12 pm,
or January 5 from 9 am – 12 pm
at Triple Play Farm in Davidson
SPARK your year. With a new year upon us, you have likely thought about some goals you have for yourself. But have you thought about how to capture those goals in a way that actually inspires you? Have you thought about how to give your dreams and visions clarity and feeling?
At visionSPARK, you’ll capture your ideal life’s vision not just in conversation and words but in a tangible, inspirational vision board. You’ll imagine the possibilities in a pre-workshop workbook, gather inspiration, and then chart your vision with thoughtful support during the workshop. You’ll leave with an inspirational board to display, a touchstone word to root you and reinforce your commitment during the year, a gentle call to action to guide you and the motivation to manifest the life you imagine.
Check out the link for the day you are interested in attending for more information.
