We spent New Years Eve with one of my oldest friends and her husband in a SUPER snowy chicago. We rented this great loft, shared a delicious meal, played ping pong, and danced our way into 2014. There was something really special about ending a year while reminiscing about our childhood and looking back at where we both were at different stages of life.

golden new years eve // smitten studioNow, looking back over the past year as it came to a close, I saw a lot of change in 2013. There were big changes in my career path, (I worked my last day at my previous job and launched A Sunny Afternoon), and changes in my surroundings (moving and renovating). This time last year things definitely looked a lot different from what they do now, and I’m looking forward to seeing where 2014 will take us.

I loved this quote by Neil Gaiman and it couldn’t ring more true for myself and for my wish to you…

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.

So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”

I am still working out my resolutions for this year but I am sure it will be filled with more change, more doing, making, and seeing, and definitely more mistakes. I mentioned a few areas I would like to work at on instagram, like traveling more, worrying less, and loving more, but I’d like to make more specific goals as well, tangible things that lead to the bigger picture. Goals like hiring an assistant so that I am free to create more, or getting my studio set up and organized so that I am less frazzled. While I am still getting mine all sorted out, what are some of your resolutions for 2014?

Cheers to mistakes! x

Image by me, instagram @sarahshermansamuel Metallic Shoes are from J.Crew // Skirt is from Akira 

  • Happy New Year! I love the quote and the possibility of making mistakes. Only if you are not afraid of making mistakes you dare to try new things. I recently launched my blog despite being scared to death of putting myself out there (I still am with every new post). I don’t have any other resolution than doing my best every day and every day push my boundaries to what is my best. Looking forward to following you in 2014!
    Greetings from Switzerland,
    G.

  • Oh my gosh this is perfect advice! i keep contemplating a big change in 2014 so this is exactly what I needed. Thanks.

  • I love this. I am always scared of “not having enough money” for this or that. Like finishing my degree! Thank you for being inspiring 🙂

  • Jennifer Naraki

    So beautifully written Sarah. It can be so intimidating trying new things, especially with new people in those new situations. But mistakes, of all sorts, surely lead to growth. And wisdom. And character. Thanks for sharing your heart. I’ll sand your boards for ya anyday… 😉 xox

  • so beautiful.
    love these words.
    happy new year sarah!

  • Hi Gry, Exactly! Congrats on the new blog and thank you for sharing. xo

  • Go get em! @melissa. 🙂

  • Hi Jade, Thank you! I know what you mean, my resolution is to stop worrying so much about money for one, as well. Good luck this year! xo

  • haha thank you Jennifer. you are hired! xo

  • Thank you Madeline, and to you!

  • […] less and loving yourself more. That’s right in line with paying more attention to ME. And Sarah’s commitment to taking risks, making more mistakes and learning new things is spot on for how I’m feeling […]

  • YES. Thank you for posting. This is inspiring. This makes me want to shoot for something…and make a mistake and then learn from it. Great post in a sea of mindless resolution posts this week.

  • Touché to making mistakes, creating and learning! I hope one of my mistakes is not going to Chi Chi right now! Happy Nesting.

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