Sometime in late December, I listened to a podcast and was inspired by a super cool idea: 18 for 18. Make a list of 18 ideas, goals, small victories that you want to achieve in 2018. I love this more than a singular, and usually unattainable, new year's resolution. It gives me things to work on and look forward to. Here is my list, slightly delayed, but still in time for most of the year. 

1. Digital Detox. An absolute must for me. Scrolling through Instagram is my drug.

2. Go to the beach in California this summer. I grew up on an island and miss the ocean a lot. I would love to create memories for my kids at the beach on the coast we will now be calling home for good, for now. 

3. Create adventures around food with Jay. The memories I have eating my way through San Francisco with Jay when we first met are some of my most treasured. First stop, I hope, Atlier Crenn.

4. Continue to grow spiritually. 2016 was not a good year for me. A combination of unconditional love from my family and therapy got me through that year by the skin of my teeth. Going into 2017 I found exercise to be incredibly healing and towards the end of the year I discovered an unexpected spiritual path that sort of filled in something that was still missing. It's altered the way I approach life and myself, but there is so much more to discover! 

5. Look cute on the weekends (yes, superficial). I have a hard time dressing casually. I need more wearable pieces that don't look like I am wearing straight up PJs or workout clothes. 

6. Submit one piece of writing somewhere.  I'd am going to challenge myself to write something else on another outlet. 

7.  Discover new music. I love music, but feel like I've lost touch with what I like. I want to find some new artists to rotate into the same stuff I've been listening to for years. 

8. Consistently write on my blog. Writing here gives me similar feelings to exercise. It is meditative, head clearing and satisfying. 

9. Let the kids take the lead. As Chase gets older I am finding myself unsure again of how to parent. When he was a baby and toddler I consumed so much info to find my way and it helped me a lot. This time around I am going to try to let him lead me a little more and sort things out organically and see how it goes. Max is still in territory I know well so I can pretend I know what I am doing with him. 

10. Share the good with others, whether it's a quick text to let someone know I am thinking of them, making a friend cookies or smiling at a stranger on the street. There is enough negative floating around us all the time I want to keep it positive where I can. 

11. Know when it's time to stop. There is no way I can come up with 18 for 18! I am going to focus on this list of 10 and see where it gets me this year. I will check in later in the year and see where I am at with my list.