Adventures Of A Dreaming Ace

Saturday, December 24, 2022

Happy Christmas Eve

On a Christmas Eve where many of us have had to "Throw away the plan" my wish is that we all are able to be cozy and warm this cold winter night. If you have a chance grab a good book, enjoy a warm beverage, put on a yule log on your computer or TV, and curl up and have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas Eve.

Happy Jólabókaflóð

Happy Christmas Eve

May you read something wonderful tonight

A Book or A Story or A Poem

It does not matter what form it takes

Simply read

And Discover New Worlds

Or Go On An Adventure

Or Become Someone

You Never Thought You Could

May tonight be filled with

Stories, and Tales or an Epic Poem

Happy Jólabókaflóð

Happy Christmas Eve

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Longest Night ...

Winter Solstice

By Dreaming Ace

The Winter Solstice

The Longest Night

Blue Christmas Too

These are all the names

For this day, For this moment

In the spinning of the world

A reminder that there is darkness

A reminder that there is sorrow

A reminder that some feel isolated

But also …

A reminder there will be Sun

A reminder the world will spin

A reminder there is always hope

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Letting Go To Make Room In 2023

While many people have heard of "Spring Cleaning" I find that I tend to do "New Years Cleaning." I find it helpful to let go of items that I no longer need (and some of them become great holiday gifts for others.) Also as I am going through what I have and what I can let go of I tend to also be doing a semi-deep cleaning of my room.

And it is always nice when I get back from Holiday Travels to come back to a clean space and a space that can absorb what ever holiday gifts I have gotten. I do find if I can get my space clean I feel more centered and more ready to face a new year. If I am able to break down cleaning tasks into manageable sized projects, and I have an interesting podcast going, I can make progress and feel good.

And yes one part of letting go to make room for 2023 is letting go of items, but it also is letting go of internal stuff that is holding me back. Repairing the worn edges of daily tasks that no longer help me move forward. Rebuilding bits of goals that have fallen off over the course of the year. Allowing others to have dreams that no longer bring me joy.

So if you have a moment or two during this busy holiday season I would recommend doing some cleaning too. It is never going to be perfect (And don't worry about dust unless you really want to LOL.) But with a little prep we can set ourselves up to be able to enjoy the start of a new year which is pretty much all anyone can ask for at this time of year.

Prepping For A New Year

Some Steps To Prepare For A New Year

If you have intentions to make 2023 your year, don’t wait for New Year’s Day. Instead, make time this month to set yourself up for success. Here are some suggestions I have found online. Remember you don't have to do them all, but sometimes doing one thing to set your self up for the new year can really make a difference.

Review your year.

2022 is full of lessons and learnings. Make space for a deep-dive review of the year that’s about to close, and you can take the best bits with you.

Get clear on what’s most important.

There’s so much that could fill your time. But imagine who you’d become with more clarity, focus, and movement in the direction of your top priorities. When you define your core values, you create an inner compass that aligns you with what matters most.

Set a context for 2023.

When you define a word for the year ahead, you empower yourself to say YES to the things that matter and NO to those that don't align.

Review your habits.

Do your habits help or hinder you? Are there some new practices you want to integrate into your life to ensure you can thrive?

Be honest with the things you do on autopilot and decide if it’s time to make some tweaks.

Make a Live List.

Goals are brilliant for injecting focused activity into your life. But who do you want to BE and how do you want to FEEL?

In the words of Oscar Wilde, “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist.”

Create your support structure.

Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Who will surround you in 2023 and help you thrive? For example:

• Is it time to join a mastermind?
• Would you go further with an accountability buddy?
• Do you want to find more online groups where ‘your people’ hang out?
• Does your friendship group nourish and support you?

Set a three-month goal.

Goals give you a clear direction to focus your time, energy, and resources. Goals help you feel accomplished and productive by empowering you to achieve the things that matter most.

The trick is not to leave your goals to chance. Instead, architect them - it will maximize your chances of success. What could you achieve by the end of March 2023? Here’s to making the new year your best year yet.

Advent Week 4 Joy

The fourth week of advent is Joy.

There are so many ways we can celebrate Joy

There are so many forms of Joy we can celebrate too

The joy of simple pleasures

The joy of connection and community

The joy of self awareness

The joy of belonging

The joy of knowing we are loved inside and out

There are so many ways we can celebrate Joy

There are so many forms of Joy we can celebrate too

Some Joy Filled Songs

McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now

The Carpenters - Top Of The World

Andy Grammer - Joy

Walking On Sunshine

Simple Gifts

Monday, December 19, 2022

Advent Week 3 Love

The third week of advent was around Love

There are so many different types of love that we can celebrate at this time of year.

What are you doing to celebrate Love this season?

I think I will focus on Meraki and Philautia

Agápe: brotherly love, charity; the love of God for man and of man for God
Éros: romantic or passionate love
Ludus: playful love
Mania: obsessive love
Meraki: to do something with love, creativity, and devotion, when you wholeheartedly put yourself into what you are doing.
Philautia: self-love, to love oneself or regard for one's own happiness or advantage
Philia: affectionate regard, friendship, usually between equals
Pragma: enduring love
Storge: love, affection and especially of parents and children (Or I would add found family)
Xenia: hospitality, "guest-friendship" or "ritualized friendship"