Happy New Year Everyone! I know I’m a bit late with this post, but the past 3 and half months have been absolutely insane! I started a few new jobs, have been traveling every single month since July, and am recently recovering from Covid. I feel as though I have been running non-stop. But I did take some time in the beginning of the month to create a loose plan for my year. I focused on what I accomplished in 2022, what I hope to accomplish for 2023, and what I am most proud of for the previous year. I wanted to share some of what I am leaving behind in 2022 so that I can be the best version of myself in 2023!

1. I am leaving behind self-doubt: As I said I started a new job, and the home office is based in the Midwest. They flew me out for orientation and to train with the person who I was replacing. As I sat there, my first time working in an office since 2020, I was completely overwhelmed and really began to ask myself did they make the right decision in hiring me? Mind you, I went through a vigorous hiring process, and I am more than qualified for this position. I told one of my friends, who reminded me that I’m amazing and that all I was experiencing was feeling overwhelmed with receiving a lot of information in a short amount of time.  In 2023, I want to begin to believe what other people see in me. I know I’m not the only one who experiences that gnawing feeling that we might not be good enough. Well, I’m here to remind you that not only are you good enough, but you’re also probably even more amazing than you realize!
2. I am leaving behind the inability to stop working: At the end of last year, I had 6 jobs. 2 full-time jobs and 4 part-time jobs. I will probably explain in another post how these jobs came to be but suffice it to say I am exhausted. And even a highly organized person as myself realized I might have bit off more than I can chew. I am now down to 4 jobs, with the hopes of that number decreasing by the end of 2023. Because I work remotely, I often work while I go away on vacation. I think I took maybe 3 days off last year where I truly did not work and that’s not ok. I never thought of myself as someone who couldn’t take time off, but I realize now that I must create and hold space for myself to not work. I hope to take a fabulous vacation (or 2) this year. I don’t yet know what that will look like or where it will be, but rest is as important as productivity.
3. I am leaving behind my cup running empty: As I reviewed my year and my hopes for the upcoming year, I realized that I need to create more experiences in my life where my cup is being filled. For everyone this will look different, but for me this means volunteering, spending more time with my friends and family, and finding ways to explore and hone my creative outlets. From October to December, I didn’t leave much time for myself to write and work on my creativity. One of my goals for 2023, is to write every day, even if it’s only for 10 minutes. I refuse to work on someone else’s dreams all day long and not work on my own.

My word for 2023 is intentional. I want to hold myself accountable by asking myself how intentional my actions are in creating the life that I have envisioned for myself. As we move through this new year, I would ask you what are you leaving behind in 2022?  It could be bad habits, places or even people. But whatever your answer is, I hope that this year is everything you want it to be! I wish you all a safe and prosperous new year!