The last New Year's post was for 2018. I can't decide if my gaps in writing are because I'm happy, or because being an adult is so incredibly complicated and the thought of distilling my year down to a measly blog post is impossible. 

2020 sucked. The end. Just kidding... all in all, this was a surprising year.

Let's see how I did in 2018...

I, Aleya Littleton, do hereby resolve:

1. To learn how to budget personally and for a business. Pretty proud of this. It's a process, but it's been much improved this year. 
2. To be mindful and present with my money. I think my mindfulness practices have done a better job teaching me about money than anything, I've noticed so much about myself. Next step is to create a pause, and then offer myself more choice around my money decisions. 
3. To double down on my niche, which means climbing more personally, doing more research to develop my theory and treatment modality, and focusing my business. By doing this I'll be living more of what I believe and love. It's happening! Though not on as grand of a scale as this resolution suggests. I did succeed in putting myself out there in this realm muuuuuch more this year! 
4. To be mindful of my time, and the methods I use to distract myself. Specifically, this will be the year of music and books.  :) Books indeed! I've fallen into the fantasy novel trap, and have also managed to read a few professional development books as well. 
5. Take one professional development course in counseling. Done.
6. Take one professional development course in climbing and mountaineering. Done also.
7. To be so secure in myself, that I'm able to give love to those around me. To embody the "I'm ok" perspective so that I can show others that they are "ok" too. Yep. This pretty much rocked my world this year. I've dropped my codependent behaviors and so many insecurities. It feels amazing to be free. 
8. To not be a "fair weather meditator" - thanks Alicia :) Epic fail. Not at all what happened this year. Struggling to want to make it a thing next year...
9. To find a way to delegate the things I don't enjoy and am not good at - in other words, play to my strengths. Well, I have definitely dropped stuff I'm not good at. Still working towards having a virtual assistant, or someone to help with marketing or book-keeping. 
10. To make it to the IATC conference in Australia. YES! AND IT WAS AMAZING!!
11. To make an effort with my writing. "Write a book" has been on my list since 2000 or so, and while I've done some small or silly projects, I need one of my own. This year I'll be spearheading an adventure therapy multi author book, and I aim to use that as a stepping stone experience. Still chugging!!
12. Finish the airstream. Yeah, I think it's reasonable now. 2019 official goal. We have a deadline and everything!
13. Be consistent with my own self care, and compassionate for days when I'm not doing well. Big win on this one :)
14. To take another climbing trip with my love. We went to Australia instead :)
15. To better learn how to love Davy, and be curious about all the things that make him tick. :) Pretty sure this is my favorite and ever on-going resolution :)

I, Aleya Littleton, do hereby resolve to:

1. Focus on my physical health and what my body needs in order to perform correctly. 
2. Get an accountant/financial adviser.
3.  Take one week off per quarter to catch up on personal and professional development stuff. This means finishing courses, reading books, organizing files, documenting, etc.
4. Journal. (Not gonna say more, this has big implications and feels scary.)
5. Make it to the AEE conference this fall. 
6. Finish the airstream to take to Ellie and Greg's wedding this summer, then leave it on it's own piece of land out by the Sangre's and the hotsprings. (YEP!)
7. Create momentum in the outdoor mental health world, helping to bring it to the mainstream. Hard to measure, but if 2018 is anything like 2019, this should be easy.
8. Present for at least two professional gatherings, or get a public speaking gig. Weird goal, but I just need to do it. 

I didn't write one of these posts for 2017, or 2016 for that matter. I broke my New Year's writing streat that started back when I was 14 years old. I had a good reason though. I was blissfully happy. Therefore, this year's reflection will be a recap on happiness, and what I actually think about the topic now. 

After deciding to go small, the next step is to decide what kind of tiny living situation will fit best. Here I will share the options and the thought process I went through while deciding, along with some helpful resources.

2015 has been a year of realization for a lot of people in my life, myself included. It's like we've finally paid our dues, and it's time to see some dreams come true. It also might be that we are all approaching or passing 30. 

I've always been fascinated by small living spaces and simple lifestyles. This fall I looked at my life trajectory and decided that the next step to integrating my values with my day to day lifestyle would be to go small. For me this meant moving into a tiny house. 

