Let's face it – New year's resolutions have become almost farce for many folks: weight loss, quitting a vice, becoming fit, money management, or whatever. We set the same resolutions year after year. And yet, only about 1 in 10 people actually realize their resolutions. What's the deal here? What's up with our lack of resolution resolve?

Resolutions tend to focus on lack or what we don't have AND don't want. So, the energy behind resolutions actually brings us closer to what we don't want. Let's resolve to be done with that. Let's kill resolutions and get on with making real changes and pro-you choices. Here are a couple of ideas to flip old resolutions on their ears and set intentions that will usher in a year filled with more of what you want...

If you're pondering a perennial (or new) aspiration, bottom line it. What's your bottom line here? What is the aspiration actually about? Take weight loss for instance. What will it give you? Energy, confidence, the ability to do all of those things on your bucket list (you know – all those things you want to do before you kick the bucket)? We don't know about you, but 'vitality' speaks to us in a very different way than the numbers on the bathroom scale. Link your aspirations to what's important to you and you'll discover a much deeper motivation.

What if you kept it simple? Pick your word to live by in 2009. Might it be curiosity, love, joy, fun, daring? Whatever it is, let it be your guiding force and the informer of all your choices and creations this year.

What if you intended to be more of what you already are? New age-y psychobabble ring to it aside, give this thought a few moments of consideration. Desire less stress? What if that's your playful, lighthearted spirit wanting more time center stage? So, what if you went ahead and chose to be more YOU?

Who will you be in 2009? Share it with us – with the world – here!

Hey all ... Elissa here for a check-in as I'm peering out my window at the amazing winter wonderland ... well, in the Midwest anyway.

Yep, we have snow and it's definitely going to be a white Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa.

And it makes me wonder: how do you embrace (or avoid?!) the winter season??

Do you hide inside, cowering under the covers? Do you become a winter adventurer / unique as a snowflake / exploring every nook and cranny of a snow drift?

Personally, I like to strap on a pair of skis and fly down a mountain / hill / whatever small slope is available ... but come 5:00? I'm inside, locked up tight, my "day" over and the night has begun. And I'm not a fan.

Buy why? I've been wondering about my dislike of the winter darkness and if said dislike simply exists because I haven't joined it ... I haven't BECOME a part of it.

Think about it: in the summer, it stays oh-so-light for oh-so-long and even when the sun sets, we remain lazily lounging among the crickets and stars until the wee hours -- and then proceed to invite the outside in with our open windows welcoming the breeze as we sleep.

But the darkness of winter? Nope. Once we move past the sun, I move past my interest in the out of doors. When it's 6:00 and it's pitch black, I've always taken that as my cue to be indoors, behind closed curtains, allowing no more of winter/outside to be a part of my experience. Or: No more outside time after dark. Call it an odd, seasonal, residual film from early childhood or what, but this has been my reality for as long as I can remember.

And -- thanks for letting me vent -- I think it's time to reevaluate this rule. I think it's time to question this authority. I think it's time to allow my 34-year-old self a romp in the snow after dark.

What do you think? How do you “become” winter? What are you doing that brings the season into your life fully and freakin' exuberantly??

And: want to join me around 7 tonight for a round of snow angels???

So I was poking around on facebook today, and a friend of mine posted a question for her status. I'll call my friend Sally. Her status update (a little note that you write to let others know what you are doing) said:

    

    Sally has cabin fever. What can she do that is free?

Well, Sally got me to thinking. I mean I don't know about you, but every time I turn on the radio or TV, someone is trying to convince Sally that she can't afford to do anything, and she needs to stay cooped up! I wanted to shout from the rooftop - Hey! Sally! There is a whole world out there, waiting for you to enjoy. You are the only limitation to your imagination and vacation (stay-cation) Sally.

So here are some ideas Sally, that will jump start your free (or low cost) vay-cay. Get going!

• There are many museums or public arboretums that are free, or have one day per week that is. Go ahead, find one. And go!
• In many parts of the country, the seasons are changing, and the colors and foliage is exploding with color. Get outside, and take your camera with you. Try becoming the worlds next great photographer.
• Visit the library! Often there are readings and other events. If nothing else, take some time to soak up the crazy literature you can find, only in your local library.
• Take a journey in your own city! Grab a travel guide/book from your own city, and go exploring. And while you are at it, write your thoughts, what you are experiencing. How would you re-write the guide?
• Check out an asian or greek, or maybe hispanic grocery market. Try to speak their language, shop for dinner, then head home and make a meal. Mmmmm. 
• Roll the dice. Literally! Whatever number you roll, jump on the bus/train route corresponding to that number, and ride until you arrive somewhere interesting. Then, roll again!
• Be a tourist in your own city. Go out, ask a "local" where a good place to eat is, or a bar to go to, or perhaps a day trip or coffee house. Engage a local to tell their favorite spots stories. Everyone has them. Then listen, and enjoy the story.

And when you travel my friend, always get a souvenir. 

Next: Souvenir ideas!

It ain't work, it's play!

Join us for the fully expanded Evolution Through Vacation day-long workshop -- a fun, interactive adventure on how to live each day like a vacation day!

