New Years Chat
Happy New Year!! May 2023 be your year and bring you the utmost joy. Most of all though, my 2023 be honest with you, help you grow, and make you uncomfortable. The good years are the ones where we learn the most about ourselves so we can soon flourish. No year is perfect. No year will have no faults. Set yourself up for reality. In real life, the new year is not some fairytale. It is messy just as life is and there is such beauty in that. I don’t know about you guys, but 2022 was a rollercoaster (as are most years haha). It pushed me, broke me, fixed me, and so much more. I learned a wealth of knowledge about myself and others and how I want to improve. I wanted to make a blog post on reflecting on last year, things I aspire to do in the new year, and an overall talk about this holiday.
First off, I know the new year can be overwhelming for some. The thought of having to become a new and better person can be daunting. However, you don’t have to do anything or be anyone new. You are amazing the way you are. The new year is meant to inspire not scare. You are in control of your emotions so let this time be exciting and bring about change rather than bringing fears of what may or may not occur. Yes it is the new year and yes you have endless possibilities to make positive changes, but you are also still the same person you were December 31st, 2022. There should be no fears of a downhill trajectory because you have not changed. Positive changes will occur, but you have to put in the effort. They will not happen overnight.
I also think there is so much weight put on “starting the new year off right.” Your new year doesn’t have to look perfect and pretty because life is not that way. January 1st is not going to change you forever and all your goals won’t come true in that one moment. This year, I have focused on a more balanced more attainable way to achieve what I want to achieve. Instead of right away on January 1st starting a whole bunch of goals that will probably be stopped in a month, I either make general goals or think of things I aspire to do and figure out how I will get there. I saw someone say that instead of goals let’s focus on aspirations and I love that. Aspirations are perfect because they are something you are looking to do, but as long as you put in the effort and gave it a shot, you completed it. Goals can feel heavy and daunting at times especially when associated with the new year so, to me, aspirations sound better. You don’t have to stick to them, they can be loose, but it is a way to get you motivated.
My tips for ending 2022 and starting 2023:
I know that 2022 has ended, but it is not too late to clean it up and send it off. In doing that, I wanted to finish any tasks that could be completed so I wouldn’t have things hanging over my head. Then, I always try to do a big clean. I clean up my room and the house. I focus on organizing and throwing away things that are unneeded. Lastly, I reflect. I think reflection is probably the most important thing you can do. Without reflection you live life unaware and self-awareness is pivotal in growth. I wrote my reflection in my notes app. I included things I was proud of, things I could change, etc. First of all, we should all be so proud because we survived 2022! Here we are and we killed it regardless of how we think we did. Some of what I was personally proud of was getting out of my comfort zone, staying authentic, learning to be human, and going to Bali. What I want to work on is accepting imperfection, being more balanced (in lifestyle and diet), being ok with messing up and being human, and releasing control. This not only helps you end 2022, but allows you to make looser aspirations for 2023. In a new note, I considered what I want overall and then in these three categories: personal, work, and school. For school I divided it between high school and college. Some examples of my “goals” are:
Highschool:
Just keep going. At this point, I am so done with high school, but I told myself that I did not do all this hard work to give up now.
No matter what happens, be proud. I mainly say this when talking about college acceptance because ti is such a stressful process, but I know I worked so insanely hard and put my best foot forward so, whatever happens is meant to be.
College:
I want to get good grades, but give myself leeway because I have never experienced college before. I am going to try my best, but I don’t want to get tied up in perfection. Instead, I will focus on learning and giving it my all.
I want to get out there and make good friends.
I will be involved. Getting into clubs and sororities will help me embrace the environment and make my mark.
I will get excited to create a routine in college. I can find the fun in freedom.
*In terms of school, I have always been very work oriented. I want to remind myself that I work to live not live to work.
Those are just a few of my school goals to give you some ideas.
Overall:
1. I want to find a happy relationship with exercise and food. I feel like I am pretty good at this, but sometimes it gets too intense and I become exhausted.
How I will complete it: Remind myself that I workout because it feels good, so if it doesn’t feel good anymore then stop. I eat to fuel and that includes fueling the soul. Moving and eating healthy is so much fun for me and I love how good it makes me feel. I will take rest days. When my body is tired, I need to listen.
2. I will increase my Spanish knowledge.
How I will complete it: Duolingo for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week. Once I get more comfortable I will practice with real people having conversations in Spanish.
3. Teach yoga!!!!
How I will complete it: I have already started reaching out. I have to just rip off the bandaid and get going because I know how fulfilling it will be. I want to teach a few community classes that are free simply so I can get out there. Wherever I go to college, I will find a studio or club on campus and teach there.
4. Relax and replenish.
How I will complete it: I have been doing great at relaxing and I will keep it up. I will reserve time for myself whether that be watching lightning games, hanging with friends/family, or going outside.
Once again, these are just a few of my goals to inspire you guys. When you make your aspirations, think about what energy you want to channel and what you want the year to look like. Then, how will you attain it? Make a plan, or it is way less likely to happen.
I also think creating a vision board is a great way to give yourself a general idea of what you want without being too strict or set in stone. You can make an actually board and keep it in your room, or create a word document/ powerpoint/Pinterest board full of pictures.
Recommendations for the new year:
Meditate and do yoga. I really hope if you have not tried it yet, you will because ti truly is magical. Breath work mixed with movement is medicine. It can heal.
Eat some fruits and veggies… it will make you feel good.
Don’t cheat your way through life or take the shortcut. It make work for a little, but it won’t last forever. Putting the work in is so rewarding.
This is our year!!! Together we are going to kill it. Im so proud of you already.