Good Intentions: 2015

2015 feels BIG — like there is nothing but possibilities and challenges and joys for the taking — and we are going to grab it all with both hands and hang on for the ride. The feeling that this year will be a great one is pretty overwhelming.

Last year, with extensive help from my therapist, I learned how to set goals without necessarily marrying myself to them, and this year, I’m taking action to do just that. Instead of making resolute…resolutions…I’ve decided instead to set some tentative, totally-able-to-change-or-not-happen-at-all-without-me-freaking-out intentions for 2015, and struck up a conversation about it with Alex, who also has some intentions of his own.

Here’s what we came up with for the new year:

Alex has only two intentions that he is truly passionate about pursuing this year, and perhaps the biggest one is refining his trading edge and skill. Aside from programming, it’s the one hobby he has that he gets the most satisfaction from, and after progressing by leaps and bounds in 2014, he is super excited about the potential for even bigger success this year. On a more professional level, he is hopeful for a promotion at work this year — something that has been talked about by his manager for about a year now – and he intends to finish up a couple big projects with his name on them to solidify it.

As for me, what I intend to do most in 2015 is choose happiness, even if it means saying no, even if it means drawing boundaries, even if it means doing something I am completely afraid of doing, even if it means pushing myself, even if it feels like the pursuit is going to kill me. Part of choosing happiness is choosing to surround myself with more people who value me, who listen to me, and who fill my life with positivity, while saying a long overdue goodbye to those who just simply cannot be a part of my journey anymore. In 2015, I intend to be an advocate for myself and my needs, and pursue the things that will lead to my mental, physical, emotional and professional betterment. In 2015, I intend to overcome my depression, be kinder to myself, release myself from perfectionism and anxiety, and become the person I know I have the capacity to become.

Our collective intentions, however, are a little more exciting and a little less heavy. We’d like to spend some more time in the North Cascades, take a backpacking trip or two (we would go berserk if we got another Enchantments permit, but we’re not holding our breath…), take a trip down to Mount Rainier for the first time since we’ve lived here (I know, I know…), go camping with Em for the first time, do anything at all (camping? drinking in the woods? both?) with Amelia and Brent, and take a European vacation, where spending a day on a glacier is our #2 priority.

Oh, and we’d be super pleased to live up to our Meyers-Briggs personality type resolutions (I am an INFJ, according to official assessments; Alex is an INTJ, according to the internet).

We hope that you are well, and that whether or not you feel particularly positive about the new year, that it exceeds all of your expectations.

Here’s to hoping that every day, every month, and every year is better, easier, and hopefully happier than the next.