We are nearing the end. Once again.
It’s weird. It happens every single year. When we’re lucky, I guess, it happens. We get an invitation to refresh.
We start the year in January. And after 12 months, we find ourselves getting ready to do it all over again. But with the hope and anticipation that it will be different. That this 52-week-period will be the inimitable one of your existence to-date. A restart. A rejuvenation. A revival.
This will be the year.
Have you ever thought that?
A few years ago, I deemed my word of the year to be whole it would be a whole new year for me. I’d had three kids in 5 years-time. I’d had zero sleep since 2009. And I felt like my spark was dimming. So I decided, this will be the year. And I set out with a goal each month. Not a bunch of goals at the beginning of the year to take with me through the 12 months. But one goal. Each month.
And it worked.
It was the year, for me, where I restarted. I felt rejuvenated. And I felt I had a personal revival of sorts.
And then… WHAMMMMMO... a big ol’ universal dump came into my life and derailed my whole new year. I mean… it was a whole new year alright. One with a cancer diagnosis. And a huge reminder of my mortality.
But I was so thankful that I’d taken the time for self-care. And self-focus. I was thankful that I’d gotten myself in check. And I feel like it helped to prepare me for the battle of my life.
I was so happy that that year, I’d not focused on a “whole new me”… I didn’t need to be new. I just needed to become more of me. More of who I knew how to be to make it through cancer.
It was the year. It was the year that I did the things I set out to do each month. It was the year that felt real. It was the year where I connected. With my relationships. With my goals. With my life.
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It’s coming. A whole new year is headed for a life near you. It’s up to you to decide what that means. It is up to you to decide what things you need to let go of. What things you need to add in. What ways you can, instead of becoming a “new you in a new year”, become a little bit more of the you that you love the most.
We truly never know what year our life will jump the rails. We never know what year will bring the biggest and loveliest adventures. We never know what year our life will become with or without different things that we currently know. And we never know what year we will need to be prepared for change.
I challenge you, from deep inside my heart, that if you are looking to the new year, you don’t focus on a number on the scale or an unlikely outcome. Instead, take a moment to sit down, and think of the things that matter most to you. What you love about your current life and what you hope can change… and make a real plan… the way that you believe you can actually let this be the year.
Let this be the year that you connect more. Not with the internet. But with people. And experiences.
Let this be the year that you love your people with a force. That you tell them that. And that you tell them that often.
Let this be the year that you listen to your body. And you feed it appropriately.
Let this be the year that you find something that your body loves to do. And do it.
Let this be the year that you know that every single day is a new fresh start.
Let this be the year that you make time for the people who you want to spend time and energy with and on. Make a point to schedule time with those who are yours.
Let this be the year that you enjoy some sort of growth experience. Something that scares the pants off of you but that you also have been dreaming of for longer than a dream should get.
Let this be the year that you decide if the things you spend time on actually matter to you.
Let this be the year where you say, “No.”
Let this be the year that you dance in the kitchen in the morning while you make the toaster waffles.
Let this be the year that you run for your dream like you are a 7 year old playing red rover.
Let this be the year of acknowledging that someday, you might be able to do all the things, but that someday is not right now.
Let this be the year where you CELEBRATE getting older more than you celebrate getting thinner because to age is a gift that we take for granted.
Let this be the year where you stop and smell the roses. Or if you hate roses, buy yourself fresh flowers that you do love.
Let this be the year where you are the real you. And you find comfort and confidence in that.
Let this be the year where you remind yourself every single morning that the littlest things become the biggest.
Let this be the year that you give something up. Something that is toxic or dragging you down.
Let this be the year that you breathe more. Because breathing is life-giving.
Let this be the year that you spend intentionally. And give generously.
Let this be the year that you are able to see and feel and take in the goodness.
Let this be the year that you _____________________.
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If nothing else… please… let this be the year that you remember that any year, could be the final. So you might as well just go balls to the wall. Or maybe for you, even just in baby steps, start adding a shower to your schedule more regularly. We are all in different places. And we are all different people. What the year is for each of us is very different. And can be our very own adventure.
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A new year is coming. Dear one, please… let this be the year.
