2018 TO DO LIST

I'm not the one to make New Year's Resolutions of any sort, simply because every day is a chance for a new resolution, there's no point in waiting for the year to end but that doesn't mean we should not still have long(ish) term goals to look forward to and work towards.The secret is to genuinely commit while also allowing for the divine guidance and interference to steer you towards new directions, if need be.

Setting goals is really hard but this to do list is more like a blueprint for my hopes and dreams and I'm hoping that by putting them out there they might take a more concrete shape and hopefully enable me to reach them and fulfill them to the best of my ability.

Without further ado, I'll just keep it short and sweet. here's is my list for 2018... and beyond.

1. CERTIFICATIONS

OMG, omg, omg...time flies by when you work from one order to the next, make soaps, write bills, print labels and the month has gone by. All the while I have a series of certification courses I signed up for waiting for me to complete them and take my final exams. 2018 will be the year I'll get these certifications and finally become a certified Holistic Therapist, insha'Allah

2.PODCAST

I sometimes feel I have so much to say and if there's a chance anyone would listen I'd like to put it out there, just in case. I would like to have others also speak their mind on this podcast, maybe conduct interviews and reviews, insha'Allah.

I had actually planned to start early this year but I've hit some technical difficulties that my child of the 90's non gadgety brain cannot yet figure out but i'll try to get some assistance and sort it out. Let's see how it turns out... I only fear getting stage fright once starting out so please pray for me and my voice.

3. DIET CHANGES

No, it's not about weight loss, it's about honouring the body we've been gifted for this short amount of time and enabling it to do the most of what we can do while we're still alive. A foggy brain and sluggish metabolism is of no use to those who want to reach heaven. Now, I'm not saying that a healthier diet is the only thing keeping me from heaven's doors, Allah knows i have far too much to sort out within myself and in my relationship with Him but it's definitely a huge contributing factor that, I find, Muslims often disregard.So I've decided that switching to a whole food plant based diet will make it easier for me to function at my best as well as be morally fulfilling and I'll be taking further steps to approach this goal this year.

4. MOVING

Yes, that's right, moving homes is in the cards this year, insha'Allah. Most probably by the end of the year(unless we get delayed by anything) I'll probably have to take time off from work in order to completely uproot and reestablish our lives and my work in a new home.

5. WORKSHOPS

2018 will hopefully be the year that i'll give more time to what i truly love doing, raising awareness and educating others. With the help of the amazing teams from Timelenders and ERDC I've been enabled to start doing so. My hope is that my message will reach as far and wide as possible and impact people's lives in ways that will force them to rethink everything they're accustomed to and reshape their lives for the better of their health and the future of our children.

6.REFILLABLE PACKAGING PROJECT

I've finally taken the step to introduce refillable packaging but I really need to work on fine tuning the whole refill mechanism to make it as doable as possible all the while acknowledging my own limitations. Please remember that I am all alone in all of the work that I do and there's so much I can take on so please show your willingness to share the responsibility of mindful consumption with me.

7.TRADEMARK

I'd really love to trademark the Gavrilev brand to safeguard everything that it has come and will become to represent but it's such a daunting task for a foreigner in a country that is known for its obscure instructions on proper legal proceedings.The fact that I'm also mostly home bound makes things even more difficult but it's something that stays really close to my heart. I'm actually putting this last point out here just in case any of you could help with any advice or assistance, I'd be truly grateful.

And that's it in a nutshell.It gives me some perspective and i hope it does the same to you. May every day of our lives be spent productively and purposefully to the best of our ability and potential.

As always, from Nature, to Nurture.