2018 Intentions



This year, like a lot of people, I decided to set out intentions rather than resolutions for the new year. Halfway through December I was feeling pretty down on myself. As a Type A perfectionist, I can't help but feel overwhelmed by all of the resolutions I didn't achieve that year. That feeling overshadows the progress I made. It's not healthy. So I decided to move on from 2017 and start focusing on 2018. I drafted a post on my 2018 resolutions and it didn't sit well with me (hence why I am posting in the new year). I started doing some research and came across articles about setting intentions rather than resolutions. That's exactly what I was looking for. 

An intention is a guiding principle to manifest what you want. The best part of an intention is there's no expectation attached to it (and therefore, less chance of disappointment by the end of the year). I firmly believe in the power of positive thinking and constantly remind myself to set my intentions for the day, week, month, or year. To be honest, it is difficult to step away from the notion that with the new year comes goals and resolutions (not just intentions). But overall, I think it will be healthier and lead to a more productive year. 


1. Live in the Present (and ignore baby fever) 

I thought I would start with this one since we get asked all of the time. I guess it comes with our age (I’m 29 and Ray is 32) and the fact that we’ve been married for 3 ½ years. I won’t lie, when I was in Montreal I was pretty surprised to see that so many people I know were pregnant, trying to get pregnant or already had children. Even my Instagram feed is filled with baby announcements. It made me think for a few seconds “should I be pregnant right now?”

We’ve been talking about when we’re going to have kids more often lately. But we’re not ready yet. Moving to LA definitely took a lot out of us (emotionally and financially). We want to take some time to enjoy LA (now that we no longer have to worry about visas etc.) and save money before we have kids.

So my intention for 2018 is to live in the present instead of worrying about the future. It's easy to obsess over when we'll start trying, whether it will be a challenge etc. But I don't want to have kids and think to myself I didn't take full advantage of enjoying the time with just Ray and I (and Luca, of course). 



2.     Spend Time Making Our Condo Feel Like Home

This may seem like a random one but if you have moved around a lot and haven't purchased your first home, you probably understand. Ray and I have moved four times over the past 8 years. While we are actually homeowners (we own a condo in Montreal that we rent out), all of the places we have lived in have felt temporary. I think this has to do with the fact that I knew we wouldn't be in the places long-term and therefore never invested in making them feel like home. I spent the past year making changes to the condo we rent now in LA that has really made a difference. For one, my personal style has evolved a lot and I wanted that reflected in our home decor. Secondly, I realized it was important to spend some money investing in pieces that would make our condo really feel like home. 

The first room we updated was our bedroom (see pics here and here). We then redecorated our guest room (see pics here and here). I’m currently working on my office (it’s not finished but you can see a pic here). My last project is our kitchen nook. 

My intention for this year is to invest in the present and not just wait for things in the future. I want to continue making our house feel like a home, and make it feel less temporary. The problem with thinking that a home is temporary is that you are continuously focusing on what is the next step, rather than appreciating the present circumstance. I'm obsessed with our current place and want to really enjoy it and take full advantage. 


3. Create more YouTube Content

Last month I posted my first two makeup tutorials. I’ve wanted to do them for a while but I was always too scared to. Finally, I invested in the necessary equipment and took a stab at it. I had NO clue what I was doing (aka didn’t know how to put together a tripod or even open iMovie). I somehow figured it out, got through my fear of posting them and just did it. I've received such a wonderful response from them. I intend to continue creating new video content, even when it feels scary and requires me to get out of my comfort zone (because once I do, I'm always happy I did). 


4.     Slow Down

Normally I run 5 times a week and do Pilates, spin or hot yoga once a week. The mornings I run are so rushed. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. But I think it’s equally important to spend some mornings waking up slowly, taking your time and setting a good tone for the day. I intend to spend more time nourishing my mental (as opposed to physical) health. 


5.     Spending More Time Doing LA Things

Walks on the beach, drives to Malibu, different hikes etc. It’s easy to get comfortable in your routine but I want to spend more time this year exploring LA. I intend to plan fun activities, switch things up and get out of our routine (sometimes). This weekend I've already planned a walk on the beach in Malibu and dinner at Taverna Tony. 


What's your thoughts on intentions versus resolutions? xox

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