What it is: Centered on the e>v Life Map experiment -- and following the e>v rhythm of Preparation, The Trip and Re-Entry -- Evolution Through Vacation Live takes you on a deep dive into your current journey through relationships, career, creative expression and more. Then, through other inspirational + insightful e>v activities, you'll decide what you truly want to create and leave with an action plan to make it all happen.

What you'll do: Hang out with other cool peeps -- adventurers, thinkers, action-takers -- in a safe, fun environment while you dream up all sorts of possibilities for yourself and your life ... and then, you'll make them a reality.

Why you should come: No need to travel afar ... every day can be a vacation day if we let it be! It's time to discard the limits! Shake things up! Join the adventure! Right here and now.

When + where: Saturday, October 18, 2008 / 9:30 - 4:30 / Minneapolis, MN

Cost: $99 / bring a bag lunch or enjoy one of the yummy nearby restaurants / snacks + beverages will be provided.

RSVP: Please email e>v for more details and directions! And let's go!

Lost luggage? Crappy traffic?

These simple experiences can bring out a myriad of responses in many different peeps. These instances bring out  "The Reaction."

Many people say, it's "human nature" or it's my "natural" response.

And I say: Ptttthhhhhhttt.

Outside of running from lions or fighting off an attacking grizzly, we've learned the majority of our "natural" responses at a young age. Parents, society, TV -- all sorts of sources have influenced our behavior and communication style. This, of course, is not ground-breaking news. How to dismantle these patterns, however, is a bit more chat-worthy.

A big challenge I'm often confronted with is my love affair with reactionary living and my addiction to auto-responses.

Sheesh, when someone else is crabby how I love to take it personally and pout.When I'm running late how I love to blame the idiot driver in front of me... And now? When I stop to look around? I realize: I'm tired of living this way. I'm bored with my huffy reactions and want to slip into something a bit more comfortable. But how? We all make choices on how we communicate and engage with the world ... and it's hard to see a higher road when we're deep in the rut we've been walking through our whole lives ... so, one idea I'm going to try?

Stop and look at that very rut  -- the one I might be knee-deep in at the very moment I react. Is my reaction a way of protecting myself? Something based in fear? In insecurity? How has it served me in the past and what newer, lighter, more beneficial option could serve me from now on?

These questions are easy to ask ... not always easy to answer. But I'm going to try.

An easy idea to talk about. But, to put it in action?

We talk to lots of people how Evolution Through Vacation opens up ideas and attitudes in a new way. Options that may have been stuck behind stories, outdated habits or an iron door of judgment. These folks tell us that e>v offers new perspectives to outdated habits -- new ways of being that replace rigid patterns that no longer serve. I love to hear these stories and am inspired to look at my own life through the same lens.

We're all learning as we move through this life and it's exciting when we embark on new journeys. Perhaps today's journey is about going through the day in an open and fluid manner ... allowing faith to enter in and magic to occur. ... releasing the need to be "right" and welcoming an easier, lighter answer to appear ... ditching the need for control and inviting in possibility ... truly evolving in each and every moment.

Of course, you can download the e-Guide for more experiments to help you do this :) ... or, you could just take today a little slower, a little more relaxed, a little more deliberate in the motive of openness and possibility. Today, you could just go with the flow if only to see where it leads you.

Where does the time go? I have made a commitment to write this blog and I thought it was just yesterday that I posted. Turns out it was more like 10 yesterdays ago ... What the??? It reminds me of a discussion Gretchen and I have been having lately about showing up in this world. And the gorgeous responsibility inherent within.

When we talk about "showing up" we talk about being present, engaged, enlivened and excited with the current events around us. Diving into relationships, commitments and activities wholeheartedly. Living in the moment, for the moment.

Sometimes it's quite easy to be this engaged -- even lost in the moment. Other times, however, we find ourselves slinking away, hiding, ignoring -- moving away from life instead of lunging toward it. One idea I ponder when this happens is where fear is showing up ... If I'm backing away from life, dodging things, it helps me to stop and think what I'm possibly fearful of in the situation. This  helps me focus on the deeper challenge and then puts me in a place to choose a course of action.

For example, I've recently been thinking about networking and my place in that realm. In the past, I have not really engaged in networking/meeting people/following up/creating new relationships -- finding "helpers" as Gretchen and I now call it. It was simply easier to blend in with the crowd, or have a brief encounter of small talk with new people, and then go back with my current tribe. This, however, hasn't been helping me expand my horizons or make new pals. So, I asked myself what I was fearful of ... Answers quickly showed up: What if they don't like me; making a commitment if they do; now being 'responsible' to uphold these relationships; I don't really have the time to do this ... (Wait, is that true? What am I fearful of when I use 'time' as an excuse? Why am I fearful of upholding new relationships? And on and on...) As I dig deeper, I find more answers and am able to see new perspectives and -- most importantly -- take action on this as opposed to allowing it to clutter up my consciousness any longer.

So, what do you think? Where in your life do you show up? What events, people, things make you excited to do so? And what events, people, things make you cringe? What do you do to step back into the flow?

Have you seen this?

Scientists are claiming by not eating for 14-16 hours, you can squash jet leg like a mofo. Cool!

Gotta try it, dontcha think?