End of year

So, Christmas is past, Hogmanay is to come, and here is the plan for this final week of the year...

Week 18: 28 Dec-4 Jan

Fri 28 light a candle for myself & The Wm & Shadow Sat 29 a lie in & breakfast in bed Sun 30 film matinee Mon 31 plan 12 monthly changes for 2019 Tues 1 new hobby - embossing Wed 2 time with friends Thurs 3 start new EOM unit

Gifts to your self What gifts would you like to give yourself? Here are some suggestions: rest, quietness, steps towards better health, a digital detox, opportunities to make new friends, forgiveness, sleep, time alone, learn something new, an edible treat, a film night, a lie in, a new hobby or game. Choose 7 gifts. Each day this week, give your self one gift. How does it make you feel?

… and, indeed, for the rest of this Year to Change, so you, dear reader, have something to read and perhaps ponder on while the blog goes into hibernation for a while. Enjoy!

	Jan: Now, Not Janus
Wk 19:  4 -11 Jan		Practice deep breathing & meditation, using http://how-to-meditate.org/breathing-meditations (or another such resource)
Wk 20: 11-18 Jan		Practice mindfulness, using https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/ (or another such resource)
Wk 21: 18-25 Jan		Practice gratitude, using http://www.effective-positive-thinking.com/how-to-develop-gratitude.html https://chopra.com/articles/how-to-develop-a-gratitude-mindset (or other such resources) Research humour. Why is it referred to as a 'sense'? Why is it valuable? What is your style of humour?
Wk 22: 25 Jan-1 Feb		Write three paragraphs on: What do you find hard to accept? Why? How would it help if you could? Then start to learn to practice acceptance using https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13730/5-things-everyone-should-know-about-acceptance.html and/or other such resources.
	Feb: Love
Wk 23: 1-8 Feb		Read 'The 17 secrets of the Karma Club' by Karen McCombie; &/or watch the film 'Evan Almighty'; &/or read 'Join Me' and 'Random Acts of Kindness' by Danny Wallace; &/or read Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty by Anne Herbert... And then think: How will you practice kindliness?
Wk 24: 8-15 Feb		Love of God: Read https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/augustine How can I show that I love God? e.g. pray, honour God's name, follow the Way of Jesus, love self, neighbours, enemies, practice forgiveness and compassion Choose something to do every day this week to show how you love God
Wk 25: 15-22 Feb		Love of other/s Read: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-snowise/5-simple-ways-to-demonstrate-love-in-a-hurting-world_b_8578188.html Choose something to do every day this week to show how you love others
Wk 26: 22 Feb-1 Mar		Love of self Read: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/margaret-paul-phd/love-yourself_b_4218211.html Choose something to do every day this week to show how you love your self
SPRING	BODY
	March: Appreciating
Wk 27:  1-8 Mar		Consider this: your skin replaces itself once a month, your stomach lining every five days, your liver every six weeks, and your skeleton every three months. Your body is extraordinary - begin to respect and appreciate it. Create a list of all the things your body lets you do. Read it and add to it often.
Wk 28: 8-15 Mar		Count your blessings, not your blemishes; become aware of what your body can do each day. Remember it is the instrument of your life, not just an ornament. Every morning when you wake up, thank your body for resting and rejuvenating itself so you can enjoy the day; every evening when you go to bed, tell your body how much you appreciate what it has allowed you to do throughout the day.
Wk 29:  15-22 Mar		Create a list of people you admire: people who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Consider whether their appearance was important to their success and accomplishments. Now create a list of positive things about yourself - without mentioning your appearance. Add to it daily!
Wk 30:  22-29 Mar		Search for the beauty in the world and in yourself. Put a sign on each of your mirrors saying “I am beautiful inside and out.”
Wk 31:  29 Mar-5 Apr		Think of your body as the vehicle to your dreams. Honour it. Respect it. Fuel it. Be it’s friend and supporter, not its enemy. Eat when you are hungry. Rest when you are tired. Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly, not to lose weight or fight your body, but to make your body healthy and strong, and because it makes you feel good.
	April: Fuelling & Using
Wk 32: 5-12 Apr		Create a menu plan; then keep a diary of what you actually eat and drink!
Wk 33:  12-19 Apr		Add in these 'super foods': virgin olive oil, ricotta & cottage cheese, pumpkin seeds, spinach, soy beans, purple grape juice, asparagus, tempeh, prunes, sauerkraut, chocolate, eggs, parsley, broccoli, sprouts, walnuts, tomatoes, hemp seeds
Wk 34:  19-26 Apr		Keep going with 20 mins exercise x3/week
Wk 35: 26 Apr-3 May		Add in a new form of exercise for fun!.. swimming? dancing?
	May: Pampering
Wk 36: 3-10 May		Create a home spa day
Wk 37:  10-17 May		Spend a day in the garden or go on a picnic
Wk 38:  17-24 May		Read for a whole day, and watch a film in the evening
Wk 39:  24-31 May		Take a week's holiday!
SUMMER	HEART
	June: Sowing
Wk 40: 31 May-7 Jun		Look back over your life and draw it as if it were a road, passing through the events that were significant to you. At the end of the road of the past is today. Where will you choose the road to lead next? Draw in as many options as you wish, in pencil. Then choose one onward road, and take the first step along it.
Wk 41: 7-14 Jun		Using pictures/images cut out from magazines or printed from the internet, make a collage of how you want your life to be from now on. Put it up somewhere you'll see it every day.
Wk 42:  14-21 Jun		Sowing Seeds: Imagine there is an 'anything goes' menu where you can order anything you want from the Universe. What would you order/request? Every thing, and certainly every goal/aim/desire/wish starts off as a seed, whether it's to do with friendship, health, family, career, whatever. Seeds need the right soil, water, warmth, and sunlight to grow. Choose one particular goal. What is the first seed you can plant to get it going? Then what do you need to do to nurture its growth? Don't just write it down... Do it! And remember that not all the seeds we plant will grow and blossom: but we have to keep trying anyway.
Wk 43:  21-28 Jun		Buy a packet of seeds that can be planted now, in June. Sow them. Look after them.
Wk 44:  28 Jun-5 Jul		Check out Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; then add in another goal/seed to nurture, as in week 40.
	July: Growing
Wk 45: 5-12 Jul		Read these articles: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-20798/how-to-grow-as-a-person-no-matter-what-youre-going-through.html https://www.theodysseyonline.com/13-ways-to-grow-as-person Write your own list of what you need &/or can do to help your self to grow. Remember: You are what you do, not what you say you'll do! (Jung)
Wk 46:  12-19 Jul		Do something you've never done before
Wk 47:  19-26 Jul		Enjoy a day at the seaside/out of doors
Wk 48:  26 Jul-2 Aug		Do one thing each day entirely for fun!
	August: Harvesting
Wk 49:  2-9 Aug		Do we reap what we sow? i.e. is karma (cause & effect) true? What are you 'reaping' at the moment? What would you like to reap a year hence?
Wk 50: 9-16 Aug		Go pleasure shopping at a market, note all the breads, fruit and veg; have lunch out
Wk 51:  16-23 Aug		Work out a plan for the coming year in order to fulfil your wish.
Wk 52:  23-30 Aug		Pack for a week's holiday next week!