all is calm

a new year's reflection

I usually start the new year already stressed. Ya girl loves a fresh start, but I also usually manage to finagle the energy of newness into expectation. I try to do more, be more, every year. It’s exhausting.

But this year, as my bestie Sam and I continued our tradition of collaging vision boards together on New Year’s Day, I felt a distinctly settled…calm? Yes, calm. I was surprised too.

Sure, there are things I would love to accomplish or change or try this year. But, overwhelmingly, I feel an invitation and pull to do less. To read more and worry less about being a fast text responder. To choose a nap, putting the vacuum & Clorox wipes to the side. To celebrate my accomplishments instead of seeing them as assumed expectations. To see myself as good, because God created me that way. To see my upcoming year as good, because God is already there.

My heart leaps within me at the idea of just giving myself a gosh darn break this year, something I struggle to do. So that’s my plan. It may get messy and weird along the way - as new journeys usually do. In fact, I hope it does.

Calm, here I am. Let’s find each other again.