2022… wow. I’m not even going to be cheesy and ask “Can you believe it”?! Because I would bet that you can’t. I think the one thing that we can all agree on is that these past two years have been a whirlwind and a roller coaster of emotions. I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way either. Although there have certainly been what seems like an extraordinary amount of uncertainty and fear, some of the best things have also come out of 2020 and 2021 and I don’t want to breeze past those either. 

Some of mine?

1. I married the absolute love of my life and truly had my dream wedding despite the near impossible circumstances (2020 bride here👋🏻).
2. I fell in love with Tennessee on my honeymoon.
3. I became an Aunt to the sweetest little girl. 
4. I started to stop caring what others think and be authentic to my true self (a work in progress, for sure). 
5. I launched my YouTube channel and found a true passion of mine- something I have struggled with over the years. 
6. I traveled to Cancún with my husband for our 1-year anniversary. 
7. I started a new job. 
8. I got my first piercing since childhood. 
9. I experienced true anxiety for the first time, which felt so debilitating at times, but it is a journey and I am so proud of myself for learning my triggers and figuring out how to manage it. 
10. We made huge strides in furnishing and decorating our house. 

That was meant to be a short list, but God is so so good. 

This post started out as tips on how to up your water intake in the New Year but I started getting sappy so rather than tag that along here I will bookmark that for an upcoming post. Instead, I wanted to say a few things about the New Year, one I’m going into more excited that I can ever remember. 

As we take on the New Year, remember: 

💖2022 is a new year and a new start, yes (and please take advantage of that), but that doesn’t mean it has to be perfect. No day is ever truly perfect and this life isn’t perfect, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t so beautiful. I’m sure you’ve set at least one resolution, maybe more, but please remember that you are human and you’re going to have good days and you’re going to have off days. Don’t feel like the year is ruined or all hope is lost if you fall short one day or need a break and don’t give up on the year (or yourself) at the first sign of “failure.” We’re all human and we all have our bad days and shortcomings, but with grace we rise. 

💖On a similar note, don’t compare your life to what you see on social media. Nobody shows everything and you never ever know the full picture, even when you think you do. I honestly don’t think the “highlight reel” exists because people are being malicious. Even the influencers that post 30 stories a day are only showing a very small portion of their 24 hours. Our lives weren’t meant to be broadcasted 24/7, which means we see the exciting stuff- the engagements, the babies, the weight loss, the accomplishments- but there’s no way we could see everything. If you start envying someone, just remember that you don’t know the pain they’ve had to go through to get where they are or what they sacrificed to have what you’re seeing. Chances are, they’d trade something about your life if they could. There’s enough room for all of us and your only competition is who you were yesterday.  

💖Don’t compare yourself. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and if we all had the same interests and looks, the world would be a very boring place and literally wouldn’t operate. If it were up to me to do brain surgery or build a skyscraper or fly a plane we would be out of luck, sis. You are beautiful and worthy just as you are and the world terribly needs who you authentically are. Don’t hold back on living the absolute best life that you can because of your insecurities. 

💖We weren’t meant to hold all of the sadness and pain of the world, so watch what you feed yourself. What you tell your mind it will believe. If you go searching for the pain in this world you won’t have to look far or long and you’ll find lots of it- there are close to 8 billion people in this world- and that will alter your perception of life. However, the reverse is also true. Go looking for the good and you will find it. Now I’m not saying to be ignorant or ignore that others are hurting. The world wouldn’t work without empathy, compassion, and good works towards your neighbor so help where you can. What I am saying is make it a point to show your mind the good. Clean out your social media, pay attention to how you talk to yourself, and be mindful of the attitudes of those you surround yourself with. It all matters. 

💖Dream really really big. Think about what you really want in life. You can have that, you know. Set a goal. Set tons of goals and then take small steps every day to get there. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was anything else worthwhile so be patient and go get what you want. Time is going to pass anyways so you might as well look back on it and be proud. Want to know where to start and how to get momentum? Ask yourself every single day, “Is what I’m doing getting me closer to or farther from the life I want to have”? If you find yourself asking this question as you drive past the lit up Krispy Kreme sign and your goal is to eat whole foods, it will remind you to keep on driving. It may hurt in that moment, but you will thank yourself later. Remember baby steps lead to big results. 

💖Renew your mind! This is a spiritual phrase (Romans 12:12) but it’s true with everything. It’s why CEOs read an average of 60 books/year (4-5 books/month)! We need to be reminded DAILY of the truth, which is often things we already know. We all know we should eat whole foods, drink enough water, exercise daily, etc. but that doesn’t mean we always do those things. Motivation is fleeting, emotions aren’t stable, and there are circumstances out of our control BUT the one thing you can control is your attitude and what you expose your mind to. Make it your goal to renew your mind everyday. Put an app on your phone that sends you motivating notifications, set a Pinterest board of your goal as a widget on your phone, read a few pages of a personal development book per day, start a devotional, begin a daily gratitude practice, and/or find a podcast that aligns with the goals that you’re working towards. The outcome will astound you. 

That’s all, loves. If you’re reading this just know that I appreciate you more than you know. I believe in you. You are capable of making 2022 a great year. Let’s go make ourselves proud, okay? This blog has been my secret dream since college and the fact that you are reading my words online is indescribable feeling for me. Thank you for helping me make my dreams come true. 

P.S. My comment box is always open for you to share your thoughts or ask questions. I would love to hear from you💖