My Year of Abundance

Being green is often associated with using less and doing without. To prove that does not have to be the case — and in lieu of typical New Year’s resolutions — I’ve decided 2012 is going to be my Year of Abundance. To provide some focus, I’m breaking it down by month.

• January

  I’m kicking the year off right with an abundance of CREATIVITY, something completely green. Creative writing is always in high demand. Thankfully, I’ve got lots of stories, characters and blog ideas flowing through my head. This month I’m going to get as many of them as I can down on paper AND continue sending them out for publication. But creativity is not just for writing. Oh no. I’m also going to focus on accessing creative income sources because two months out of “40-hour-week cubicle world” has me certain that I’m never going back. Creativity also comes into play as a parent, such as when I need to give Sofie a reason why Mommy gets two cookies while she gets only one…

• February

  With 2012 being a leap year, February has an extra day — the perfect opportunity for an abundance of FUN. There never seemed to be quite enough fun in my house growing up, so naturally I want differently for my daughter. We’ll plan out the month with special excursions and a “play hooky” day. We’ll find amusing ways to be eco, including: (1) a contest over which family member can create the least amount of waste; (2) a playdate invitation to Barbie’s eco-fashion show; and (3) neighborhood walks practicing random acts of greenness. And on February 29, I intend to do something fun I would normally never do (something that is, quite possibly, not at all eco-friendly). Some examples: test drive a Hummer; sleep the entire day; eat only orange foods; go on a shopping spree of highly packaged, non-biodegradable products; have a 24-hour fling with George Clooney. Hmmm… I wonder which ranks top on my list.

• March

  As my husband’s relatives flock to New Jersey for the first anniversary of his father’s death, I plan to focus on the abundance of FAMILY. Loving the ones that are still here with us instead of reiterating those “why” questions. Sofie does this easily. I find it challenging, as I can find fault with every family member. So I will try to view them through the eyes of a five-year-old … as tickle monsters, harbingers of love and potential providers of treats. On the eco side of things, we may help Mike’s mom clean and green the house to get it ready for sale. This will include pulling up 30-year-old carpets, de-molding the basement and other exciting tasks. Thank goodness I enjoyed all that fun back in February.

• April

  The advent of spring always brings the abundance of ENERGY. Longer days! Warmer weather! I am going to use that excess energy to focus on our vegetable garden. Last year I didn’t care enough to figure out who was munching on my basil or why my peppers didn’t bloom until Labor Day. This year I promise to investigate these issues so that our family may receive an abundance of homegrown produce all summer long. April is also the month of Earth Day, which Sofie and I will celebrate by participating in a bounty of community cleanups.

• May

  Ah, the month I’ve been waiting for. My husband and I have planned our long-awaited anniversary trip to Italy, so May is undoubtedly the month of abundance in FOOD and DRINK. Local food and drink, to be sure. Fine olive oil, cheeses, risotto and fish from Lake Como. In the Cinque Terre: basil pesto, ravioli, sweet white wine and miele di Corniglia or gelato made from honey. We plan to spend our time in Italy’s smaller towns for the purpose of experiencing that cultural slice of life: meeting the locals, hearing their stories and sampling the homemade grappa.

  On the coast of Lake Como, Italy.

• June

  I expect this month to be filled with an abundance of ADVENTURE PARENTING. After my sister gives birth to her second child, I hope to spend some time in Maryland with her and my brother-in-law. Working together, I am sure we will be able to handle three kids under the age of six without resorting to television or sugary snacks. For them, at least. And as I have recently opened the door to the possibility of a second child, this visit will likely be a determining factor in that decision. At home, it will be time to indulge in camping adventures to maintain Sofie’s outdoor enthusiasm, which reached new heights last year.

• July

  As this month is scheduled with annual doctor appointments, July will be about the abundance of HEALTH. There is nothing worse than being out of balance with your body. I expect to be a shining example of physical and mental vigor due to a regimen of zumba, yoga, positive thinking and daily cups of green tea. (Plus, I’ll have had a month to lose the weight gained from my Italy trip.) If all goes according to plan, I will be enjoying organic produce from my own garden as well as frequent CSA visits to our local farmer.

• August

  Between my 40^th birthday and a Maine vacation, this month will celebrate an abundance of FRIENDS. I am envisioning a fabulous outdoor party filled with friends from every state I’ve lived in. There is nothing whatsoever eco-friendly about this — unless I buy carbon offsets for my air travel friends. However, I’ll make up for it at the end of August when we take off for a rustic, lakeside cabin in Maine. It’s sure to be a back-to-nature experience that instills strong bonds between us and another family. Particularly after a week of no television, no email and shared resources, such as one bathroom for six people.

• September

  This month I will celebrate the abundance of MONEY that is rolling in! All those creative income sources I envisioned back in January and my nonstop, inspired writing will be bringing in the dollars. This means we can afford to send Sofie to kindergarten at the Gordon School, which we respect for its child-centered curriculum, its multicultural education and its roots as an Open Air School. She’s nervous about going to a new place, but — judging from the friends she made after a mere two-hour visit there — I remain confident that she will do well with the transition.

• October

  My favorite month brings an abundance of LOVE. I love the russet colors, woodsy smells and perfect temperatures. I love the fresh, red fries from Schartner Farms. I love picking crisp apples and brightly colored mums. I love baseball playoffs mixed with Sunday football. My daughter’s October birthday makes her joyous and giggly most of the month, which spreads through the rest of the family like wildfire until we are just one, disgustingly happy, love-bursting trio.

• November

  In preparation for the busy holiday season, I want an abundance of PEACE this month. Quiet weekends by the fire. Brisk nighttime walks. Time in the kitchen cooking soups and warm grains. I will carve out moments of solitude to rejuvenate my soul. And I will model this for Sofie who hops from one social activity to the next until she’s irritable because she didn’t allow time for simply breathing.

• December

  As usual, the holiday season will bring an abundance of JOY and GIVING. This year’s financial abundance will allow me to really treat the ones I love. I’ve often pondered an eco-tourist trip to Costa Rica, haven of sustainability. Such an experience would likely be a better gift than piles of plastic stuff. Also this month, we’ll host our 2^nd Annual Winter Solstice party. As you may have heard, the 2012 Winter Solstice signifies the end of the Mayan calendar and an exciting paradigm shift into the Age of Aquarius, an entirely new era of abundance.