The ball dropped, confetti flew, kisses were shared and noise erupted.  Ringing in the new year has always been something I look forward to.  Whether I’m celebrating at midnight or when I wake up on January 1st because I went to bed before midnight.  I know there are people who feel January 1st is just another day and changing calendar years doesn’t mean much.  That’s okay for them, but for me, I treat it as a clean slate.

I always look forward to the new year.  I’m someone who likes to review the year gone by and try to learn from it. I like to set goals for the upcoming year and make to do lists.  I love the feeling of entering a fresh calendar year.  I feel rested coming off my busy season and like I can do anything.  Now I know I can do this any time I want, it doesn’t have to be January 1st.  I’m in control of my mindset.  January 1st is just a special reset button for me.

As I reviewed 2019 I do acknowledge that I have much to be grateful for.  I worked with many fabulous clients that entrusted me with their memories.  I had a job I love that provides for my family and helps ensure my kids always have a parent there for them when they need someone (since we don’t have family to help).  While we have been dealing with some health things and had lots of viruses, nothing was too serious.  We went on vacation to Orlando and made some other fun memories including visiting Jim Thorpe, Dorney Park, Knoebels and New York City to see Harry Potter on Broadway.  Again, we are truly fortunate for our life and I so cherish the memories we were able to make.  On the flip side…

Photo credit: Hannah Kathleen Photography

… I have to say 2019 was a year of hurdles.  I don’t want to get into all of the details, but those closest to me could attest to all that challenged me this past year.  It was a year where I felt like it was one challenge after another.  There were absolutely multiple times I ended up in tears feeling so beat down I didn’t know if I would have the strength to stand up again.  But I kept getting up.  Why?  Mostly because of my family but partly because I’m too stubborn.  “I have been through harder things than this,” I would try to tell myself.

So here I am on January 1, 2020 with no resolutions, no big goals, no fancy planner or word to live by.  It feels a little foreign to me.  I’m used to doing those things and I truly tried.  However, my heart just kept saying, “No.”  I need to just breathe and stop putting so much pressure on myself to check off items on a to do list that I think I should have.  I need to let go and just put on foot in front of the other.  As a wise woman said, “Just do the next right thing.”

However you approach the new year, I wish you a wonderful year.