Happy New Year!!We made it through one of the most difficult, confusing, challenging years I think I’ve ever lived through; as I’m sure most of you can say the same. Whew. What a year this has been. There was definitely some hard times for my family and I but there was also a lot of good sprinkled throughout as well. I am hopeful for 2021. That masks will be a thing of the past, large events and groups can reconvene (really want to go to a KU basketball game this year… fingers crossed) and coronavirus will be a word spoken much less.

The end of something and beginning of something new, is a great time to reflect and kind of recompose yourself for what lies ahead. I welcome this time every year. This year I did something a little different than what I usually do. I created an inspiration board for myself for this new year, using words and pictures cut out from magazines. Kind of felt like I was back in art class in elementary with my scissors and stick glue out, lol, but it was actually really enjoyable. I’m a little bit of a nerd though; I love stuff like this.

I wont bore you with what each picture means to me, but each picture and word has meaning to me. I taped this up in my bathroom so every day I see it and remember what my focus needs to be on. (Feel like getting artsy?! Make one for yourself!) I think next year it’d be fun to get together with a bunch of girl friends, grab some wine and snacks and do it together. Any fellow nerd friends want to rsvp for next year?! 😛

Along with my inspiration board, I also always pick out a word and bible verse for the year. You can see last years here.

Word for the Year

NOW

Bible Verses

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” Isaiah 43:18

A Quote from my Journal

_{“This time has forced me to look at my resistance to my reality. Find the blessings in the NOW. The past is gone. The future not here. I still desire to anticipate the future and hold on to treasured memories- but not live there, not wishing away my present for moments of the past or imagined future.”}

Through different avenues recently, I have found that I tend to live in the past and future A LOT. And honestly, I think most people do. My mind easily floats to the past, whether it’s years or minutes ago, and I can find myself analyzing, worrying, & wishing I or someone else did something different in those moments. If I’m not in the past, my mind accelerates into the future, whether it’s 3 hours or 8 years. I create imagined scenarios that more often than not, never come to pass. These constant scenarios in my mind are usually fear based. Sometimes when thinking of the future, I wish away my present.

But the thing is, joy is in the present. Joy is accepting your situation, whatever it may be. If you have the power to change your circumstances then great! Change them! But if you don’t, resistance just creates negativity and joylessness. How many times have I gotten frustrated and been in a grumpy mood because a situation doesn’t go the way I envision or want it to? (Is it really too much to ask for my life to be like a Hallmark movie??) Sadly, many times. I like to have control. I like things to go my way. But guess what? Most the time situations are never exactly how I would desire them to be. Accept the now, the present, and get out of your mind. Jesus says, “do not worry about tomorrow; do not dwell on the past.”

This year I desire to live in the now. Of course it’s good to plan, dream, hope and prepare which I will still do but at the end of the day, what is going to be, will be. I can only control so much in my world. I desire to look for God in the now (one of the quotes on my board). So many times I think He will show himself to me in the future; when I get this figured out or when I have more time to spend with Him or when I’m less selfish, more content, or when my kids get older, etc. But even in my struggles and hard circumstances, He is there.

Affirmations for 2021

I will simply be me. I will capture fearful thoughts of imagined futures, past regrets and be present and joyful in the now. I will quiet my mind more often. God is living inside of me. If I’m quiet enough, He can be heard. I will accept my reality. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. I will not continue to live in fear this year. I will forgive more easily. Be more kind, especially to those closest to me. And look for the small, everyday beautiful things. I will not take my health for granted. I will be bold in all aspects of my life. And I will continue to find out who God has called me to be.

Can’t wait to see what 2021 brings.

(Hopefully no masks included.)