~Reflections of 2019~
“In a world where you can be anything, Just be Happy!” -christy painchaud
Each New Year, so many people make resolutions and want to change things (and I’ve been guilty of jumping on that band wagon in the past too)!! If that’s for you, then go for it!! However, I prefer to make a list of yearly GOALS for myself and work towards them little by little every day throughout the year! I literally write these down in the notes section on my phone and in my planner for daily/monthly reminders to keep me on track!! Then I get super excited when I get to put a huge CHECKMARK next to it once I conquered it!
As I say farewell to 2019…. I’ve been reminiscing all that has happened this year and the past decade! It’s been a crazy ride and I’m so grateful that I’ve embraced every second of it, even the hard times (when I’ve wanted to give up on myself and others), I didn’t, and those experiences have made me stronger and better prepared to weather the good and the bad days.
The past few months of 2019 have been a whirlwind for me, but all the things I’ve been working so hard on are finally complete, like a brand-new website!! (WHOOHOO!) Believe me, I put some big + bold checkmarks next to this 2019 GOAL!! (Honestly, this has been a goal for well over a year now…) But this was the year I decided (and took action) to INVEST in myself!! All those big goals I set for myself seemed so distant and I felt like I never had time to focus or finish it!! This past summer, I realized I needed to seek help in order to achieve this lingering goal. It’s funny how the universe sat me next to the person who could help me at a conference I attended by myself in April 2019. Signs are everywhere and how we interpret them are up to us! I chose to take this sign as a kick in the ass, to just do it and hired her to design the website that had only been a spinning vision in my head for a few years!
2019 was also the year I had the privilege of speaking to high school students at my alma mater, Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio…about my survivor journey! This was one of the most humbling experiences of my life! To stand in a room where I once stood and share my story in order to help heal, empower and educate others was incredibly powerful, moving and healing on so many levels! Over the past few years, I’ve shared my story many times with various audiences but this specific audience hit home and I hope to continue to share my VOICE + STORY more in 2020!
This year I also stepped up to volunteer more in my community (because I have so much free time right, lol)!! I’ve always been supportive and a passionate advocate of community involvement, but this was a much larger step than I anticipated but it’s funny how things just kind of happen and we feel compelled to help! This was just that and I’m happy to use my energy, efforts and experience to make my community a better place and help my community grow! If you’re local and want to get involved with me, check out www.altonbusinessassociation.com and www.farmingtonfishandgameclub.com.
While I’ve been busy crushing my evolving career goals, dreams and other endeavors, the yearly personal goals always at the top of my list are my FAMILY! Here’s a glimpse of my top three for 2019 and they will roll over to 2020 as they are always my TOP PRIORITY:
Spend more one on one time with my kiddos!
Be more patient with my children (this is always a work in progress and daily devotion)!
More date nights with my hubby!
What are your 2020 GOALS? Get INSPIRED and write them down, share with me on my NYE social media post.
So, friends as we say goodbye to 2019, make a list of what you’ve accomplished and are grateful for! If there are things you wish were on the list but aren’t, don’t wallow in regret or failure, just keeping moving and taking the steps to get there. Physically write down your 2020 GOALS! I’m serious, do you have a dream of “someday I want to do that”, then do it my friend and write down a list of steps that will get you towards that goal. Life is short, live it, tomorrow is a gift!