Monday, January 13, 2014

New Year, New Me

I feel so thankful to 2013, for all its ups and downs.  The lessons I've learned, or am still learning!  The new friends made, places seen, inspirations discovered!  And the year could not have ended better!

A 2 week tour through China 
11/27 - 12/8


{from top left to right}
Thanksgiving Day meal at Incheon Airport, en route to China // one of the many debaucherous and 90% vegetarian meals we had in China // a priceless Nicholas Cage ad // view from my hotel in Beijing // restaurant hallway // Sasha Smith, keyboard extraordinaire, on the misty streets of Shanghai // adorable and "armed" statues in Beijing // Shanghai sunset // rambunctious little elves at Shanghai Airport 



Making a music video for "Deck The Halls" with some of my closest friends
12/17



Playing the most memorable concert of my life at my favorite place in the world, The Ghibli Museum in Japan
12/23








Spending Christmas with my family in Pennsylvania
12/24 - 12/31



{one of a kind vase made by the amazing Polkaros -- see more here!}


Returning to L.A., a little under the weather, but in time to ring in 2014 with my best friend
12/31/13


I realized this year, that despite the fact that according to the calendar that the entire world follows, the new year begins on January 1st... the only way 2014 will truly be new, is if I make it new.  Meaning, if I keep living life the way I have been, and not try to improve myself or the world around me in some way, then technically I'm sort of still living in 2013, or 2012, or sometimes even 1990! -- the way I act sometimes.  So this year, in order to make it feel new, to make it different from the last, I truly do hope I can make a difference in myself.  By being more conscious of the earth, and of the food I eat (and no, I'm not talking "gluten-free"!  I mean eating "cruelty-free").  By expressing my love to my husband, friends, and family more openly and with no reserve.  By feeling love for people on the street, or in the car next to me... because 99% of the time, I forget that they're not just some unnamed "blob" pushing a shopping cart, or an a-hole in the car swerving around me.  They're a person, just like me, with sadness in their life, with anger, with pain, with good intentions, with love in their heart, with insecurities, who can look over at you and perhaps also see nothing but another "unnamed blob".  Or maybe...in that moment, they actually see you too, and the complicated, beautiful universe that you are.  

New Year.... New Us.

Love,
p. a.







20 comments:

  1. Oh, I wish I would have know you were playing in Tokyo! I live near there and what a gift it would have been. Happy New Year!

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    1. It was a secret show! >.< I wish I could have announced it for you!

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  2. Happy new y(ou)ear! lol

    You just touched me once again through the expression of the beaultiful being that you are...

    Thank you, sweetheart.

    Lots of light, love, prosperity and success!

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  3. You always search within, double checking , it's in your verses. I stray from them but always keep them handy to ground. Earth. If it turns that way I may be sitting in a tree in Tasmania this year as the old growth is again under attack.
    I will follow your resolution musing but is'nt there something more . I don't want to be a wallflower. Live P, push that ice cream into the childs face , pull the cats tail , eat a baby duck! Live P be free!

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    1. I totally understand what you're saying... I've lived a life full of fits of passion and rage and everything in between. I want to live more peacefully now. Taking a breath, living peacefully in every moment. Easier said than done! I would love to join you in a tree in Tasmania to help!

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    2. You'll be there P if I make it and I will be singing and playing your song. Same here with the life, I have hit all the walls and cruise these days. Very refreshing to read your new years piece. My birthday is new years eve so I think a lot, mostly that I've only ever had one party for it in my life and every ones xmass'd out so I am an afterthought and keep planning to change it to when everyone has their holiday pay:D

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    3. Had to check Google Maps for another Tasmania… only to see none other than that familiar triangle.

      No risk of analysis paralysis in that scenario for me! I'd shed the fear of heights to join that tree sit. Imagine the blog headline too, Priscilla :D

      And cbreeze, I somewhat envy your birthdate. The party's huge!

      Lemino* if you need lodgings.


      *currently under review @ Urban Dictionary . com

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    4. http://www.pozible.com/project/11481

      Some pictures for you P of the Tarkine. A place of ancient dreams. Gondwanaland. This is the mining aspect. Timber harvesting is also being pushed through for other forests.

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  4. moved reading the last paragraph...so true, and exactly the way i feel i too. and what a beautiful aspiration and reminder to ring in the new year with a new perspective, to see the connected universe that we are. best wishes to you and a great new year!

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  5. where Taiwan~ :| you're still awesome thought <3 love

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    1. I've actually posted many times on my trips to Taiwan! :) I love Taiwan so much!!! This post was only about the end of my year, not the whole year. ;)

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  6. I always enjoy reading your reflections. You're a reminder and an inspiration to us that there are wonderful people who are trying to live deeper and more fulfilling lives, especially when we're pressured by our surroundings to live otherwise. I really like what you said about living 2014 as a new, new year. Even though I'm carrying a lot of baggage from last year, I'm glad I had those experiences because they've made me into a different person. I learned a lot about the people around me as well as myself. Hoping that we all have a great 2014 :)

    T.S.P

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  7. I remember watching u in the high school play and singing the national anthem and other events. ( even softball games with my sister) you've always had great passion and its amazing to not only c the same passion but it has definitely grown. Congratulations on ur accomplishments and the ones to come! Keep up the good work! Take care

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  8. I started to read your blog a couple weeks ago. Your words can always inspire me by some point. Thanks for being such a great person/singer/beauty. You might just try to be you, but somehow people see light and brightness through you. You've got the ability to change people's life. Wish you all the best!

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