1: What worked in my life this past year? What did not work?

Whew, I have been mulling this two part question around all day and I have come to the conclusion that it may take a bit more thought, however, I have come up with an answer or two to part one.  I have made the decision to start this project and come and go as need be until it is completed.

PART 1:  What worked....

My Garden worked in 2008.  I have always wanted to have a lovely garden like the "fancy" ladies but I never took the time to give myself this gift of colourful life.  It is odd how I would yearn and plan every year and not do anything except watch everybody else's garden grow rich and lush with living things.  My friend Linda helped me to see that I was denying myself this because I did not believe I was good enough to have such a beautiful thing in my life.  I accepted myself as being worthy of a pretty yard and garden and started my little garden and I found it to be such a pleasure to nurture the little plants, misting them every morning and every night.  I would put my things down when I reached the bottom of the stairs upon coming home from work and greet each plant and dead head the spent blooms, remembering to thank them for giving me such pleasure.  Gardening turned out to be something I did that gave me peace and connected me with something beyond myself and something deep inside of me as well.   I understand why people spend so much time doing this simple pleasure.  My gardening worked in 2008 and it is a joy that I will continue in 2009.  I recently re-connected with my son after a prolonged silence and discovered that he is passionate about his garden.  This is something we can share and a level we can connect on.

I wonder where these silly beliefs come from that dictate what we do and do not deserve and how they influence our very ability to try to do what we long to do so deeply inside.  Perhaps I will put that on my list to ponder in 2009, though the why is not really that important, maintaining the shift to doing is what is important.  Yes, again, I will continue to garden....it worked in my life on so many levels.

Setting boundaries worked in 2008.  I learned to really ask what it is I want in my life in relationships and the understanding that I wanted peace and self-respect brought me to a place where I learned to say 'no' to relationships that keep the old patterns of drama and trauma in place.  I spent so much of my life playing the martyr to my perceived needs of others that I found myself constantly pushing aside my own needs and wants.  I was always in a state of fear and hidden anger because I felt that I could not say no to others.  The truth is, I lived in constant fear of not being loved or accepted so I twisted and bent myself to the point where I did not even recognize myself as human at times.  Everybody needs boundaries.  Everybody, without exception and I now see that setting boundaries for myself and learning to say no not only invites self-respect, it also invites the respect from others that I thought I could not have if I honoured myself.  Now how amazing that is.  I want to keep the people in my life that I love, however, I find that I am not willing to keep them in my life if doing so means I must dishonour myself. 

Accepting that the past no longer exists worked in 2008.  This one was huge for me.  I can not change the past.  The past does not exist.  The future does not exist.  Only the present moment exists.  This is not to say that I do not ever find myself in the "past" or in the "future".  It just means that I have the ability to pull myself out of those thinking patterns in a split second because I truly understand the concept. 
However,  accepting that the past no longer exists does not mean that I don't have "old patterns" lurking in dark corners just waiting to draw me in.  It simply means I have some tools to continue this work in progress that is me.

Affirmations worked in 2008.  I love affirmations.  There is something very comforting about them and when I hit on the right combinations of words and feelings, well anything is possible.  I had this nasty planters wart on the bottom of my foot and it had been there almost 10 years.  I had another on my finger above the quick of my index finger.  I said "My body now restores itself to it's natural state of heath and wellness." and, after about 3 months I woke up one morning to discover that they had vanished. They didn't shrink over time, they simply vanished.  Whenever I don't feel well, I say this affirmation and get results in a few minutes.  It is as though it steers my mind somewhere else and I "forget" about whatever has been ailing me.  When I get panicked about money, I say "I have nothing to fear. God generously provides for me and knows my need and meets it."  The panic stops and there has never been a time that all did not turn out fine.  Mind you, I affirm for my needs to be met and so, I haven't quite hit my wildest dreams.  Perhaps in 2009.

Paying attention to what I eat worked in 2008.   I stopped eating wheat in 2007 and began following the Blood Type Diet at the suggestion of my doctor.  My energy levels are amazing when I follow this program.  However, I may find this one on the second part of the question list as well.

My relationship with my husband worked in 2008.  Now, we had a word or two in the year but nothing that could not be blanketed in the love we have for each other.  When we got married we wrote into our vows that we would never try to make each other change and that I would honour his masculinity and he would honour my femininity.  The vows are honoured.

My job worked in 2008.  I like my job.  I work in retail and enjoy the people I work for and with.  I enjoy the customers and am grateful to be of service to everyone involved.

Speaking up about my needs has worked in 2008.   This is another of those "ask and you shall receive"  things.  I have wanted to participate in a Course in Miracles group but could not find one in the area where I live.  I mentioned it to a friend during a conversation who is also interested in matters of the spirit and happens to be a local business owner.  Well, Carol has momentum and a few weeks later I was blessed to be sitting in a group that meets in the back of her Health Food Store at the mall.  I just lock up at the end of the day and walk down the mall concourse and fill my spirit with our wonderful teacher, Michael and fabulous new brothers and sisters.  I guess it is just networking.  Networking with the Universe.  :)  I have experienced this particular outcome on many occasions in many areas over the past year.  Just saying what I need to others so often brings me the words, "Wait, I think I can help with that....."  So often the person I am talking to either knows exactly the right person I need to talk to, the right place I need to go, or they were just about to get rid of the very item I needed.  It has been a magical year now that I look back on it with some focus.

I think I will end this blog here, on a high note and do the second part of the first question later.  I just feel too damn good about what worked in my life to think about what did not work right now.

Thank you all for being.