OUR DEEPEST FEAR

One of my favorite quotes begins like this: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." While I ended 2010 with my non-goals, I'd like to start 2011 with my intentions for the new year, all of which I hope will focus me on the continued quest to embrace my "light."

*open up to others more often: though I'm a rather private and protective person by nature, I'd like to try talking to strangers more often and letting down my guard a little more this year. I bet I'll discover there's much to be gained from opening up more than I'm used to.

*embrace the process, don't hurry to the end: this year is going to be one filled with challenges and change. I'm moving to a new city, I'm growing a start-up, and I'm stepping into new levels of responsibility. I hope I remember that this time of personal growth and challenge is all part of a beautiful process and bigger picture. I'd like to enjoy the ride more often and stress about the end a bit less.

*launch a new personal site: I think 2011 calls for a little update to the ol' blog. I'd love to create a personal site that more accurately reflects who I am, and include things like an "about me" section, my design portfolio, and more. It's time to take things to the next level.

*prioritize my workouts: I'm a bit of a workaholic so I'm pretty much on my laptop working from the time I wake up till the time I go to bed. I have the tendency to push my trips to the gym off in the urgency of getting "just a few more emails" out the door until it's too late to go at all. An hour at the gym to clear my mind and move my body is more important than any email, and I need to remember that. Health comes first.

*do something unrelated to design: Design is my passion so I am grateful that I get eat, breath, and live it every day as I've built my career and hobbies around it. But I'd like to be a more well-rounded person and build friendships in new circles and stretch myself to go outside my comfort level.

Here's to having an intentional new year! I hope your 2011 is off to a great start!

*image via From Scandinavia with Love

REFLECTIONS ON 2010 + CHEERS TO 2011!

I don't know about you, but I'm very excited to welcome a new year. 2010 was wonderful in so many ways, but 2011 will be even better. With a move to a beautiful new city and being in a very happy place with my life, I can just feel it.

I wanted to take this time to thank each and every one of you. As you may have guessed, launching Rue has been the defining event of my 2010. It's brought me to a place of great challenge, passion, gratitude, creativity, and growth, which is more than I could have asked for when the little seed of an idea popped into my mind last April. And it all started right here, with this blog, and with you.

What I love about blogging is that it levels the playing field. It gives us all an opportunity to be part of the conversation. To build friendships with other like-minded individuals near and far. To belong to a community that is kind, inspiring, and supportive.

So today, I thank you for being that for me. For coming along the journey with me. For your kind comments, encouraging words, creative ideas, and most of all, your support of my personal endeavors. There aren't enough words to describe how much your support for Rue this year has meant to me. At the least, I hope that my gratitude is felt and that my blog and the magazine will always be a place you can come to for a little inspiration.

I wish you each a very happy new year! May 2011 be better than the last. May it be filled with dreams, happiness, love, and continued self-discovery!

xo,

Crystal

MY 2011 NON-GOALS

Resolutions often point out all the things we're doing wrong and have a way of making us feel bad about ourselves. This year I've been so inspired by people like Erin and Bri who are posting what they love about themselves and want to keep. What a great new twist on the New Year's resolution! Because I believe in the power of putting your positive energy out into the universe and that we should all practice being a little kinder to ourselves, here's my 2011 non-goals.

1. Continue to base your decisions on courage, you've always been fearless and this has served you well.

2. You've cultivated a great ability to listen to that voice inside, however soft it may be at times, keep trusting that.

3. When things were tough last spring, you resolved to keep showing up for life and get through it with faith, I'm very proud of you.

4. You took a leap of faith and went after your dreams and passion this year, continue to nurture the gratitude and humility that are key to your success.

5. You've been stretched in new ways and confronted with new challenges this year, you should feel proud of the strength and focus you've shown.

6. You are so lucky to have the parents, brothers, and best friends that you do. Continue to thank them for their love, support, and care and remember that relationships are more important than deadlines.

I highly encourage you to write a similar list to yourself. I think it's so important that we remember to pat ourselves on the back for the things we are doing right in order to nurture that healthy self-esteem we all deserve.

*images via we heart it