There are thousands of blogs about every topic imaginable! I decided to join in and create a blog primarily so that at the end of this year, I can look back and easily see where I started from and how I moved beyond in my journey. I can also flesh out the posts if I want, since I don’t like putting long posts on facebook. So feel free to pop onto my blog each day to see what’s new for the day! I’ll be providing a link.
Day 3: Lemon Curd
What goes wonderfully with Scottish Shortbread? Lemon curd from MacKays, of Scotland! Thanks to my cousin Mindy Davidson, who gave me a jar, I got to sample lemon curd for today’s First. We Americans hear “curds” and think of cottage cheese or curdled milk and this is nothing like that. Prepared in small batches in copper pans, lemon curd more resembles the filling for lemon meringue pie. Its tangy flavor is delicious paired with the shortbread.
Day 2: Homemade Scottish Shortbread
In case you didn’t know it, I have Scottish roots. And although I have not visited Scotland yet, my homeland haunts me, calls to me. I’ll have several Firsts this year that relate to Scotland and here is what I am leading off with! Easy to make, and it tastes wonderful. I had bagpipes playing on my iPod as I kneaded the dough. 
Day 1: Starting the Year with a Bang
My first new experience for this year was setting off fireworks at 12:01 am, to usher in 2014. I’ve hugged people at midnight, I’ve banged pots and pans, I’ve toasted the new year. I’ve n…ever set off fireworks. I’m very mindful of neighbors and city policies and of being “good”, of not doing anything to bother anyone. I’m nice. And there is nothing wrong with being nice! And yet being nice and being overly concerned with what other people think can be very restrictive. I can’t tell you how fun it was to run outside, light a string of lady fingers and shout “Happy New Year” as they exploded! A sparkler finished off my new experience. Welcome 2014, indeed!
A Word Chooses Me
New year, new opportunities for growth and joy! Every year I choose a word for the upcoming year. The last two years, a word has chosen me instead. This year the word that chose me, as my theme for 2014, is BEYOND. I wanted a different word. And yet through synchronicity the word kept showing up and it was confirmed, beyond doubt, that this was my word. Everything else fell into place quickly. The symbol for 2014 had been showing up for months…a bird outside its cage, representing moving beyond that which limits and into freedom. This quote from Michael A Singer’s book, “The Untethered Soul”, states “Ultimately the word ‘beyond’ captures the true meaning of spirituality. In its most basic sense, going beyond means going past where you are. It means not staying in your current state. When you go beyond yourself, there are no more limitations. There are no more boundaries. Limitations and boundaries only exist at the places where you stop going beyond. If you never stop then you go beyond boundaries, beyond limitations, beyond the sense of a restricted self.” That speaks deeply to me. I desire to move beyond my comfort zone and limitations of my own making and into places of freedom and growth and opportunity. I was inspired by Lu Ann Cahn’s journey beyond her fears and limitations and feelings of being stuck. She did one new thing each day for a year. You can check out her story in her book “I Dare Me” and here on facebook at Lu Ann Cahn. I have adopted Lu Ann’s idea and I am excited about what will unfold each day as I too experience new things and in doing so, move beyond my comfort zone! Some days will bring down old beliefs and push me to go where I have never gone before. Other days will be about having fun trying something different. It promises to be an amazing journey. Lastly, while watching the movie “Frozen” with my granddaughter, sister and great-niece, my song for the year was revealed. “Let it Go” captures so beautifully the desire to stop holding back and just let go. The lines “The fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all. It’s time to see what I can do, test the limits and break through” underline my intention for this year. I’m excited to see what surprises unfold and where my journey will take me! ‘
I’ll post each day with my new experience.