(And yes, that's me holding a box of no less than 200 fancy chocolates!)
"Sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory." ~ Dr. Seuss
WOW. Just WOW. As 2016 looms in the proverbial rearview mirror, I reflect upon how much I have to be grateful for. It certainly wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were the typical pity parties, there were moments of doubt and deep concern, there were fears, both groundless and real. I realize they are all part and parcel of the growing pains of new adventures. And bringing INSIDE into the world is, hands-down, the biggest adventure I have pulled off to date. After all the build-up leading to its launch, I hit the ground running for a whirlwind eight-month book tour throughout the country, and up into British Columbia. I shared my stories and images with The Explorers Club, Sierra Clubs, Mountaineering Clubs, Kayak Clubs, bookstores, libraries, adventure shops, REIs, MECs; the list goes on and on. I’ve been living my dream of traveling, sharing my stories, inspiring others, selling books, and making new friends.
NETWORKING has been the name of the game all year long, and thanks to social media, I’ve stumbled upon some pretty phenomenal resources for inspiration and motivation. In my haphazard approach to embrace Twitter I came across a tweet by Tough Girl encouraging followers to name seven goals for 2017.
I’m always up for a challenge so here goes 7 of ‘em:
1. Find gratitude in something, every day.
2. Become a stronger version of myself. I’ve had some health problems these last few months and I’m committed to regaining my health and sparkle!
3. Fight for justice and hold those in power accountable. As a country we have some urgent challenges to face in 2017—ultimately, none of us can afford to be bystanders!
4. Must. Paddle. More. I got so wrapped up in writing and then promoting my book that precious on-water time was few and far between. Paddling grounds me, puts me in the now, and allows for a much-needed brain dump. I miss it dearly—and it shows.
5. Make an effort—a bona fide effort—to connect with others and contribute to something bigger than myself.
6. Encourage and support others interested in turning their adventure into a book and to work through the challenging maze of getting published.
7. And perhaps my most important personal goal—grow my strategy to successfully market my book and spread my message(s). Understanding that we are all infinitely capable of accomplishing anything we want to in life—we simply need to believe. And—go outside to find your inside.
Looking back on 2016, what do you have to be thankful for? What goals do you have for 2017? How will become a better, stronger version of yourself?
