What I Plan for 2013

This year is so fresh ahead of us. Anything is possible. Last year I had my word that I continued to strive toward. It was "become." I've never really been one to make New Year's Resolutions. I don't look at life as having problems to fix. I look at it as an experience. What can I do? What can I see? What can I become?

Lists aren't really my thing either. I've noticed that I never end up sticking to them. However, there are some things I want to DO this year. In no particular order:

+ Donate my hair in honor of my mom.
This is something I always wanted to do but never could because of the decade that I highlighted my hair. [You can't donate bleached hair.] Now is the time, and in February, around my mom's anniversary, I will donate my hair so that a woman who's able to receive treatment while battling cancer can have hair, even after she loses her own.

Although my mom's cancer was incurable and chemo/radiation was not even an option, she underwent those horrible treatments long ago, when she was younger than I am. It was for an entirely different type of cancer but I will never forget the way my mom talked about how it scarred her. Literally. If I could have given her a piece of me then, I would have. Her hair never grew back the same.

And maybe these women won't have their hair grow back the same either. Maybe their bodies won't be able to take it and the wigs are only worn for days before God takes them away. But they deserve to know we are thinking of them. And that they are beautiful.

I measured out 8 inches of hair and I still have just under two months left to grow!

+ Get to work on my San Diego bucketlist.
My bucketlist is still in the works and once it is semi-complete, I'll be sure to let you in on it. It's fun being new to the city and having people tell me, "Oh, you HAVE to go there!" Put it on the bucketlist :)

+ Find a job that's so "me"
Since I'm a daredevil and left my job in VA so that I could move to CA, I'm ready for a new, exciting start with my career. I've thought seriously about going back to school and that a career change might be on the horizon so this year my goal is really to find something that utilizes my talents and passions!

+ Continue to go to the gym regularly
I found a gym in San Diego that I really love which makes going there a real treat! I want to continue making that a priority throughout the week and seeing the results!

+ Experiment with new recipes
Being a single gal living alone can be tough in the recipe department. Recipes leave me with more leftovers than I can or would want to eat. However, I'm determined to find some new yum yums that I enjoy making and eating. I'd also love to try some of my mom's lovely recipes so I can pass those along in the family.

+ Write
Writing is so important to me. I want this blog to reflect that and I want to really write for myself. My mom always told me I should write a book and maybe this will be the year I start working toward that.

+ Find new foods and nourish my body
Since I moved to California, I've been exposed to new foods, vegetables, fruits, drinks, etc. I've recently become obsessed with avocados and tried milk tea for the first time. As I walk through the grocery store, I see so many fresh produce items I never saw on the East Coast and I can't wait to try them. I also want to nourish my body with antioxidants and superfoods.

+ Help the homeless animals 
It's no surprise here that I want to do something to help those poor, little animals. It is a passion of mine in this life to support no-kill shelters and encourage the adoption of those animals who have been abandoned, lost, or injured. Whether I work for a rescue league or volunteer my time and hopefully my home again one day, I will do this.

+ Always add to this list
I don't want to limit myself here. Moving to a new city means always discovering new things and always pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. I'm sure this list will continue to expand and new ideas will constantly be added :)

I won't end this with a cliche, "2013, I know you are going to be even better than 2012." We all know how I feel about 2012. I just want this year to be great. And full of health. And happiness. And progress. I love you all.