January Reflections

2017 has well and truly begun! I hope you had a fantastic start to the year and you’re still on a New Year high. Here’s a few bits and pieces from January… 

Quotation

A good quote to carry around with you always…

“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humour to lighten the burden of your tender heart.” - Maya Angelou

Reading

Most of my month has been spent ploughing through Daniel Deronda by George Eliot. It tells the story of two people – the selfless, soul searching Deronda and the childish, spoilt Gwendolyn Harleth – as they both undergo huge changes in their personal circumstances. Tackling Jewish identity, women’s rights and class, Eliot extends an invitation to the reader to ponder the intricacies of life and the importance of knowing oneself fully. I can’t wait to get stuck into the TV adaptation!

Writing

This month I’ve been rewriting, rethinking and reshaping my first novel whilst working on a second. It’s a liberating feeling to know that nothing is set in stone and that you can make little and big tweaks if you feel called to. Having said that, it’s also strange to rearrange and change something you know so well. It’s a bit like unpicking the threads in a garment you’ve been wearing for years. This is all part of the creative process so I’m going to embrace the change!

Focus on…Remembering our New Year Intentions

The end of January is a good time to remind yourself of your new year goals and intentions. Have you made any little steps towards your aspirations? For February, make a list of some concrete but fun ways you can move closer to your goal. If you’re putting off a goal, maybe question whether it’s the right one for you. Marie Forleo advises, that if you’re having trouble deciding if you’re going in the right direction, to ask yourself ‘does this make me feel expanded or contracted?’ Let your feelings guide you to pursue the dreams you really want!

Three things to look forward to in February:

1. Making a homemade pizza for Pizza day on 9^th February. I always use this Chiappa sisters' recipe – the sauce is perfect.

2 Buying fresh flowers for Valentine’s day.

3. Make easy Valentine crafts with my little tiddlers, like this gorgeous heart wreath.

Enjoy a cup of tea with these posts from January:

In Pursuit of Self-Belief

Five Gratitude Practices

Journal Prompt: Impossible Dreams

Walking in Winter

A Literary Alphabet: H is for Hardbacks

Your Creative Goals 2017

How was your January? Leave a comment below!