Wow. 2011 was an amazing year for me. How was it for you?
When I started the year, I was freshly unemployed with zero income. I was feeling overweight and somewhat vulnerable. But it didn’t matter. I knew 2011 was going to be an incredible year, and damn if I was never more right.
Throughout the year, I felt more and more motivated, and increasingly renewed with energy. My health improved all year long, and by the end, I was in the best physical shape of my life.
Noah also went through the year without any major health or development problems. I was constantly amazed at how well-rounded a kid he is. I was a damn good dad in 2011, and I never put anything in my life ahead of Noah or what was best for him. I made a few mistakes, but I didn’t dwell on them, and at the end of every day I knew that I’d given my best to that kid.
Perhaps the biggest blessing of 2011 was everything that happened to make my dreams of writing for a living come true. My agent submitted my book proposal to publishers in late-January and I got a more than sufficient advance on royalties. It was enough to let me focus on writing instead of finding ways to scrape up extra income, and for that I’ll be eternally grateful.
Finishing my book went smoothly and the words that I needed flowed until I finished. It was released a few weeks ago, just prior to Christmas, and it’s initial launch was way more than I could have hoped for. I’m now well into book two, and the writing life is good. I love that I am now writing professionally.
A lot of other things happened that lined up good things for me all year long. I was given attention on a national radio program, and was tweeted and blogged about by some of the “big players” on the internet. Because of all this, Single Dad Laughing ended the year at least twice as strong as it started out.
Perhaps the coolest thing was meeting some of my favorite people in the world, and having their support as I went and did good and worthwhile things with them.
I think the most amazing thing was the check I got toward the beginning of the year. I called it my breathing money, and it held me over until I received the advance on my book. The opportunity that brought it was amazing and more than worthwhile. I’ll be forever grateful that such a possibility opened up for me when it did. It certainly made a lot of other things possible during the year.
Yes, 2011 was incredible.
I found a long lost friend that I’ve been trying to track down for years now. I was able to strengthen certain weak relationships that needed strengthening. I grew closer to my family and was a true friend to those I cherish most.
I strengthened myself throughout the year. I was able to let go of all the negative voices completely. I quickly became proud of myself for no longer letting them bring my spirits down. I was kind and respectful, even to those who didn’t show me the same kindness or respect.
I learned to really prioritize things in a way that made all things possible for me. I was able to fit more in than I did the year before. I stopped wasting so much time and energy on things that didn’t matter.
And, I was able to fall in love again.
Hell yeah.
2011 was a great year.
Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
This year, I decided to do my New Years resolution a little differently. Instead of telling myself everything I want to happen, I’m going to constantly tell myself everything that has already happened.
So, now that I’ve shared what happened in 2011 for me, tell me what happened in 2011 for you! Was your year as good as mine? I hope so!
t Pea, did I take a really long nap or do you mean 2010?
Crazy as it sounds, I think you're on to something here. Focusing on the positive, the potential can only be a good thing, right?
My recent post The Bachelor- Sister Wives Edition
C.S. Lewis described the devil as one who takes joy in ruining the plans of the men he hates. He points out that the best way to ruin a man's countenance is to let that man convince himself that the day will go a certain way. Let him believe that he deserves for it to go this way. Then tweak it just enough to make the man agitated, and the man will ruin the rest of the day himself. Sometimes, scratch that- All the time- things don't go exactly as planned. But they turn out okay if you just let things happen. I like your approach, but I'm not sure that setting an unrealistic expectation that only very good things will have happened is beneficial for me. The idea that I could guess what I will say about this coming year at its close is intriguing though. :) stay cheery!
All of this stating 2011 was a great year... here it is 01/01/11 AND IT IS AS IF THE YEAR HAS BEEN COMPLETED!!!
If you read the entire blog, you would have understood that Dan was writing his 2011 resolutions as if they had already come true. He was writing as if the year 2011 had just ended, instead of saying: "This year, I resolve to..." Do you get it?
Everyone else was following suit.
Great idea Dan! Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on your book! I too am an author. Perhaps we can go on our next book tour together - inspiring everyone who needs to hear us.
I just posted this on my facebook page - a page dedicated to inspiring people to do something good for themselves and others with weekly pledges. Check it out on facebook - "Generation Greener" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Generation-Greener/...
My recent post Pledge 1 for the new year was to imagine in your mind your goals already accomplished see below I was forwarded an inspiring blog post that demonstrates a great way to do this Check it out! http-wwwdanoahcom-2011-01-2011-was-amazinghtml
These posts are all great and everything, and I'm not trying to sound like I'm mean and want to put everyone down but... Didn't we just start 2011? While I'm sure everything could have happened within ten days doesn't everyone mean to say that 2010 was a great and fabulous year?
