Here’s to 2013
I spent 75-minutes practicing yoga in a new-to-me yoga studio in my hometown a few days ago. It was a beautiful flow practice and there were only three of us in the class. At the end of 75-minutes I felt like I could practice yoga forever – I’ve had that feeling when running before but never when doing yoga and it was the most incredible feeling. I felt so light. I was in a sun spot and had a perfect view of the hills and bright, white snow outside. I felt so utterly peaceful and more in tune with myself than I have in a while.
I haven’t been able to bring myself to write a review of 2012 or goals for 2013 post this year. The word that defines 2012 for me would probably be “tired”. How awful is that? I had what should have been – and in a lot of ways has been – my best year ever (started an amazing new job, ran a marathon and got married and had the most fulfilling and fun fall at work among other things) and the first word that comes to mind when describing my year is ‘tired’. To say I feel ungrateful for typing that sentence is an understatement. But it’s the truth. And even after having the past 9 days off work, I still feel tired. I still feel beat down, I still don’t feel like myself. Except for the other day in yoga, when I was flowing and breathing and staring outside at the bright sun and white snow and felt so alive and at peace.
I don’t know about goals for 2013 as a whole, but I have some goals for the next week. I want to refocus my outlook and my life. I want to get into an organized routine that feels attainable without completely exhausting me and burning me out. I want to feel at peace and content again like I did almost exactly one year ago today when I wrote about yoga changing my life.
I am going to take one more week off from this blog to focus on starting back at work on Wednesday after my holidays as well as rebalancing myself for the New Year. It truly is the perfect time for a fresh start. This weekend I’m going to prepare some oatmeal and soup for breakfast and lunches, meal plan and hopefully pre-write some blog posts to get myself back into a groove.
So I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a very Happy New Year. Here’s to 2013 and all it will bring!
Hope you have a wonderful 2013. I’m sure you’ll feel back on track with a routine soon. I tend to get the same feeling as we lead into the winter months each year!
I can totally see why you would use the word tired to describe last year. Don’t feel too guilty about feeling that way. You fit a lot in and it’s only natural that you would feel pretty worn out, especially after the intense fall schedule you had! I feel the same way about 2012 in some ways. I feel like between CFA studying, marathon training, and my busy fall travel schedule that 2012 sort of wore me out. I know I have another hard 5 months of preparing for another CFA exam but I am hopeful that the 2nd half of 2013 will be less exhausting for me. I will be training for a marathon but that actually did not exhaust me as much this past year as other training cycles so hopefully that will be the case this year.
I hope you have a wonderful 2013!!
Yeah I feel tired thinking about your year so I don’t think you should feel guilty for feeling tired!
I think this is part of the challenge of having a super busy but fulfilling job, it’s simply hard to fit as much in life wise. Hopefully this year it will get easier 
You had lots keeping you busy—so I think “tired” is a pretty accurate word to describe your year! Maybe 2012 was all about setting the “groundwork” for everything—and now you’ll feel more “in the groove” in 2013. I love seeing you post about all the good things you do with your job! It’s easy to see how it could wear you out, though!
Wishing you the best in 2013
You had a hectic year! Sure, a lot of it was the GOOD kind of hectic – planning a wedding, training for a marathon, starting a new job but it was hectic nonetheless. I don’t think it’s ungrateful to look back on it all and feel tired and beaten down. You managed a lot this year.
Hopefully, 2013 will be a calmer year for you where you can find your way back and feel less burdened by so much. Cheer!
Happy new year Amber. Hopefully you’ll go back to work feeling a bit more energized – go lay down with your pups! That always helps me
Happy new year! Hope this next week brings you what you’re looking for : )
Happy New Year Amber!! All the best to you in 2013!
New Years is the perfect time for new starts. and new stops. What you’re describing is natural adult life. You’re not a university student anymore, and these are the real challenges that every adult faces daily. You know why you’re so tired? Because that’s how fantastic the year was. Yoga challenges, a wedding, a new job, all of these life events have to balance each other out. Well rested may also equal boring. Find the balance so you can feel connected with everyone you need to be connected to, do the things you love, and get yourself at peace mentally. These are the same challenges I faced at your age. you’ll find it.
Have a great holiday and wonderful 2013!
