New Year, New You?

There is something invigorating about something new. Every New Years we ask ourselves what we can do better, and how we can change to push ourselves forward. We diet, make budgets, make lists and almost always start off strong, only to get lost along the way and fail. But, why?

Because most of the time we shoot for those big changes, we can feel and see right away. When real change comes from tiny steps that lead to big movements. This year I want to make 3 changes. Be more present for my kids, find my true passion, and be more open to new people and things. I would normally write these big steps down on Jan 1st and get moving. But then be disappointed because I end up giving up and avoiding the change. So I am taking a different approach this year.

Goal 1- Be more present with my kids

• Take 15 mins a day to just listen to what they want to say. No matter how little or uninteresting I will listen uninteruppted. This may seem like such a small block of time but daily life is overwhelming and takes up every minute. Work, cooking, cleaning, stress, being exhausted. Some days I barely come up for air. But this will be their 15 mins to tell me anything.

• Once a week when they ask me to play basketball, a game, watch a video, or something that is important to them at that minute. I will drop whatever I am doing and do what they asked.

• Once a month I will write them a letter. Just a simple note on how the month went. Tell them about something they did that made me proud, or something that made me laugh. Letting them know, that no matter how busy I am. I see them.

Goal 2- Find my passion

• Make a list of 12 things I am interested in, and put them in a jar on my counter. Each month I will pull one out of the jar and that month will be that topic. I will try to learn everything I can about it. Watch videos, try something that it has to do with, and try to find people in that area of interest. After the month is done I will decide if that's something I want to spend my time on. If not I will throw it out, If I do I will put it back in the jar and highlight it. After a year I will open the jar and what's left in there I will focus on. This is a journey and will not be found overnight.

• Start decluttering my life to open a place for new. Starting small.

  • clean a junk drawer

  • my emails

  • go through my clothes and get rid of nonworn items

• Deal with things I struggle with. I saw a quote" Your purpose lies directly next to your pain" So deal with the pain and hardship and move towards your passion.

Goal 3- New People/ New Things

• Start to be more curious about people's ideas, and opinions and listen to learn not to judge. Judgment is part of us no matter how to slice it. But it doesn't have to make you closed-minded. Every person has something to teach you. It just depends on if you are open enough to let them.

• Make a coffee date/lunch/phone call with 1 old friend and 1 old friend every other month.

• Pick 6 places, adventures, or events that I am interested in but have never done because I am scared to or someone's judgment has stopped me in the past. Put them on my fridge and have them all crossed off by 2024!

By doing this in small steps will push me out of my comfort zone just enough but not overwhelm, me.

Change can be scary but everything changes. Seasons, weather, money, feelings. You just have to learn how to dictate how it changes you. Happy 2023!