Just curious... Or maybe I've lost a year. I'm not too terribly sure.
If you read the entire blog, you would have understood that Dan was writing his 2011 resolutions as if they had already come true. He was writing as if the year 2011 had just ended, instead of saying: "This year, I resolve to..." Do you get it?
Everyone else was following suit.
I love this post! I decided to just add it to my own blog with my own 2011 story. And I referenced your blog in it of course, hopefully some of my followers love your blog as much as I do! Here's my 2011 story: http://jordinr.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-was-best...
2011 was a landmark year for me. I went back to work full-time after being a stay-at-home mom for 3 years. My son adjusted beautifully to the change and the work was completely fulfilling. I was finally able to move out of my in-laws' house and into my dream house on a 5-acre homestead. My husband and I finally came to terms with our marriage challenges and made a real decision about whether or not our future would be shared.
But most importantly, in 2011 I learned how to love myself.
What an awesome spin on positive thinking! Reminds me of an old quote (don't remember who said it):
"If you act the way you want to be, soon you'll be the way you act" ... make it real in your head, and it WILL become real!
Ok, for me, in 2011 my blog really took off - people felt inspired, motivated, and encouraged, and passed my words on to help their friends. I also got to enroll in that program to become a certified health coach - I learned so much, and am finally able to get started working for me - helping others who really need it, in the way that is most suited to their individual needs. I've given a few lectures, and have more public appearances set up for 2012 ... and I'm starting to work on the book!
My recent post Family
Loved this post. You inspired me to do one of my own over at my blog: http://moderndaysupermommy.blogspot.com/2011/01/l...
My laundry is done.
2011, the best year of my life.... I spent the year with the man I allowed into my life, that I love, adore and cherish, I learned that people are good, and learned to trust and love them, without judgment. In 2011 I left go of my pain from my divorce, and my failures, and built upon the new person I am today, I became succesful in my home and with my family. I spent the year working hard on all the goals I set and fulfilling each and every single one of them with as much confidence as I had when setting them! In 2011, I grew closer to my extended family, and rebuilt burnt bridges that have left painful scars! In 2011, I found all the fulfillment I need, in the things I already had. MAN, in 2011 I became such a better person, and learned to love and respect people! 2011 ROCKED!
2011 was the best year of my life yet. In 2011 I bought my first home and bought the new car we had been praying for. In 2011 my second baby was born. I became debt free and saved up a pretty good amount of money. The businesses we started (www.elsaskitchen.com" target="_blank"> " target="_blank">(www.elsaskitchen.com and " target="_blank">www.differentdezine.com) were a success and continue to be a success. In 2011 my blog (www.thatgirlelsa.com)" target="_blank"> " target="_blank">(www.thatgirlelsa.com) became a success. Our family received many blessings because of the fasting we did in January. 2011 was an awesome year.
2011 was an incredible year for me as well! My creative juices were on overdrive! I started a web-site where I was able to begin marketing my own special designs. I finally wrote the children's book that has been playing in my head for years. Although I still have not found a publisher, I have decided to have my sister illustrate it for me and we will have a very special treasure for all of the kids in the family to enjoy. My husband, after losing his job in 2010, went on to fulfill his dreams of supporting my sister's new business and has achieved top sales. He also now has plenty of time to enjoy kayaking and working in his newly re-designed workshop. He is also entertaining many different ideas for ways to continue to prosper financially. He has become very involved in the men's ministries at our church and has gained some valuable friendships. We have been able to keep our house and now can help others financially! I helped organize a series of fundraisers for missions through my church in the form of entertaining and inspiring evenings out for women. My fibromyalgia has improved dramatically and I have more energy and stamina than I have in years. Some difficult family relationships were healed. My oldest daughter got pregnant with her second child, my second daughter and her husband were able to buy their first home, and my son has fallen deeply in love with a wonderful young woman. He has gone back to college and my guess is that he will be proposing soon. I have become an organized homemaker, a productive money-maker, and my faith in God has been rewarded time and time again with His incredible blessings!
And this is exactly why so many people have read you and continue to do so. You are inspiring and uplifting, and you are using The Secret whether you know it or not...you will achieve these goals.
My recent post Dont Worry About the PlantsWater Yourself!
Wahoo! You had a great year Dan! Love your post today, and I am loving reading the comments too. I posted one of mine to my blog, (even before I read your post!)
Here's the link: http://lilmommyfoofoo.blogspot.com/2011/01/confes...
In 2011 I took each moment to it's fullest and didn't worry about small things. I was able to quit my job and stay home full time with my son. My husband finally sold some of his music so that we had some breathing room as well. I also got pregnant with my 2nd child and we didn't worry about the medical bills.
