PREPARING FOR THE NEW YEAR

2013

It's hard to believe, but it's true. It's the time of year again, when we need to start to prepare for the New Year.

I've always loved this poem:

I AM THE NEW YEAR
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Life, I am the new year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.

I am your opportunity to practice
what you have learned about life
during the last twelve months.

All that you sought
and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out
with more determination.

All the good that you tried for
and didn't achieve
is mine to grant
when you have fewer conflicting desires.

All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do,
all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have -
these slumber lightly,
waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.

I am your opportunity
to renew your allegiance to Him who said,
'behold, I make all things new.'

I am the new year.


The original source of this poem is: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/poetry.cgi?record=101

The New Year provides us with a blank canvas in which we choose how to fill and create. The choice is ours.

However, we should not even think of starting the New Year until we evaluate the past year and from there, we can then choose what we want from the new year.

Shall we start to prepare for the new year? It's that time, after all.

JOURNALING EXERCISE
* If you could live the perfect year next year, what would that look like? Describe in great detail. Take at least 1 day, preferably 2-3, in order to look at this fully.
* What would it take for you to do it?
* Make sure to write out an actual plan for the new year. Be thorough and specific. Write an 1-sentence, a 4-sentence, an 8-sentence, 3-paragraph, 1-page, and 2-page plan.
* Put your plan into action. Write out a goal for the entire year. This is your mission statement.
* Write a goal for each of the things you mentioned previously in order to live the ideal life.
* Write out a goal for each month.
* Write out a goal for each week.

* Put it all on your planner/calendar/schedule.

~ Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.) 

Remember Pearl Harbor

http://sarahsundin.blogspot.com/2012/12/remember-pearl-harbor.html

Please read this blog post in memory of the Day of Infamy, Pearl
Harbor, 07 December 1941.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

Christmas is...

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

It was never supposed to be about decorating, presents, stress, family dynamics, etc. Christmas should never make anyone cringe or start counting the cost. Rather, we have made it that way.

Christmas is supposed to be about Jesus. Not us. Not presents. Not dinner. Not traveling.

Journaling Exercise
How have you complicated Christmas in your life?

Am I saying not to do or have any of the things I have listed? No. But, I am saying that if you cringe at all or stress at all, I would reevaluate my perception of Christmas, get back to the true meaning, and adjust what I do for Christmas so I could remember what really matters:

Jesus Christ was born to save the world from sin and bring mankind eternal life.

Journaling Exercise
What are your thoughts?

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Living a Memorable Life: Day 3

JOURNALING EXERCISE

Please do not cheat and read ahead. Answer these two questions in your journal. Then, read this blog post entry. The two questions to answer are:

* 1 How would you define happiness? 

* 2 How would you define content or contentment?

IT'S MORE THAN HAPPY. IT'S CONTENT
A memorable life is more than a happy one. Happiness, after all, is fleeting. Happiness depends on circumstances, people, and emotions to feed it.

It drifts with the wind and the seasons of change. It is short-lived.

Few people are happy every day for all of their lives. Fewer have learned the secret of how to live a memorable life every day.

A memorable life seeks something deeper and far more lasting than happiness. A memorable life is one that is content at all times, in spite of people, places, things, or circumstances.

For the record, I think a lot of people define happiness really as contentment  but, there is a great difference between them. When you read what's next, I think you will see the great difference between happiness and contentment. I don't know about you, but I would rather be content any day of the week than happy. Read the next section and see why.

WHAT IS CONTENTMENT?
Let me grab a couple of dictionaries and see how they define CONTENT or CONTENTMENT:

When a person is content, they accept where they are, how they are, who they are, who they have, and what they have. In other words, they live the motto, "It is what it is." They do not pine for more than they have and are. They do not allow people, places, things, or situations to influence their state of contentment. Their contentment stands--no matter what. It's solid. It is not swayed.

But, is that to say they do not seek excellence? No. Not all all. Rather, contented people seek to make the most of the people, places, things, and circumstances they have today and do so every day. They live a memorable life where they are.

Yes. It's okay to dream if you are content. You know what you can control. If something has been on your heart  a dream, then you better go after it. but, don't ever take today for granted. Be satisfied with today as you seek to get to tomorrow. This is true contentment. This is living a memorable life.

Contentment is accepting the here and now and living it the best you can, with all you have, and all you are today. This is how you live a memorable life.

