Inspire and Uplift

Now that 2011 is here, I have been doing some thinking, some work in my journal and planning. How to make this year feel more full and satisfying for me?

To start with I need to put more focus on things that inspire and uplift me. So here is a list that I just put together quickly to help me refocus myself for the coming week. I need to find the beauty that surrounds me, as the landscape here is full of brown, accompanied with cold weather and not a lot of sun daily. Hello Winter!

• sea glass in a jar from the Mediterranean Sea. Yes, I have actually been to the Mediterranean Sea at least 8 times since we have been living in the South of France!
• orange and red tulips, as they start to open
• the beautiful color of clementines and persimmons 
• my children sleeping peacefully in their cozy beds, faces soft and tranquil  
• a gin and tonic with a wedge of lime (yes, we can still get wonderful citrus even in winter!)
• my freshly painted toe nails, RED
• organized kitchen cupboards
• thick paper for writing and a new pen
• new colored pencils
• a cup of coffee on a cold morning, steam raising off it as I start to drink
• my husband sleeping through one of my fits of insomnia: allowing me to read and journal, to be able to look over at him and not feel so alone
• raising bread dough
• a new vacuum bag
• pictures of my husband holding our children when they were just babies
• olives from the Saturday market in Provence
• my kids playing for over two hours, make believing together and never once asking for the television to be turned on
• the sun making an appearance to warm us
• orchids of an variety, but especially phalaenopsis
• good French local wine from our village of Pierrevert, France
• new socks
• book store that has all English books and time to wander in it
• heart shaped raw sugar cubes for my coffee
• my favorite salad I make, consisting of roquette, frisee, endive, feta, cherry tomatoes, balsamic/lemon/olive oil and bacon on top

So there is a list of things that move me and bring light into my life, to bring me through winter. What moves you?