New Year's Resolution - Again

Well, here it is again - The new year.  2012 instead of 2011.  This is a repost of lasts year's new year's resolutions entitled Making Mistakes.  As I was rereading this post, at first I thought that I hadn't done so well because I still wasn't realizing success beyond my wildest dreams.  Aren't we all too hard on ourselves?  However, I did accomplish one key goal - A written plan.  I took a course at our local college where the big final project was a business plan.  And I got an "A" on it, too!  (patting myself on the back).  


So, my friends, here is the original post:


Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."  I suppose that's true.   With 2011 coming quite soon, and with the rush of the Christmas season behind me, I find myself becoming quite introspective. Since I made plenty of mistakes in 2010, I plan to learn from them - might as well make good use of them since they're already made!


One mistake I made was a lack of planning.  I definitely had lots of good intentions but without planning, that's what my dreams remained - good intentions.  Oh, flying by the seat of my ample pants served me well enough but had I converted my 2010 resolutions into written-down plans, success beyond my wildest dreams would not have been so elusive.  

What does all this rumination and introspection mean?  It means that 2011 will be lived on purpose.  With a plan. A well thought out plan.  A written-down plan. Eleanor Roosevelt also said, "In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."


So, my dear friends, please hold me accountable.  Until next time...  

Sunday Inspiration - Imagine

"At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done - Then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago."  Frances Hodgson Burnett

Imagine necklace

Where is your imagination taking you today?

Dying Art of Letter Writing

This week is National Letter Writing Week here in the US.  With email, Facebook and Twitter, it seems that sitting down to write a letter with pen and paper is becoming a dying art.  Don't get me wrong - I love email!  What an efficient and sustainable way to communicate.  However, there is something very special that happens when a letter is written, sent, delivered and then read.


I have a cousin in Chicago who I correspond with.  Also a girlfriend of 30 years in St. Louis.  When I receive one of their letters in my mailbox, it is as if I have received a priceless gift!  I read and reread their letters, written in their own hand, and it is as if a piece of themselves has been imparted into my life.  That's one thing that I like about a letter - I can put it in my pocket and carry it with me!


My husband and I dated before email.  We were separated for a season while I was away to college. I still have his love letters stored away in a box.  Try tying up a group of emails with a ribbon!  


In honor of letters, here are a few of my favorite Etsy finds:

Here is a lovely notecard by StoriesDivinations

Here is another beautiful notecard by ParrotDesignStudios

Wouldn't it be fun to type a letter on this typewriter from Brooklynretro?

I would love to hear a story about a special letter you received!

Happy New Year!

                                                                      photo credit

Life On Purpose

This is what Western Kansas looks 
like in the Spring - I can't wait!

As you know, my posting has been pretty spotty; very spotty, actually. However, I have been thinking a lot about living life on purpose, and Mary Zoom will begin to reflect that.  I believe with all my heart that creativity and inspiration can infuse even the most mundane details of daily living, and this   blog will serve to journal how that works in my life and work.  So, my friends, lets go on a creative journey together!

Making Mistakes

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."  I suppose that's true.   With 2011 coming quite soon, and with the rush of the Christmas season behind me, I find myself becoming quite introspective. Since I made plenty of mistakes in 2010, I plan to learn from them - might as well make good use of them since they're already made!


One mistake I made was a lack of planning.  I definitely had lots of good intentions but without planning, that's what my dreams remained - good intentions.  Oh, flying by the seat of my ample pants served me well enough but had I converted my 2010 resolutions into written-down plans, success beyond my wildest dreams would not have been so elusive.  

What does all this rumination and introspection mean?  It means that 2011 will be lived on purpose.  With a plan. A well thought out plan.  A written-down plan. Eleanor Roosevelt also said, "In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."


So, my dear friends, please hold me accountable.  Until next time...