And by tiny, I mean reeeeeal tiny. 

I look forward to writing this post every year. The act of looking back at last year's post, thinking about what I've done over the course of the year and setting intentions for the year to come, is almost meditative. Being able to look back to when I was 15 and see how I've grown and change has given me a sense of place within myself - separate from wherever I happen to find myself at the first light of each new year. 

Last year I predicted that 2014 would be epic. I think the word "epic" is overused (thanks Maddox), but the breadth of living I did over this past year would qualify as epic, even under the strictest definition. I'll call 2014 "The Year of the Fire."

The Moras site was stunning. Concentric circles terraced into a natural depression in the mountain, built with the intention of seeing what grew best at what temperature. I did an unsuccessful hand stand under the floating stairs.



I'm reluctant to write more because most of the good photos I have are on my camera, not my phone which. Is where I'm posting from.



The area we drove through was so green and beautiful. There were snow capped mountains in the distance - definitely a place I could live. We've been blessed with amazing weather, and Elle is an awesome travel partner. I've been noticing how my beliefs about myself influence how I act with others - not to get too in depth, but it's been fun to shed those a bit and experiment with a new way of being. After all, no one knows me here, so change isn't so hard. I am what they see, and that is whatever I want at the moment.

I haven't wanted to write much since meeting up with Elle. I think journaling was keeping me company while I was alone, but now I have someone to share my random thoughts with, so they aren't bottled up any more.



We met up at 7am in Cuzco at the Hostel Samanapaitca - a bit spendy but well reviewed - and now closed apparently. When we returned to Cuzco Martine (hostel manager with a crush on Elle) said there was some issue with the owner and the court. Anyway, at 7am we made plans to see some of the surrounding country. We met Lindsey from Toronto and caught a tour bus out of town, headed to the Moras Farming archeological site and the Salineras salt mine. I sat next to John from Miami/Venezuela and learned all about his home and when he had seen already. He gave us some good tips for our leg up to Machu Pichu.

I slept in until 10 am this morning, not for laziness, but because I couldn't make myself get out of bed. It was warm and there was so much... oxygen. Nothing special, except that the night before I was in a bivy somewhere around 14,000 ft.

Rough start today.

Rolled in to Arequipa at 8am after a weird sleeping bus ride, still dazed and groggy. Managed to find a cab to the hostel I'd decided to visit. Took a shower at La Reyna Hostel, and left my stuff there in order to find food.

Couldn't find food, at least food I was familiar with. Couldn't get any guide service to just drop me off at the El Misti trailhead. Kept saying it was dangerous and I would fall off a cliff. It was incredibly discouraging. Found an Internet cafe with kids playing video games. It was nice to say hi to Rick and Elle. Got super strong coffee down the street. Arequipa is called the white city because of the white stone used for most of the buildings. It's beautiful, way more pretty than Lima. The streets are cobble which makes the cars clap rather than zoom down the street.

Still no clue what I was going to do. Went back to La Reyna and made friends with the 18 yr old innkeeper. The owner came in, I was able to explain my situation. She called her brother, Jack, who promptly came in and said "it's easy, I'll take you."

Holy crap what a difference that made. I'm so glad I kept asking. The whole afternoon I then spent wandering the markets and streets with way less stress. I'm stoked, and everything is bonito. I can do this, even if I don't summit.

Last night on the bus I go up to use the bathroom and saw my reflection for the first time since leaving the US. I stood there for a while and tried to take in the fact that it was me. Messy Aleya is kind of cool.

Overall today gets a huge "fuck yeah!" rating on the awesomeness scale.

Note to self: a day wandering around isn't a day wasted. Super useful actually. I think I've walked 10 miles at least, but I've seen everything. Twice.

As I prep to take off on today, my pack is getting progressively heavier. I'm not sure I like this, not because I am a minimalist, but because I'm a wuss. I would much rather be uncomfortable than have to lug a bazillion things around that I never use. My goal has been to fit clothing, camping stuff and food in a single back pack that I can shoulder with relative ease. 

Below I'm including my pack list, with some specific gear I'm stoked about using - Many thanks to the friends who helped me cut down on the unnecessary things!