New Year | Coffee and Cats

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “New.”

My first thought for this article was to take pictures of my calendar and day/month planner which I did and learned how to use the flash on my camera too. But it seemed to caleche to do and didn’t inspire me. Then I came up with the idea to post about my newest hobble which is pen paling. Writing letters through snail mail, not email. But I already have a blog for my Pen friend mail so I felt I might be repeating myself. But so what if I am? Is anyone gonna kick my butt for talking about it? I don’t think The Rock will all of a sudden show up at my door and challenge me, so no worries there. That site has a different audience and followers anyways.

http://mypenpalmail.wordpress.com/

So Pen Palling or friending is new to me which I started back in December. I actually was looking for sticker trains and had no luck but kept being led around to pen pal sites. I starting remembering the fun I had in high school with writing like 24 page letter (12 back and front) and had a romance thing going with one guy I was writing too. He was also a very close friend but we only got to see each other twice a year for 2 days each time. I remembers writing silly things in the letters, sayings from Wayne’s World, jokes ect. So I’m glad I picked it up again.

But this time it’s different for me. I’m meeting total strangers and being more creative. I’m spending money on different kinds of paper and glue and stickers and decorative tape. I’m using markers to draw doodles and rainbows and plaster the letters with sticker. I’ve also been making my own envelopes. It’s a creative process for me full of fun and adventure. Also a way to have a few more female friends since 95% of my pen friends are female.

Depending on the site you use I caution woman to check a guy out before you pass on your email or address because to a lot of men it is another avenue for a trip to the meat market. Now there are some awesome nice men out there but do check profiles and chat with any person before you send out your address or email to anyone. Just a matter of being safe. But don’t let it hold you back from getting to know more people and making many friends from across the globe.

So here are some of the envelopes I decorated before I started to make my envelopes. Also a few incoming letters that made their way to me.

I’m not a New Years resolutions person. I’m almost “Bah Humbug” about it. If I have something I need to change or improve or a new habit that needs starting, I start it right away and not wait for the New Year. Anytime is a good time to start with the new you. If you stray from your diet give yourself a little patience and understanding and dust off and get back on the proverbial horse. If you forget to do something from your resolutions don’t beat yourself up. Tomorrow is a brand new day and perfect for trying again. Never beat yourself up about a mistake or stopping the quest adventure you started yourself on. There is no point in it but making you feel bad and discouraged to keep trying. Why bring yourself down? Does it help you to become better by nagging and ranting about how you screwed up. No, it’s pointless. Spend positive energy to lift yourself up and encourage yourself to do better. Push yourself with positive reinforcement towards you. And you’re not a looser or a bad person because you can’t keep up or make a mistake. Your human and will make mistakes often. We are not perfect or ment to be perfect. Sometimes realizing that you’re not ready for a new start is a good thing to. Be true to yourself and encourage yourself to move onwards and upwards with the new you. Stay positive.