CONTENTMENT ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL AND WHAT YOU CANNOT

 Contentment knows you cannot control people or circumstances. They are what they are.

Contentment knows what it can control: Your reaction to people, places, events (or situations, circumstances, and experiences), and things.

Just acknowledging those two truths brings contentment. You no longer have to live a constant battle. You have freedom because you know two truths that are life-sustaining. They sure get rid of the stress in our lives. Too many times, we are trying to fight for something  or change something, and nothing happens. This is why. we forget what we can and cannot control.

Living a memorable life means knowing when to let go, when to take control, and when to appreciate your life as it is.

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* Write your thoughts on happiness, now that you know the truth about happiness. 

* Write your thoughts about contentment.

* How content are you?

* How can you focus on what you can control and forget what you cannot?

* Is there anything you are trying to control, but you really can't?

* Now, how do you want to live a memorable life, after reading this blog post? 

* Write your definition of living a memorable life at this point, after reading Days 1-3. 

* What are your thoughts about living a memorable life?

~ Stacy Duplease

Living a Memorable Life: Day 2

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE A MEMORABLE LIFE? 

Living a memorable life means to live a life of meaning, and to do so intentionally, every day. 

A memorable life is one that is remembered. 

It is living a life with the intent of making it memorable so that you can leave a legacy behind that inspires others. 

It's purposeful living.

Living a memorable life is to not take a moment for granted.

When you live a memorable life, you live the opposite of a wasted life or a life with wasted moments. 

I want this as my story every day from now and until I die. then, I want this for my epitaph:

She lived a memorable life as a memory maker, prayerful wife, and journalkeeper. 

Not a moment was wasted, taken for granted, or neglected.

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* Write your thoughts on everything you just read in your journal. 

FINE AND DANDY

All of that is fine and dandy. It sounds like it's full of platitudes and idealistic dreaming. And, it sure doesn't sound possible. Sure, it sounds nice. Who wouldn't want this said of them?

But, what if it was possible?

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* Write your thoughts on everything you just read in your journal. 

IT IS POSSIBLE TO LIVE A MEMORABLE LIFE EVERY DAY

It is possible to live a memorable life every day. Period. It's not just a dream or wishful thinking. It's do-able. It can be accomplished. 

So, why don't we start to explore how to live a memorable life?

JOURNALING EXERCISE

* Do you think it's possible to live a memorable life?

* Do you think it is possible to live a memorable life today?

* So, how can you live today as a memorable day? What does that look like? 

* Why should you live a memorable life?

* How do you want to remember your life when you reflect on it in the future?

* How do you want your live to be remembered when you die?

~ Stacy Duplease

Living a Memorable Life: Day 1

NEW BLOG POST SERIES AND JOURNALING BOOK:

Living a Memorable Life

Living a Memorable Life: Day 1

Written: 2012-12-04 17:27:27 (04 December 2012)

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to a new blog post series. It is about living a memorable life--every day. 

HAVE YOUR NOT JOURNALED BEFORE (OR VERY LITTLE)?

This blog post series is being written with the assumption that you have journaled before. If not, you might want to check out this link and then start to read and participate in this blog post series. The link to read 1st if you have not journaled before is: 

http://storykeeper2121.blogspot.com/p/journaling-how-to.html

AN INTRODUCTORY QUIZ

Why don't we grab our journals and our favorite beverage? Feel free to grab a bite to eat if you want to as well. Then, sit in your favorite spot. 

Now, why don't we get a baseline as to how we conduct our lives today? Then, we will be able to test and see in the future, as we continue with this blog post series, if we are living a more memorable life since we started this series. 

Please answer the following questions and be very thorough: 

* How would you define living a memorable life? What would that look like?

* Do you want to live a memorable life? Of course you do. Why do you? Explain. 

* Are you living a memorable life?

* What about today? Are you living a memorable life today?

* What about over the last week?

* How about over the last month?

* What about the last three months? 

* 6 months?

* And, how about the last year?

* 5 years?

* 10 years?

* 20?

* 25?

* 30? 

* 40?

* 50 years? 

* Etc.?

* If you were living the most ideal of a memorable life? What would that look like? What would it take you to get there--starting today? What would you need to do differently so that you are living the most ideal memorable life today?

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Remembering Your Present Journal Keeping Series

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

Journaling Quote

Live a memorable life. 

Journal.

