Warning: Due to the celebratory nature of this blog post there will be an abnormal amount of exclamation points (!). Punctuation police be warned.

A few people in my family will be hitting milestones this year - significant milestones that are cause for significant celebration thus making 2012 a happy year to come!

This got me thinking, what else would be worth celebrating in 2012? Why stop at these two milestones?

So I started a list.

Working quickly I wrote down real events like birthdays and anniversaries, but then, without setting out to, I started listing events I wanted to manifest that would be cause to celebrate.

a work in progress that didn't quite make it to the finish line

I like the message

All of a sudden my list became a mixture of affirmations, visualization and already-existing events worth celebrating. It's visioning and party-planning all wrapped into one! How cool is that?

Here's what I came up with:

Mom & Dad's 50th wedding anniversary
Mom's birthday - she's hitting a major milestone this year, whoop whoop!
my birthday - this is the year, I want a party!
my blogging anniversary - 6 years baby!
my online shop's first sale
my first workshop given
my dating, "going steady" and wedding anniversaries with D.
Summer
other family birthdays
my first $1000 earned outside the government
my first $10000 earned outside the government
D.'s birthday - the big 3-5 (hee!)
a family gathering
the arrival of our new niece
the 5th Squam Art Workshops in New Hampshire and the friendships I've made because of it during the past four years
friends and family meeting goals or setting off on new adventures - Cheers to that!
the loss of the 12 extra pounds I've been carrying for the past year
losing my first 3 lbs
Cassie's birthday
Sis' first marathon - NYC or not Sis, I think this is the year
taking a plane for the first time in nearly 10 years - New Brunswick? New York? Paris?
booking my first consultation client
the launch of my e-book
seeing an article of mine published in a magazine
the Winter Solstice
Christmas
New Year's Eve

Wow. So many potential parties!

~~~

What are YOU going to celebrate in 2012? In addition to what's already on the schedule, are there any events you'd like to manifest that would be cause to celebrate?

Despite the break in momentum over the holidays I've still been dreaming, scheming and working on creative business projects. My soul and brain are full - the good kind of full.

Here are a few things in the works...

An online shop

I know I know, this one's been in the works for a while. Last fall I started working on it, this month I plan to finish it. It's coming, I promise!

prints available online, soon!

A workshop on creating intentional spaces

This project came to me quickly and has been growing, consuming me in a very good way. I believe our homes and physical spaces feed us, supporting not only who we are today but who we want to become. Imagine what would happen if we all had spaces that supported us in being the best "us" we could be!

I'm energized by this project and I'm enjoying the process of putting it together. I plan to dry run it locally and see where it leads. I'm also toying with the idea of converting it to an electronic format and offer it here, I think that could be a lot of fun. Stay tuned...

the library nook, one of my favourite spaces in our home

And more

A line of greeting cards, a newsletter, consulting... all projects percolating as I enter the new year.

~~~

It's been a full and inspiring few months since I left my 9-5 job and after playing with many ideas and concepts, this month - or at least this week - is all about playing with specifics.

I'm tapping into my left brain, complementing the power of vision with the power of planning and action. Though I geek out on brainstorming and bubble charts, part of me is a little giddy at the prospect of getting down to plans and spreadsheets. <Hee!>

This work transition journey has been good to me so far, I'm learning a LOT. Thank you for being here along with me. I am grateful.