As 2021 comes to a close, I like to use this last week leading up to the new year to reflect on what was and look forward to what will be. Like 2020, this year was hard, but it was also good. It was filled with sadness and also filled with joy. It felt fast and furious as we played catch up from the year before. Demand for healthcare was high, (and like many things) supply was low, and I felt it to the point of exhaustion.
Over the last 2 years, I have picked a power word or word for the year to focus on. In 2020, I chose the word courage as I had just released my first book out into the world and planned to write a second one that would be read by a broader audience. And then of course, we know how 2020 went, requiring a completely different level of courage as I worked on the front lines as a healthcare provider when Covid was new and filled with so much fear and uncertainty. I was one of the early ones to step up and get vaccinated the minute it was available to us, choosing to protect myself, my family, and the people around me. I chose courage again and again as it was my focus for the year.
For 2021, I chose the word flourish. Coming out of 2020, I was pretty beat down. I had dedicated a lot of my time and energy into writing my second book and working through a global pandemic, and I felt that my overall health was not flourishing. I needed to get back to nourishing my body, to growing and strengthening it. My plan was to focus on my health and daily habits, get back to strength training again, and to grow and thrive during the ongoing pandemic and all the stress surrounding it. I started the year off by signing up for Beachbody on Demand as a way to add strength training work-outs to supplement my running, and it has really helped to alleviate a lot of my aches and pains. I set a goal to read or listen to 50 books in 2021 as a way to grow and also protect my peace, and I came pretty darn close at 44 non-fiction books for the year. I planted packets and packets of zinnia seeds, focusing on the growth cycle and enjoying the bountiful beauty that the blooms brought forth. And as the year went on, my word for the year became more about blooming with grace. 2021 required so much GRACE!
I gave myself grace in the area of writing. I hoped to write another book in 2021, but I just didn't have the time or mental capacity to do it as my job as a nurse practitioner took nearly ALL of it.
I gave myself grace for not achieving all of my goals when it came to health and fitness, reading, and more.
I extended grace to ALL the people and their comments and their unkindness in a year of division, lack of humanity, burn-out, staffing and supply shortages, and ongoing challenges.
I extended grace when I felt frustrated, disappointed, overwhelmed, or exhausted. I lowered my expectations, held my tongue, took a walk, listened to another podcast, read a book, cleaned something, took more photos of flowers, prayed, made a change, went for a run, and decided to choose gratitude. GRACE not Perfection became a motto for me and I often wore it on a necklace when I needed the reminder.
In 2021 with flourish as my word for the year, I focused on nourishing and strengthening my body, growing my mind, protecting my peace, and blooming with grace, not perfection.
And in 2022, I will be focusing on staying COMMITTED.
The definition of committed is feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, or job.
Synonyms include devoted, loyal, dedicated, faithful, unwavering, enthusiastic, passionate, motivated, driven, hard-working, and active.
In 2022, I will be committed to:
Nourishing my body with the foods and water that makes me feel my best
Building a stronger, leaner body
Finding and creating joy again in my job as a Nurse Practitioner
Writing my next book (filled with flowers and growing and grace!)
Being fully present with my husband and girls
According to Zig Ziglar, "If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time." I couldn't agree more. If you go into a new year with no goals or intentions, no areas you want to improve in, no word you want to focus on, then the year will most likely be filled with a lot of the same.
Another year with no weight loss. Another year with no books read. Another year with no classes taken. Another year with no words written. Another year with no hobby. Another year with no date nights. Another year with no miles run. Another year with no job promotion. Another year with no photo albums. Another year with no organized closets. Another year without a vacation. Another year with disappointment.
A power word gives us focus. Goals give us direction. Being intentional with our day and our hours gives us momentum to keep growing.
What word are you focusing on this year? What goals and intentions are you aiming at? At the end of 2022, what do you hope to have achieved?
Cheering for us all in 2022,
Allison
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