The year has turned . . .

Welcome to 2023! I hope you had a fun celebration last night, I know me and my family did - we all went to Zoolumination at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. It was my mom and husband's first time going. But the rest of us had been before and now we intend to make it an annual event!

For me, 2022 was a year of change. I went back to school to become a phlebotomist and got hired at a local hospital to work in their lab. I love the daily challenge of working as an in-patient phlebotomist and being part of a team that helps diagnose what's wrong so that a plan can be put in place to help people. Talk about rewarding! It also feeds my need to have a mission to accomplish every day. This is a decision I absolutely do not regret making.

Long ago I stopped making resolutions, because I could never stick to them and I always ended up beating myself to death over them. Instead, I make intentions. I find a word that acts as a theme for the year and stick to that as well. This year I intend to be more mindful of things - spending time with The Darby, re-socializing her and training her. She's super smart and eager to please, but with the change in my work schedule, she's getting anxious and sometimes aggressive when I'm not home. I intend to be more mindful and protective of my downtime. I work four evenings a week and when I'm not working I tend to dissociate by getting caught up in my phone, which doesn't help my own anxiety. Besides, there are better ways to calm my brain and it's death roll thinking patterns. Towards the end of 2022 I picked up my crochet hooks and drop spindle again, as well as learning to quilt. I love being surrounded by useful, beautiful things, don't you?

This year I intend to spend more time with people outside work. People who help me belly laugh and smile more. People who don't judge, who don't come with preconceived notions and who have their crazy under control. I intend to reject the negativity others try to dump on me. I intend to maintain my own peace and if that irritates someone else, that is their problem, not mine and I will not be shamed or forced to solve it for them.

My word for the year is FREEDOM. Freedom from other people's judgement and expectations of me. I will be who I am, no apologies offered. I am tired of staying small so others can remain comfortable. This year I am releasing that, 100%.

---

Ok, all of that has been said, let me tell you what will be happening here!

First off, my January tarot books are open! This month is all about those 2023 Year in Preview readings that I only offer in January. You can check them out and book here.

I am also curious about what YOU would like to learn from me this year. I would love nothing better than to share the knowledge I've gain ed over the years with people who are as curious as I am!

What would you like to learn from me this year?

• Building a Hearth Craft practice
• How to honor the Wheel of the Year
• Honoring your ancestors throughout the year
• A Mindfulness Journey

Leave me your answer on the poll. The one with the most answers wins!

Also, let me know what your 2023 Word of the Year and Intentions are! Let's get to know each other!