As the New Year approaches I am reminded of what has been and what may be ahead. It is easy to get caught up in wanting to jump into the New Year and leave everything else behind, particularly if you have had a difficult year, or your year seemed to have fallen short of your hopes and dreams.  Herein lies the key: we need to reflect on, acknowledge and let go of the past year before we can move forward. This week in the spirit of celebrating my 2015 I wrote a post of some of the highlights from my year.

I have been off this past week and have been sorting through a lot of things both physically and emotionally, preparing myself for what lies ahead.  I’m teaching more and have had to really organize myself given all of my other commitments.

Partially in anticipation, partly with some trepidation.  It has been a busy year with many things evolving in my professional and personal practice; new opportunities to step outside my comfort zone. November was packed with chances to step into my confidence more starting with presenting in New York at the Expressive Therapies Summit with my friend and colleague, for example.  And then within 2 weeks presenting on Beyond Doodling, Using Art for Self Expression and Self-Care for the Ontario Medical Association members.

I was also thrilled to be invited to do a two-part mask making workshop with teens in November and December at an alternative high school (and I get to go back in April 2016 to work with another group of teens):

As I step out with open arms to these new opportunities, new possibilities arise, which ultimately means more work.  Though I love the work I do, encouraging creative expression and healing in others, it is the behind the scenes business side of things that sometimes makes me want to run the other way.

That is when I stop and breathe, pull out my art journal, or go to my easel and paint. The relief is almost immediate as I allow my imagination to sooth me rather than scare me. Play is so important for sanity. My trip to New York in November reminded me of this. I got to play with kindred spirits making sculptures, masks and taking in street art and installations.

I was also fortunate enough to have a whole month off in August to travel around Greece with my family. Imagery takes me back, grounds me in the reality that there is more to life than work. Photography became my art expression.

I am very fortunate to work in a children’s mental health centre where I can do the clinical art therapy that I love and not have to worry as much about the business part (well there is the paper work of course).  But this kind of clinical work (a lot of trauma) takes its toll, so self-care through art making has been my saving grace. From the #DoodleADay November challenge in the Virtual Art Circle, to Mandala making, these little practices keep me connected to my creativity and Self.

It has also been the driving force behind much of my private practice: creating workshops and online courses that support healthy creative expression, developing a preventive self-care practice with others.  This past summer and winter I held  my intuitive painting workshop, Painting with Your Muse:

In the Spring it was my  art journaling workshop series  Visual Journal Journey;

And at the beginning of 2015 I held a sold out Vision Board workshop: Visioning Your Year Ahead;

This year I have added an Online Version: Opening To Vision. I know how important it is to reflect on and acknowledge accomplishments in order to be ready for the new year. I not only encourage it but practice it myself. One of the things that has helped me embrace these business fears has been Leonie Dawson’s amazing workbooks and planner.

I am grateful for the year I have had and look forward to the year ahead.  The year has been full of roses, not the thorn-less kind, after all what would be the fun in that?  I hope that you too take some time to reflect on your past year and all that you have accomplished so that you may be open to the opportunities that lie ahead for you in 2016.

May you have a happy and fulfilling New Year!