Gardening in Stilettos
 
As we settle into a new year, a new decade, a new day, what is it that it will take to be a new you. Laura Neft posed these questions on her site at the beginning of last year and I think that they are just as valuable now as they were then.

I'm sure we all aspire to be or do something different than we have in our past. I'm resolutions, vision boards, goals, etc have been thought about a lot over the last 30-45 days. Even if you have done these things or something similiar, make note of these questions and when you have some quiet time ponder on them.

1. How is where you are in life today different from where you were last January?

2. How are you different today, internally, thatn you were a year ago?

3. Of all you've eperienced in the past year, what are most proud of?

4. What did you shy away from in 2009 that you wish you'd gone for?

5. What did you learn about yourself last year?

6. Who impacted your life the most this past year?

7. What are the most important lessons you learned in 2009 that you want to be conscious of in 2010?

8. What are you being called to next in your personal growth?

9. If you could create three things in your life the coming year, what would they be?

10. What parts of yourself will you need to call upon to create those three things with wild success in 2010?


 
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Today is the Celebration of Winter Solstice Traditions – Monday, December 21, 2009 marks the Winter Solstice traditions, and this is the announcement of the official start of the winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter Solstice is also known as Yule.

Winter solstice falls every year around Dec. 21. It is because of the earth’s axial tilt, which is farthest away from the sun at its maximum of 23° 26′. At this time of the year, the sun is closer to the horizon, thus giving out least amount of daylight therefore shortening the day and lengthening the night.

But there is a bright side to it. Starting Tuesday, the days will start getting longer, leading to summer solstice, which in 2010 will fall on June 21. At that time, the day will be the longest with the daytime lasting for about 15 hours compared to 9 hours on Monday.

Our ancestors lived in a world where everyone believed in mystery and magic. Every year, they gathered together to celebrate the seemingly miraculous return of the light after the longest night of the year and that’s how Winter Solstice festivals were born. To this day, people all over the world celebrate Winter Solstice as a time of rebirth, a new beginning and a chance to marvel at the power of transition from darkness into light.

Source: Winter Solstice 2009: Today is the Celebration of Winter Solstice Traditions | Daily World Buzz http://www.dailyworldbuzz.com/winter-solstice-2009-today-is-the-celebration-of-winter-solstice-traditions/7748/#ixzz0aM2u6tTD
Via: Daily World Buzz

Every day we are given is a reason to celebrate and each season teaches us somthing new. So for the first time this year I will be participating in a Winter Solstice Celebration at the Lakeview Mansion.

"Candelight Winter Solstice Ceremony"
(releasing the old...making room for the new)