The theme for the lunchtime request hour on the radio today was songs that represent 2009 for you. The three requested songs that I heard during my time in the car were Walking the Tightrope by Stevie Ray Vaughn, Under Pressure by Queen, and Mercy by Duffy. None of those songs spoke to me; they all seemed a bit negative. Sure, the economy of 2009 has made things tough for everyone, and my family is certainly no exception. But before I start scanning my iTunes for my song of the year, I wanted to reflect and recap what my year was about.

For the past couple years I have started January with my husband away on his annual music cruise. I actually really love this time. I ease through my days on my schedule, I write and read and eat healthy food and get some good rest. By the time he comes home, the tension and chaos of the holidays has melted away and I have had some good introspection time to ground me.

I also started 2009 with a vigorous study of the chakra system. I have been interested in exploring how Feng Shui can help with our health and through reading and yoga workshops I learned a good bit about the mind/body/environment connection. There is still more I want to incorporate in this area--sounds like a great goal for 2010 as well!

Attending church was a consistent spiritual practice for me in the first part of 2009, as my daughter received her First Communion in May. We have a church that we love that leaves me inspired each and every week, and often brings me to tears through the power of the amazing music performed at each mass. Looking back, I see that this really anchored my intentions and was a weekly reminder to stay focused on being the person I want to be every day. This too piddled out a bit as the year went on. I'm beginning to see a pattern here...let's see where I go from here.

I had the good fortune of having a dear friend in San Diego to visit in February, a long weekend I made by myself and thoroughly enjoyed. I caught up with some very special people in my life, and ended my time away with my first paragliding experience! How invigorating! And if you're ever in San Diego, make sure to take the time to visit the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple in Encinitas. It is so peaceful and beautiful...I could spend a weekend in their gardens. I ended February with a performance of devotional chanting by Krishna Das which was a moving and centering experience.

I entertained my design side by attending the Junior League Tour of Kitchens in March. This was a great opportunity for me to step in to some beautiful homes and fill my brain with ideas of what works (and what doesn't). It also reminded me that it's not square footage that makes a home; good energy can be found in small bungalows or large estates. Good flow, pleasing colors, a balance of elements, and simple organization can make any space a masterpiece.

Looking back through my calendar, I realized that once spring hit my focus switched pretty quickly and heavily to the children. A week in Orlando, end of school year activities, then right on in to summertime. Those summer months are always a challenging time for balance. There's a lot fun; swimming, play dates, later bedtimes. But yoga, personal time, reading...these all go by the wayside for a few months. Come fall, my bank is usually pretty empty. New teachers, new classmates, new rules, and general transitions means focus on self is still difficult once the kids are back to school.

This fall, however, I had a wonderful trip that demanded my attention. I was taking my dream trip to Italy. My youngest child started kindergarten and I was rewarding myself for eight years of being a stay-at-home Mom and getting all my kids off to elementary school in one piece. It was a trip of a lifetime (to date!) and the planning of it occupied most of my free time until I returned to my real life in the end of September.

The rest of the year I returned my focus to myself a bit and the direction I wanted to go now that I am an elementary school empty-nester. My website was built, my blogging began, and plans started underway for networking and Feng Shui presentations. I don't feel as mindful as I did in the beginning of 2009, but I am motivated and moving forward, and maybe that's just where I need to be right now. I am quickly approaching the first week of 2010 when I will turn my attention to what I want to accomplish in the next year and am excited to break it down into short-term goals and steps that will keep me consistently moving forward throughout the year. All the while, one of my main objectives will be to remain present and content in the current moment, embracing the joys of my everyday life and the gifts that are all around me (especially the ones that call me Mom!).

So this all started with what song I would use to capture 2009 for me. Now that I've gone on this journey of remembrance, I will listen to the lyrics more closely to see if I can identify my theme. All in all, it was a great year! A year of introspection, fun, and forward movement. I am very excited for 2010 and the birth of my consulting business, and working to find the balance between my passions and my duties. That is something I wish for everyone!

peace, love, and resolutions...