Aw I totally understand this. I am not ready for work on Wednesday or school on Monday. I kind of feel like once things start, they will move fast, and it is all the beginning of the end for me! All I have done is watch movies and not conquer the to-do list. We can be sad together on Wednesday
The good thing is, 2013 is a fresh start and things with jobs often ebb and flow. Hopefully, this is just a temporary tough part of the cycle. I know that constantly feeling tired and run down can make us feel unhappy about everything. Sometimes I struggle with that, but I also remind myself that I can choose my attitude and my situation. So if I’m choosing to stay in this job, I guess I can’t complain that much. And of course there are always times we just need to vent or relax.
Hoping 2013 brings a lot of fun and exciting things to you, Amber!
Amber, I think I can totally relate. And I have to say I really appreciate your honesty; it is so refreshing to have someone say “my year has been great, but I am totally exhausted”. I think there is pressure to always have a veneer of being constantly excited and having lots going on, but we forget that it can be exhausting. But 2013 is a new year and I’m sure you’ll find a way to relax and get some energy back!
I can relate…2012 was an awesome, but TIRING year for me too. It sounds like lots of fabulous things happened for you though, and I’m sure even more is in store for 2013. xoxox
Happy New Year! Glad you’re able to have a bit of a break and to have time for rest and reflection. Sometimes I think we get so tired when we miss the time to reflect, but hopefully 2013 will grant you opportunities to pursue your passions and allow you to both enjoy them in the moment and to reflect upon the lessons from the experience. Here’s to a great year ahead both for you and your man!
I totally know what you mean about being tired. I felt like such an asshole when the husband and I were discussing 2012. He says it was such an amazing year and one of the best, if not the best, year of his life. I just felt so bittersweet about all of it. We got married in February. I also got a promotion this year, and I started trying to get back in shape, etc. But, I just felt tired with all of it. I wish I read your post before that coversation because then I would have used the word tired instead of bittersweet.The husband mostly just felt happy because of the wedding, and leaving his day job to pursue his music career (which is going amazingly and expectedly well). I think I’m going to have him read your post so he’ll understand. Happy new year to you.
I totally understand that feeling of just TIRED, and I really hope your break from work and writing helps you a little bit. That can’t be the best feeling after such a great year, but you can’t help how you feel! Hopefully you get back to feeling like yourself in no time and we get to see more of you around here
Happy 2013, all the best Amber!!
Happy 2013!! Enjoy your break and don’t worry about it too much. The holidays and work can really catch up to you and I think that sometimes we pressure ourselves to do things that are unrealistic, like blog every day. Lately, I sit at the computer and stare at it and nothing remotely creative or funny or fun or even serious comes to mind! I don’t want to be one of those people who blogs just because but doesn’t really have any meaning to it! See you when you “get back’!
Thanks for your honesty, Sometimes life can get exhausting when there are so many options and goals and so little time! Gahh!
I’ve been reading a little book called “Gift From the Sea”, and in it the author talks about how taking time alone (like an hour a day) isn’t respected/esteemed in our society, but that it’s so important to take regular time away. Ok, I know that’s not rocket science, but it’s good for me to hear. I injured my back in August and have been going on walks and doing yoga more than running and weight training since then. I miss going all-out sometimes, but I also enjoy these reflective, slower workouts (once I get over the initial “gahh my mind can’t slow down” or “I should be doing MORE stuff at once!” parts.) I’ve also heard about keeping life 80% full and leaving the last 20% to whatever comes up (a phone call, a car breakdown, a spur of the moment cookie-bake-off). This seems really good to me!! And sometimes I feel like I’m doing that and life is great; other times things are off balance and I need to be intentional about carving out time for me because I start not enjoying life. It’s difficult to strike a balance!
Anyway, take care and hope you can find time to chill and recharge this year. *HUG!*
Happy New Year! Hope you have a wonderful 2013.
I’m no expert, but sounds to me like you need to make your yoga practice a priority in 2013! =) Hope your return to work went smoothly and that you’re off to a great start this year!
Hope you have as an eventful 2013 as you did 2012 (albeit less tiring) – happy belated new year!x
I love this post. I feel a little bit that way about 2013 and it’s barely started!! i agree with the commenters- often we have some much GOOD happening, but it can be overwhelming and exhaustinig. I just read your week 2 recap also and it seems like you are already finding that happy place in 2013. can’t wait to hear more about it!! – Nicole