Last January, a year ago, what were your dreams for 2007? How about your intentions for where you wish to go or what you want to accomplish in your life? Did you make any? I don't mean the admonitions to yourself about what you "wouldn't do from now on" or something you threw out there as a "I hope that the time will be right so that I can then accomplish 'x'."

No, what I mean is those 'designed intentions' that you can create at any time such that this January 2008, you are that one little step closer to accomplishing them. Let me tell you about one that I had back in 1992 that today I am reaping the benefits of having envisioned it, worked towards it, accomplished it and now get to reap the benefits.

Back in 1992, my fiancé and I visited the Cayman Islands once again as we were both avid SCUBA divers (okay I still am) and the islands being one of Jacques Cousteau's favorite islands to dive is teaming with underwater life. The Caymans are an interesting threesome of islands tucked up under Cuba with Grand Cayman being the largest and 'touristy' island and the smaller Little Cayman and Cayman Brac about 80 and 90 miles to the northeast.

We loved going "Back to the Brac" as the saying goes, and we dreamed of having a house on the beach on that island. As our integrity would have it, during our annual visit to Cayman Brac, my fiancé walked into the realtor the same day an older woman had just visited and put her unused northwest beach front lot on the market for $35,000. We bought it! First the dream or intention and then began the journey of having that house on the beach. It took about a year and a half of finding someone locally who would oversee building the house, conjuring up the money to build and having a say so in the features we wanted in the house. It especially wasn't easy living across the USA in California.

What we now call Sunset Cottage was completed in 1995, and over the next year or two, we realized that was not the only place we wanted to visit; however, we felt obligated to do so. Hence came the idea to rent it which would ensure the machines got used, the house was opened to fresh air, and we had a bit of an income to keep it in the condition we wanted it kept, and we would still be able to visit during favored times. After a couple of years, one of our renters asked us if we would consider selling off month-long shares of the house. What a wonderful idea! We did so and eventually sold off 10 months to other co- owners. It's a perfect situation, and I have just arrived "Back from the Brac" after two wonderful weeks during the holidays on the beach during our co-owned month of December. We dived and relaxed and had wonderful sunsets on the beach with big bonfires in our beautiful fire pit and loved every minute of it.

So that was an example of the type of 'designed intention' that I'm indicating you may have begun to envision for yourself last January or February or March or anytime. Of course there were several 'ups and downs and all arounds' to the story that I didn't share with you about the journey of building Sunset Cottage; however, the point is there is possibility in creating a designed intention worth living into. So let's get back to your calendar to look over your year of 2007.

Let's start small.

1. What do you notice about the year?
2. What plans did you make that you followed through with?
3. What happened in your love life that is to be celebrated?
4. How about relationships that were completed?
5. Did you sign up and complete that college course you thought you may wish to take on next?
6. What did you learn about yourself both in the accomplishments and the failures of living the year?
7. Did you take up those [golf, painting, SCUBA] lessons that you've been dreaming about?
8. Did you lose someone in your life? Have you truly experienced the grief and if so, did you learn more about yourself than you've ever known?
9. Did you sign up for that run/walk and have the best time ever doing it? … or worst?
10. What steps did you take towards that 'one day, some day' dream of yours?

Go through each month of your life in 2007 and really review it. Think about what worked and what didn't work. Think of new relationships and relationships that have completed their time and are now just memories. Think about what you 'could have, would have, should have' done differently however allowing that what you did accomplish and who you are because of it has given you the perfect person you are today to begin a new year. A brand new year!

So what's next? What will you design today so that next January you may look back and realize that you are that one step closer to your Sunset Cottage? To your 'Designed Intention' of living a life you love?

If you would like to get a copy of 'My Designed Intentions' workbook for 2008, please send an email to me at dylc@designyourlifecoaching.com, and we will get it off to you as soon as possible.

Have a wonderful New Year!

Respectfully,
Patricia

~ Patricia Hirsch, MBA, Master Certified Coach