This was shown at my son's youth group last night... fits perfectly with what you are talking about! http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=9MMB1FNU
You know... I don't do resolutions... instead I challenged my friends to write about what was right in their lives right now! We spend everyday beating up on ourselves for not being enough or accomplishing enough and resolutions just reinforce that. Why not be more positive and congratulate ourselves on what we are doing and being that is right and good?
This is great!! 2011 was a life changing year for me too! I finally stopped letting my husband lie to my face everyday and devastating my financial future, as well as our childrens. I finally started using the backbone my mother taught me to have to make him truly see the life he was throwing away. We did not get back to 100% in 2011, it will take longer than that to rebuild the trust if it even possible. I learned that I cannot and will not allow my children to be broken time and time again by his meaningless promises and complete disregard for their needs over his own. In 2011, I learned for the first time what it is like to stand on my own two feet. And it feels great!
Not that you need my long drawn out story I just wrote for myself, so here is the cliff note version:
- My husband finally joined the police force after 5 years of waiting to be accepted
- I was able to leave my job to become a SAHM because I made time for creating and selling my ceramic art...turning it into a full-blown business.
- We finally have extra income to enjoy great family activities, including a wonderful 5 day camping/fishing trip.
- I went full force into taking horseback riding lessons!
- My son has been a sweet little boy who started baseball practice and loves it
- Had an amazing time with amazing people at the U2 concert in May
- and the most important, I finally learned to accept myself for who I am and stopped looking outward for acceptance. Instead, I do things for myself without worrying about what others think of me.
Awesome, Dan! Are you aware of this site? : =http://www.tut.com/theclub/index.php%3Fpage%3Dmy_handshakes" target="_blank">http://www.tut.com/theclub/index.php?err_id=9&...
Check it out!
Namaste, friend.
(you already know this is a great idea!)
in 2011 my eldest son gained confidence, my next son gained self control and WE BROUGHT HOME ANOTHER KIDLET! i got myself more organized so i could handle 3 kidlets with grace. i started karate and earned two belts! my dog survived to 15 1/2! my husband did so well at his job they promoted him, doubled his income and we decided to get rid of all debt. we are now so close to being debt free we're selling our smallish home for a bigger one!
best of all? i finally quit smoking and lost those nagging 40 pounds!
My recent post i love it when other moms say things better
Love this! It's fantastic ;)
Ermn... don't we mean 2010???
Or did I sleep a year and Miss 2011?? ~scratches head confused!~
Positive thinking and the power of intention. Instead of hoping for things to happen, he's going to tell himself that they already are happening and have happened.
Things are more likely to happen to you if you know they will happen. Unfortunately even the bas stuff works that way.
Thoughts become things. Choose good ones. :) =http://www.tut.com/theclub/index.php%3Fpage%3Dmy_handshakes" target="_blank">http://www.tut.com/theclub/index.php?err_id=9&...
Ermn... don't we mean 2010???
or did I sleep a year and miss 2011??? ~scratches head confused!~
2011 turned out to be a joyous year for me; so many extraordinary things have happened! My daughter turned five and started Kindergarten, she absolutely loves it! I also came across some extra money and managed to sign her up for those dance lessons she's always talking/dreaming about. I made the Dean's list both semesters at school and still managed to get a little bit of sleep each night. I fell in love with the guy who began sweeping me off of my feet at the end of 2010. The fact that our blended family could turn out to be better than any ideas I could conjure up in my head as a child has left me amazed. Life certainly works in wonderfully mysterious ways. Yeah, this year has been pretty amazing, I didn't even think about injuring my boss during tax season at work! I sure can't wait to see what else is in store! ;)
I'm glad I read some of the other comments...I have a huge smile on my face and I think you guys are rad. Thank you to everyone who posted their 2011 intentions...awesome.
I have had so much fun homeschooling the boys this year. They now give me lists of the things they want to learn! We found a church that feels like home to us. My husband was home for one week a month this year as well as the weekends. I was able to get over my fear of driving on the freeway and I took the kids on several road trips. I painted and decorated every room in my house...it looks great! I am still an unorganized person, but I now just smile and embrace the chaos. We spent our summer camping and I learned that I actually enjoy it. Our backyard looks great! We planted rose bushes, built a fire pit, added a reading nook, and grew a family garden. We took a family vacation to Walt Disney World...yes it was crazy with six kids, but we made wonderful memories. We were able the have my mother and mother-in-law go with us along with my sister, so we had lots of help. Since our family trip was in November, we had a small Christmas and it was by far the best one ever! Hooray for 2011!
In 2011 I was able to bring my family on an amazing vacation. I was able to let go of a lot of the negative energy I had about my family. I was able to re-focus my attention on my husband and what made me love him all those years ago and I found myself falling even deeper in love with him. I was able to make my home based business a success and I was able to quit my full time job and focus on my business.