-- Stacy Duplease

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

ITALIAN SAUSAGE, PASTA SAUCE, AND RICOTTA CHEESE LOW CARB RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs ground Italian sausage

1 can Progresso Starter Sun Dried Tomato or 3/4 of a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce or marinara

1.5 cups ricotta cheese

HOW TO MAKE

Cook Italian sausage and break into tiny chunks.

Once cooked, add sauce. Add your own spices and maybe 2 T of your favorite red cooking wine (or wine you have on-hand). 

Simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour--depending on how patient you want to be. (Can even cook for another hour if desired.)

Add ricotta cheese. Simmer 5 minutes.

Serve.

Would be really good, if you don't care about calories or carbs, over your favorite pasta. Or just eat from a bowl. 

SERVES

Serves at least 4. 

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

ITALIAN SAUSAGE, PASTA SAUCE, AND RICOTTA CHEESE LOW CARB RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs ground Italian sausage

1 can Progresso Starter Sun Dried Tomato or 3/4 of a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce or marinara

1.5 cups ricotta cheese

HOW TO MAKE

Cook Italian sausage and break into tiny chunks.

Once cooked, add sauce. Add your own spices and maybe 2 T of your favorite red cooking wine (or wine you have on-hand). 

Simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour--depending on how patient you want to be. (Can even cook for another hour if desired.)

Add ricotta cheese. Simmer 5 minutes.

Serve.

Would be really good, if you don't care about calories or carbs, over your favorite pasta. Or just eat from a bowl. 

SERVES

Serves at least 4. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Remembering Your Present Journal Keeping Series

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

Future Journaling List Journaling Exercise and Prompt

CLARITY

I have discussed the Future Journaling List in previous blog posts. However, as of today, I want to make sure I am absolutely clear about what it is and what to do with it. 

So, what is the Future Journaling List? 

SO, WHAT IS IT?

The Future Journaling List is something you create as you go along with your journaling. In other words, the Future Journaling List (the FJL) is the list you create while you journal, after you mark in your journaling that you want to journal more about later regarding something you mentioned. It includes memories, thoughts, questions, or anything else you want to make sure to journal more about in the future. 

This is how you get your life on the page and leave a legacy--without any time gaps. In other words, you get your entire life on the page and do not forget anything. The more time gaps you have in your journaling for your legacy will leave future readers confused. Therefore  make sure to fill in the gaps and write all about your life from your birth to today. 

Also, I come from a family where dementia is a possibility. The FJL ensures I will remember my life--and if not, I will have it here to pass on in the future.

HOW DO YOU DO THE FJL (FUTURE JOURNALING LIST)

As you journal, make sure to make a notation of some kind, from now on and throughout all of your journals in the future), where you can look at it and see you want to journal more about later. 

Then, once a day or once a week, add them to your Future Journaling List (FJL). 

That's it. It's that simple. 

But, here's the catch. (There's always a catch, right?) 

JOURNALING FROM THE FJL

* Once a day, ideally (once every other day is the bare minimum), journal more about something from your FJL. Do a SOC (Stream of Conscious Journaling Exercise), a list, a memory snapshot, use a journaling prompt to help with it, or anything else you want to do with it. Do it for a minimum of 10 minutes. 

* Once a week, do three of these--on top of the other ones you have done already. 

* Once a month, do three more of these. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Remembering Your Present Journal Keeping Series

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)

Journal Check-In Journaling Prompt and Exercise

Please grab your favorite beverage and your journal and answer the following questions:

* So, how is your journal and your journaling coming along?

* What do you think of your journal?

* What do you think of your journaling?

* How often are you trying to journal?

* How often are you journaling?

* What have you experienced with journaling?

* What do you want to do more with your journaling?

* What do you want to do less of with your journal (at this time)?

* What have you learned from your journal or from journaling? 

* What has been most memorable with journaling? 

* How have you changed because of your journal or because of journaling?

* Is your journaling a habit yet? (If not, hang in there. Keep journaling. It will become one.)

* Do you comprehend yet how important journaling is in your life? (If not, hang in there. In time, you will be able to say yes--emphatically.) 

* What do you like to do most in your journal or with your journaling?

* Describe your journal and your journaling. 

* If you could do the ideal journaling, what would that look like? What would it take for you to do today, this week, this month, this quarter, and this year, for you to do it? 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

The Remembering Your Present Journal Keeping Series

Email: storykeeper2121@gmail.com

Bookstore: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction

dba Remembering Your Present, LLC & Storykeeper 2121

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online.)