Navigating Our Way Through the New Year
I really wanted to love New Year’s Day, but I stayed in bed most of the day. I’m not sure if it’s coming off the hustle and bustle of the holidays to face reality once again, or that I should be trying to figure out a way to make myself better in the new year, or maybe I was just tired from our recent trip to NYC. I know there are things I want to do better this year – lose weight, spend more time with my kids, travel more, etc. It would also be nice to finally finish the freaking house we bought more than a year ago and be able to live in it. I’m not sure if being displaced this last year has – wait, let’s be real, being displaced has definitely shaken me to the core. Not only that, we moved from our home that we loved into a rental in January, had to move there because of unfortunate situation into another rental, and still aren’t in our home. Also, being in a renovation going on NINE months is absolutely the worst thing I’ve ever been a part of. I’m tired. And I’ve learned that while finishing details are my jam, they are apparently not everyone else’s jam. I keep trying to tell myself to be thankful, just be thankful. But, if I knew how to do the things that still needed to be done… I would be in there doing them myself. And those of you that know me, know that’s the truth.
Back to being thankful. I do want to live my life with more gratitude. Be more humble. 2022 was super challenging (see above). Earlier this year I had a wonky mammogram, and had to be called back for a spot compression and ultrasound. It’s not unusual for me to have to go back, but this time was different. They wanted me to also have a six month follow-up, which I did on December 21st and everything looked ok this round. But, it definitely gave me that kick I needed earlier on to try to live my life more fully, and to be more present. We took trips, we laughed more, we realized that a conduct mark here and there wasn’t the end of the world. We’re not perfect. Our kids aren’t perfect. And that’s ok.
We made it through our first year at Max Porter. It was tough and I have a lot of respect for owners of retail businesses (I already did, but more so now). I also am lucky to have a really great business partner and business manager. It’s a fun release to be able to step in the store and feel like I’m in a different world of business culture.
Thanks to our advertisers and readers, BayouLife also made it through 2022. We had some changes this year to our staff, but we are in a good place and I have some amazing people that work for me. I have to say that Katelyn McAllister and Courtney Thomas held me together on a lot of days – and if you’ve not met these two gals – you should, they are the best. I get to work with a super talented group of people, and for all of them I am thankful.
This is turning out to be a Thanksgiving post. Maybe my word for the year should be thankful, but I committed to learn… maybe I can have two words. I’ll have to google that. I already know that I have some challenges ahead of me, but here’s what I’m going to hang on to: my faith and my family. I’m going to take a class this year, I’m going to move into my house this year, I’m going read more this year, I am going to get healthier this year, I’m going to travel more this year, I’m going to plan in advance more this year, and am going to love on my family more this year.
I hope that through whatever challenges or accomplishments this year brings, that we can remember to be grateful. We only have one shot at this life – let’s live in the moment.
What are some of your goals for the new year?