Thanks!
2011 must have been a magic number for our family. My husband not only got the job he'd been seeking, we paid off all of our high-balance credit cards AND my car and finally have our heads above water again. My teenage daughter discovered high school wasn't as scary as she thought it would be and is getting above average grades in her AP classes. There is talk there will be scholarships in her future.
My radio career is taking off and bringing my photography business along with it. I have more work than I have time for and am actually referring customers to other collegues, which the appreciate completely!
As far a losing weight, once I set my mind to the task, the weight is almost falling off, I'm exercising regularly and I feel great. I'm eating wholesome nutrious food instead of whatever I have time to grab and my energy levels have skyrocketed. This is shaping up to quite possibly be the best year of my life. And oh yeah, turning 40 wasn't so bad, either!
Dude, that guy fell madly in love with me, inveigled by my charms and my general awesome me-ness. I finished several novels, wrote some songs, started learning kung fu, got more tattoos, lost a bit of weight without losing a cup sized and got on the road to adopting, I also had less stomach aches and head aches and such.
Sometimes I want to cry when I read your blogs - not because they're bad, but because you really know how to put things in perspective. I cannot thank you enough for SDL, and may 2012 be just as awesome as 2011! ^_^
Making 'history' MYstory... making a choice to choose to step towards that which is healthy and quite attainable if I choose to step through the door of opportunity!
Thank you!
Fantastic post.
I had a great 2011 also :D... i started out very scared to be again moving my family to another country, a place that i do not know and where i do not know anyone.
but it all worked out... my son transitioned into his new school and grade 1 with barely a issue and made fast friends :)..
my husband settled into his new job with ease and it became apparent that this decision (though hard to make) was the right one for our family.
I made new friends and continued on my road to a better, healthier and more active me. I learnt some new hobbies and also got to know myself a little better in the process.
I took a trip back to my home country with my children for the first time in 4 years and we have a wonderful time seeing all our friends and family. I returned home feeling revitalized and new.
we are all healthy and happy and looking forward to 2012 - what a great year that is going to be.
:)
This post reeks of The Secret... in a good way :)
I guess I'll share this one too. It's my personal virtual vision board :-)
[youtube ITdZtLIWd2U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITdZtLIWd2U youtube]
OM! I get it now, dang.....awesome!
Great post and I love reading your blog, but am I missing something here?? Wasn't it 2010 and it is now 2011?? Just wondering, everyone who posted also posted about 2011 being a great year, did I miss something?
He is using the power of positive thinking. Imagining these things have already happened is very powerful! The mind doesn't pay attention to whether or not something has really happened. Science shows that when you think about something, it attracts those things into your life. So, if you think positive things, then you will experience them, but if you think negative things, negative things will continue to happen in your life. "Thoughts of joy bring about feelings of joy and create situations of joy."
Look up the "law of attraction." :-)
What a great idea :)
I'll always look back at 2011 as the year I learned to let go of negativity and really own my life, without fear or judgment, as the gift it truly is.
2011 was so much more than I hoped for :D
The car-problems I had all 2010 went away without me having to loose my appartment. My children kept on being the happy and kind children they`ve always been. My daughter was not so stubborn, and actually cleaned her room and remembered things without me asking ;)
I got alot of money witch I spent on bills, my appartment, some for friends and some for fun and traveling.
My english got better :P :P
The summer was fantastic!! I lost the pounds I wanted and the weather was perfect here in Norway :D
And last but not least..I learned to love again
OMG! This is awesome! I am going to work on mine. Thanks for the inspiration - you ROCK!!!
My recent post Thankful for Diversity
I created this video almost 3 years ago and I also wrote something similar in a diary last year about things that had already happened. I think I should have given it more attention because none of it actually happened, but that's MY fault. I do believe that what you think about is powerful and thoughts of joy create situations of joy :-)
[youtube ECijGrS-9Oc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECijGrS-9Oc youtube]
Thanks for sharing! I have done this for a few years now, and it is really one of the my most favorite things to do!! Enjoy your 2011 and I can't wait to read your book :)
My recent post OUT OF THE BOX COACHING -
2011 was a banner year for me! My walk with God is closer than ever, and my husband finally let go of all of his presuppositions for me and appreciated me for the person I am. Our marriage is stronger than it has ever been, and the kids are thriving. I have a job that leaves me off when the kids are off, and we can travel (and even went home to California for a nice long visit with family!) My hubby got a bead on a promising job after military retirement, and most of all we are blessed with good health and each other.
I love your take on posting your resolutions. They always say the power of positive thinking is profound, you have definitely taken this thinking and ran with it.
Another great piece!
(PS: You can't single, can you? I mean you seem so upbeat and kind, those guys never last very long on the single scene, LOL)
My recent post Means to an End