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New Year, New Me? Not This Year
The start of a New Year is always exciting. It’s a chance (or rather a kick in the butt) to set new goals and go after priorities that might have slipped in years past. However, as I took a minute to reflect on 2011 and think about what’s next for me…I realized my goals are a little different this year.
I don’t think I am setting any.
Shocked? If you know me at all…I’m sure you are. And even for those who don’t…you probably don’t understand. So let me explain…
Overall, 2011 was a year of changes and challenges for me personally. Changes that triggered a wide array of emotions…from excitement and happiness, to anxiety and frustration. Challenges that included health struggles, relationship anxiety, big financial decisions and a major career move. But as I look back, I now realize all of these things only made me stronger. They made me realize I don’t need as many written “goals” in life to achieve what I want to (and can) achieve.
Why? Because for the first time in my life (after good advice from
mentors I deeply respect) I took a step back. I learned to relax and sometimes put myself first. Now don’t get me wrong, for a non-stop, competitive, go-getter, this was difficult. And it doesn’t mean that I stopped working hard or became totally complacent. What I do mean, is that I simply learned balance.
When the start of 2011 brought frustrating health challenges, it drained me emotionally and physically. But in the end, I learned to be more honest – with myself and others. I learned to let down my guard and let others support me. And in the end, it made me reconsider the things that truly made me happy…
Which leads to my next lesson: I learned to take risks. For the better part of 2011 I was afraid to shake anything up, afraid to potentially make things worse. But I finally determined that to be truly happy, I had to take risks. A risk that involved me leaving a stable, successful job for something unknown in a whole new industry. But it was the opportunity of a lifetime and I don’t regret it for a second.
And finally, I learned to be more independent and supportive, as my fiancé took on a new challenge at work that would consume almost 11 months and leave us struggling in our personal relationship. But in the end, we both learned how to work through this type of challenge, and embrace something that will ultimately improve the quality of our life for years to come.
So that’s why, as I look into 2012, I’m not making a long list of resolutions this year. I already eat healthy, work out a ton, have a good job and plenty of fun. Sure, I still have huge “goals” for my career and a “bucket list” of lifelong dreams. But mainly, this year I simply want to build on what I started in 2011. I plan on being honest and open, taking risks and supporting those around me. No matter what this year brings, I plan on just enjoying being young, happy and in love.
After all, I am getting married this year (only six months away now!) and that alone makes me think 2012 is going to be a great year.
What do you think?
