Almost six months ago, I posted about my desire to “fall in love” with new experiences this year.  I just re-read my post and realized that I’ve already accomplished everything on my list for 2011, some of these even more than once!  So here’s that post again, as a refresher (and a reminder of just how good it feels to live in the moment and not with fear of the future):

I hadn’t set any New Year’s resolutions until today. I randomly came across this poem (printed on a fabric flower) and I found my goal for the year (which actually does tie in nicely with Neil Gaiman’s wish for the year that I posted a few weeks ago)…

“I Love, and the World is Mine” by Florence Earle Coates:

For me the jasmine buds unfold
And silver daisies star the lea,
The crocus hoards the sunset gold,
And the wild rose breathes for me.
I feel the sap through the bough returning,
I share the skylark’s transport fine,
I know the fountain’s wayward yearning,
I love, and the world is mine!

I love, and thoughts that sometime grieved,
Still well remembered, grieve not me;
From all that darkened and deceived
Upsoars my spirit free.
For soft the hours repeat one story,
Sings the sea one strain divine;
My clouds arise all flushed with glory,—
I love, and the world is mine!

So in 2011, my goal is to fall in love each and every day.

I’ll fall in love with flowers
fresh bread
and cheese and muscat grapes
the sounds of slow trains on tracks
and the scent of your sun-warmed skin
wizened tree trunks
painting with bold color
and writing final drafts
the sensation of clinging to high cliff walls
and skiing down powdery slopes
my plane landing on unfamiliar runways
smiling
and sand between my toes
bright morning light reflecting off the water
and late-night skies full of stars.

This year I’ll be wholly and completely in love with the present moment, and at the same time in love with every step of the journey that I’m taking to accomplish my long term goals.

This is it, my friends. I’m so excited for what lies ahead….

The image above is taken from a vantage point overlooking one of the Gettysburg battlefields that I saw this past weekend…