Happy New Year, 2023

As promised here is the 2023 New Years blog.

Can you believe that we are in 2023? The past year went by faster than any other year I think.

Well, with that said and the new year here…. I had to post and stay on track what I need to do in the new year in order to reach goals I wanted to reach. I let so many things slip in 2022 that I have to break bad habits and set new ones for 2023. That is hard to say.

I actually started on these things about 4 months ago but not with the consistency I wanted because of so many life distractions. Now why is this important? Because you will never reach your dream if you don’t actually have a direction you are going. It is like saying you live in Atlanta and are going to Chicago but you do nothing to get to Chicago. If you don’t actually move your physical body in some way: walk, bike, hike, train, bus, car, or plane – YOU are not going to get there. So here goes…

Areas of improvement and goals for 2023 are:

TIME WITH HOLY SPIRIT & MORE STUDY IN THE WORD:

This area fell off in my life, yea it did, because distraction is a real thing and sickness in the body. I had so much health stuff going on that it was hard to focus on anything when you don’t feel good. I have so many things I want to study: marriage, divorce, the beauty of the Lord, the temple, grace, covenant, timing of God, iniquity, faith & more. I have all the study materials I need (but can always get more) yet didn’t sit in my office and just pump this out.

How to change this:

• My downstairs office will be my study place. Put the actual books and materials I need for study on that topic on that desk so I don’t have to search for them.
• Sit in there, when I walk in there and actually start. If I start I will get going.

FRIENDSHIPS & RELATIONSHIPS

This one is close to my heart. I am not an introvert but at times I need my peace, space and quiet. But I like to be with people. I tend to get tunnel vision when working on things and forget that I need to be with people or I get hurt easily by people and their rejection of quality time so I then retreat. We all need people and I feel like I desire a select group of friends around me in my life that are “my people”. If you are not familiar with that term then you need to read Jennie Allen’s book “Find Your People”. She explains that term and why we need that in our lives. I didn’t do a good job cultivating this last year. I tried with my book club an then with hanging out with friends but people are not accessible as I like. I desire women to be there for me and that looks a certain way for me. I need people to want to be in relationship, answer their phones, texts, etc. Be available. Be open. It’s complicated. But friendships usually are right?

Another area I failed in is that I didn’t complete my 100 letter writing project where I handwrite 100 letters to people that have blessed my life. That is something that is just important to me that I finish. I have about 32 that I have written and mailed.

How to change this:

• Going to read through Jennie Allen’s book and see if this is what my heart is needing.
• Going to ask two other women if they want to read it with me and see what develops.
• Going to try for 3 months to cultivate relationship with some people and see what happens.
• Going to go back to my 100 letter writing project and finish that.

HEALTH & FITNESS

Okay this one just is plain hard and a failure because a lot of things are factors. I am in menopause and the extra weight about 20lb I need to take off to get off blood pressure pills. It is hard. Asthma started up and that just well shut down exercise when your chest hurts. Fatigue from lack of sleep from menopause insomnia just kills everything active.

I have tried so many things but stress and lack of sleep is affecting this area. It is not just one thing (as my son thinks) it’s a combination of things. I also hate the gym. I just do. But, I love the pool and took up swimming and trying to break my fear of the water and got pretty good. When I started I could not swim a lap and now I can swim all the way down and half way back before my lungs feel like exploding.

How to change this:

• I promised myself starting Jan 2 to walk everyday for at least 30 min every single day no matter what the temperature, rain or sun. Walk.
• Get new walking shoes.
• Go swim at least 3x a week because I really enjoyed it and get up to 20 laps without stopping.
• To learn to destress by meditation and quiet music. Also to let things go (which I don’t do easily)
• To stick to the one eating plan on my phone that I think I can work but I must plan what I eat. But, that has been my problem is the planning.
• Do all of this for 6 mos and then reevaluate if any of it is working.

CHURCH

Now this one has been hard and challenging for about two years or more. I have no church. I am lost without a church it seems. I had a horrible church hurt at a church I was going to for about 18 years that really crushed me. I’m not talking I was some silly person and got offended by something but a real, true church hurt that should not have happened but it is what it is from leadership. Well that crushed me and I just didn’t feel comfortable at my church anymore and I lost my church and connection with people. It was the kind of hurt that you just emotionally can’t stay there because you don’t belong. I have missed going to church with my kids (we all are in different churches because of their jobs). I have gone to several churches but feel totally alone sitting there and don’t feel accepted so I don’t stay. I feel useless in my calling and gifting because I am not being used anymore and not sure what to do about this.

How to change this:

• Keep praying ask Holy Spirit where to go.
• Then when He tells me where to go– simply go.

MENTAL HEALTH

This one is crucial to me because I suffered depression greatly in the past. I need what I need and I need healthy people around me and in my life. I need joy in my life and zero negativity. I love to better myself with great books and people and cooking and serving others.

How to change this:

• Continue my monthly book club and reading good books.
• Keep myself surrounded by my friends that love me and want to be around me.
• Listen to TedX talks, Les Brown and other motivational speakers
• Stay away from depression as much as I can
• Listen to more music
• Take a weekend get-a-way at least every 4 months or so with a friend(s)
• Bedtime at same time every night

MY WRITING LIFE

My calling to write is so important to me. It is almost more important than my children. No lie. I let it slip a little this year because of health issues, fatigue and time. Real focused time with butt in the chair. I can’t even begin to tell you all the things I want to write, desire to write and ideas to write. Books, bible studies and more I want to create for people. Just hurts me that I have not seriously devoted to it like my heart wants to. I have felt stuck in my creativity so I need to get back to write morning pages again and working through Artist’s Way book. I have a writing course I need to finish and one I need to start that I am paying MONEY for.. Ugh!

How to change this:

• Use my planners and plan out what to do each week
• Literally sit with the planner each Sunday and plan the week out
• Create good to-do lists and brain dump lists each week or daily
• Stay off social media scrolling mindlessly
• Get back to journalling every day like I used to. It is so cathartic for me. Keep the journal by the bed and do morning pages and journal at night.
• Butt in the chair on the weekends and write
• Exercise and eat right so I feel good enough to write

Now, how about you…. what are your plans and goals for 2023 let me hear from you in the comments. I know you got something you need to work on also.

Blessings, Stephanie