Hey, friend, how is 2023 treating you so far?
Good, I hope! If it's rough, know that I am holding space for you, always, and wishing goodness, health, and happiness into your life. I have a philosophy that we are all in this rat race together and there's no point in holding grudges or wishing for others to fail (a rising tide lifts all ships, or so the saying goes).
My goals for the past couple of years have been to let things go that I have no control over. I'm a control-freak by nature, it's definitely a trauma response to being forced to survive from an early age. I don't want to dwell too deeply or vomit bad memories into your inbox, but I can honestly say I do not miss any part of my youth. There are parts of my adulthood I don't miss either. I don't miss the chaotic energies of people who are no longer in my life, even if I do sometimes miss their presence. I won't lie and say that times were always bad (in youth or in parts of my adult life). I won't lie and say that I was always the perfect one in each scenario. I've also played a hand in my own failures, but I'm learning to make peace with the past. I'm learning to leave the dirt covering old graves untouched. Feeding negative emotions keeps them alive. 2023 isn't the year for entertaining ghosts.
The goal for this year is to recognize my toxic traits and leave them in a grave labeled 2022. I take things too personally sometimes (a lot, okay, I'm an emotional pisces). I'm going to quit over-analyzing the things that people say or don't say; as well as the things that they do or don't do. I'm going to quit spreading myself thin for people who don't add purpose to my life. Because I'll tell you now, friend, you have to be the one to put yourself first sometimes. One of my favorite humans always says, "I'm just over here with my cats and my plants." I want that simplicity.
Simplicity is the goal for the year. Within simplicity there is peace (call me Mace Windu, because that's some Jedi like philosophy).
How am I going to find peace?
With a word: no.
2023 is the Year of NO. No to things that are exhausting (I've already got a loaded plate). No to things that are overwhelming (I don't need added stress). No to things that aren't fun (I only get one life, I'd like to enjoy it). No to anything that doesn't fill me with happiness, purpose, or excitement.
There will plenty of room for YES when the NO's clear the path for those things worth doing.
I hope your 2023 is a Year of No, friend. I want you to make room for all those YES's.
Let me in on your 2023 goals, friend! As always, I'd love to hear how you are doing!
P.S.
You know how I entered a contest with my stories? I WON! I got a cool crystal heart that is going to sit on my desk year round, or maybe my mantle. Help me pick; where do you think it should go?
Pssst! Before you go, check out what my cool friends have coming out! Click the images to read! I worked as a conceptual editor on one of the stories in Magic and Myth by Kathryn Trattner (I enjoyed every second of it because she's insanely talented)! Marnie's one of my long-time writing buddies. We are constantly bouncing ideas off of one another; I know you are going to love her collection!
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