I have to say, I am pretty darn excited about the new year. There's something about turning a new page on life that really gets me excited. I've been super motivated, excited, creative & focused on the new year and I wanted to share with y'all some of my fun little things I'm doing to get set for the new year.
I'll admit, I was in a rut for a while. I had some hard things happen and some curve balls thrown, as life does, and I just got out of my routine. I stopped doing things I loved and stopped pushing myself towards goals I had made so clear and worked so hard for. But, I knew I had to go through those hard times and just feel. I put things on pause and just dealt with everything and I needed that. I tried to push forward and no looking back. But soon realized I needed to be down and feel sad for a bit. I stopped doing things I loved to do. I stopped working out, stopped cooking, stopped going for walks, just stopped everything. I took a break to just be. Be sad, be in a lull, and really just be. I knew that phase wouldn't stick. That's not like me to always have a cloud of dread over my head. But after about 2 months of just doing what I needed and just feeling things and really taking a break, I'm back!
I don't know if it was the holidays, or seeing my family, spending quality time with friends, or if time had just ran its course, but I'm back! I truly think it was a combination of all these things. Seeing my friends made me realize how lucky I am to live around such amazing friends who support one another and really love each others company. We are all so different, yet we complete each other. These friends have been in my life for over half my lifetime. We've added new friends and spouses to the mix and they just complete the group even more. My family is just great. They lay it all out for you and there's no b.s. but they also make you bust out in laughter constantly. They're just real, strong, women with very patient husbands, and we just love each other so much. The holidays brought so much joy and excitement to my life. We decorated the house and completely did new Christmas decorations around the house, which was fun and it really pushed me to get out there and do something! We really took advantage of the season. And Christmas really just gives that warm, joyousness in the air too which just added more warmth and excitement to it all.
So now I feel good! I'm excited to get back on track and start making goals for the new year. I don't really do resolutions, I focus on goals. I made a list of goals. Right now my goals are pretty broad but I'll start making more lists that are more specific to aspects of my life. This list I made really is about my overall happiness. These goals aren't, "Be Beachbody ready by May 8th." They're more, "Love myself" or, "Take advantage of this one body I have and utilize it every day." I want to make the most out of this life, appreciate all that I have & just be more simplistic. I don't need things. I need time with family, dogs, friends, being outdoors. I need memories.
Here's the first list of goals I've made so far. I love taking notes so I'll keep making more notes on more specifics but here's the first. I wanted to share with y'all because I feel like once you say your goals out loud, there's nothing you can do about it but try to reach them! It's scary but it's so exciting and freeing and it makes them almost feel that more realistic, or closer to reach. I also like to make a list on how to achieve these goals. It's one thing to write out goals, but the next step is to put them into action. Now, will these plans work first try? No. Will they be easy & smooth sailing? No. Will it be worth it? Yes!
Following what makes YOU happy isn't easy. It sounds like it is. But it's not. There's too much chatter around on what you should do or what you should be. Only you should decide that. You know what truly makes you happy and what you want to do. It's been hard myself, to follow these own words of advice. But once I stopped fighting it and saw it for what it was, I realized how happy I am. This chatter of doubt was from myself stressing me out. But once I dropped the standards of what a "normal" should be. I realized I will never be "normal." I will never have a stable, 9-5 job. I'm a makeup artist and an aesthetician. Nobody said that job was stable. Why was I thinking it was? I don't know. But I was giving myself so much grief and stress because it's not your normal, stable, safe job. But, I enjoy what I do. Yes, my schedule is all over the place and some months I work like a madman and some I barely work at all. But I love what I do and it really makes me happy. And that's that! So just listen to what you really want. Let go of all the other chatter and opinions. Do what you want!
So I challenge you to write out your goals. Goals that you really, really want for yourself and yourself alone. Share them if you want! We are on this journey together and we can do it!
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