Although the 31st of December is somewhat of an arbitrary date in a calendar that was implemented in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, it is the calendar we have used throughout our lives, and therefore today serves as a useful day for reflection before the beginning of a new calendar year.

I hope that 2012 was the year that you began to take risks, follow your heart, and live your dreams.  But if not, let’s make it happen in 2013!

For me, 2012 was certainly a time for change and for stepping further into understanding who I really am.  It’s a quest that does not end, but it is much more fulfilling than blindly following what our culture or people around us expect for us to do and be.  I have a bigger, better, and more life-changing role than I ever knew was possible when I was trapped in doing what I thought I should be doing.

I hope that as I move into the new year, I continue to shed the negative internal and external messages that influence how I feel about myself, my self worth, and the path I am taking with my life. I feel called to be the change I wish to see in the world, to help people reconnect with nature and the feminine, and there is not yet a clear path to do that — it involves breaking free of convention, taking risks, and living a lifestyle that not everyone understands.  But that’s ok! Instead of feeling fearful, I feel excited, motivated, and ready to step further into who I am and my purpose here!

One of the ways in which I have been doing that is here with you, the Light Footsteps community!  I am thrilled to know that there are so many others who are also interested in living more sustainable, Earth-based lives, and that I can connect with all of you in this way.  I will admit — it is new for me to share myself in this way, and sometimes it leaves me feeling vulnerable.  In my day-to-day life, it is somewhat rare to know the inner workings of my mind; I am an intensely private person, a bit of a homebody, and I do not open up to just anyone.  Thus, this venue has helped me to build confidence in sharing my ideas, inspirations, and vision with a wider audience of people (yikes! there are more than 230 of you now!).  Thank you for taking this journey with me.

And what a journey it has been!  Here are the top 10 most-viewed posts on These Light Footsteps during 2012:

1. Healing Plantain Salve
2. Simply Homemade: Broth Powder and Face Wash
3. Slippery Elm Balls for Digestive Distress
4. Get Your Red Clover Before the Season’s Over
5. Magical Monarchs — Part 1
6. Great-Great-Grandma’s Doughnuts
7. Homemade Ricotta — It’s Easy!
8. Lemon Verbena All-Purpose Cleaner
9. Learning to Love Weeds – Plantain
10. Remember to Take Your Pine Needles for Good Health

It seems that I’ve gotten the most attention from my herbal-based posts.  That’s a good thing because I have loved stepping into my power as an herbalist! In addition to finding permaculture, herbalism has been something that really calls to me as a way to combine my love of the outdoors, healing, and connecting with nature in a practical knowledge base that lets me indulge in my nerdy side (you should see my stacks of books and notebooks on the subject…!) and to share nature with others!

And although it didn’t get as much traffic as the other posts, this post relates to my personal changes of 2012 mentioned above and might be inspiring to others looking to take risks and follow their dreams.

Happy New Year!

Shared on:

Seasonal Celebration Sunday,

Frugally Sustainable