Last year I started out 2019 with a word. No resolution, no endless list of things that were broken that needed to be fixed, but an idea. A simple word to integrate into my year. I started 2019 with BOLD. 

I can tell you that I didn’t always meet this benchmark -not in my personal, spiritual, or mental life. There were times when I had opportunities and I shied away. Times when caution won out over curiosity. But, there were also times when I stepped out of my comfort level to find whole new heights. From buying my first house and moving into it by myself, to traveling for a weekend by myself, reconciling relationships/friendships I thought were forever lost, these might sound great now but in the midst of them, the boldness it took to take that first step was shaky. 

So, with this same sense of expectation, I looked for a new work to not only bring in a new year but a new decade. I knew right away what word I wanted to start 2020 with- GROWTH. I believe that growth is only possible by respecting the past for what it was, expectantly preparing for the future with the hope of what could be, but most importantly investing in the now and not missing the fleeting moments as they pass by. 

You can say that there aren’t a lot of constants in life. One thing that I think is unavoidable would be time and change. As much as people fight them they still come at their own pace whether you are ready for them or not. You can’t stop them. Time will come and go as it pleases and change is inevitable. I’m a firm believer that you can’t fight these. That what doesn’t grow through time and change is deteriorating, because nothing can stay frozen in time forever.

With a world constantly changing around us we have to grow with and through it. So, I want in my personal, professional, and mostly spiritual life I want to strive towards healthy and positive growth. To grow towards the woman, daughter, friend, believer that I want to be. To make a daily decision to not let the past define me but teach me, to prepare for what might come, and to enjoy the present and be engaged in what’s going on around me. 

I’m hoping that by the end of 2020 I can look back and see probably some stumbles, some bruises, some growing pains, but most importantly see some distance from where I am now to where I’ll be then. 

How are you going to start this new year, this new decade? Because you can’t stay the same person you were back in 2019 as much as you might wish you could.