Ringing in Another Year with a Fresh Perspective

Thank You Notes #37—Wondrous Words

It’s that time of year. We’re all doing it. Looking back at the prior year and trying to figure out what to do different moving forward.

Setting specific resolutions for the New Year can often be the first mistake in setting yourself up for disappointment. Therefore, I’m not going to challenge myself with anything too precise this year.

Forget about committing to a weight loss goal over the next couple of months, or vehemently declaring that THIS is the year I finally publish my book. Nope. I’m not falling into that trap again. Going into 2022, I’m keeping my expectations realistic, maybe even a little broad.

That’s why I love this week’s writing prompt. Thank you Trista Signe Ainsworth for helping me reframe my objectives and inspiring me to define my three personal words — words that describe how I’d like to live my life.

Here’s what I came up with:

1. Intentional

As I ready myself for 2022 — the first full year of running my own freelance business — I can already identify things I need to get better at if I’m going to be successfully self-employed long-term. There needs to be more “intention” incorporated into my calendar. I need to stop accepting every project offered and start being more strategic about how I spend my time and energy.

Starting your own business is scary. Who wouldn’t jump at every piece of business that comes their way? In the first few months, I was primarily concerned about justifying the fact that I had abandoned a nice-paying job with great perks to pursue my writing career, so I never really said “no.” I jumped in headfirst. Leapt from project to project, working long hours and leaving very little time for myself, or my family and friends.

While I was surprisingly relieved not to be bored at home, twiddling my thumbs and scouring the internet for freelance jobs to bid on, I should have allowed myself some “white space.” I should have spent more time thinking about where I wanted to focus my business, how I wanted to brand myself, and why I was taking such a big risk with my career at this stage of the game.

It’s never too late to reflect and pivot. That’s why I’m going to be more intentional about my work this upcoming year. I pledge to be more proactive about the commitments I make, and carefully consider whether I have the bandwidth to tackle any given project.

I’ll make sure I’m not wasting time by working too far outside my skillset, and when I do, remember to ask myself, “what purpose does it serve?” I won’t jump at every chance to make a few bucks if it could hinder my ability to produce quality work in the areas I’ve identified as most important to growing my overall business.

“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?”— Henry David Thoreau

2. Open

I am a master at biting my tongue. I’ve never liked confrontation, always avoided it at all costs. You’ll never find me igniting conflict, but I’m finally realizing that’s not always considered a good thing.

Even after attending law school and learning the art of the adversarial process, I would rather keep my thoughts and opinions to myself if expressing them means pissing someone off or jeopardizing my relationships — classic “people-pleaser.”

But letting things fester isn’t healthy. I should have said something when I felt like my client was taking advantage of me, and stood up for myself when I got blamed for something that another subcontractor did. It’s too late to correct those things now without seeming petty and insecure. But, advocating for myself in the moment would have been the smart thing to do.

Communicating openly shouldn’t be construed as negative. It can be constructive, beneficial, and liberating in one cleansing breath. It’s like letting air out of the balloon to prevent it from popping.

“Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.”—Maggie Kuhn

3. Nourishing

Words One and Two directly support my third personal word for 2022 — nourishing. I promise to be better to myself this year. By being more intentional with my time and communicating more openly, I’m hoping to feel more balanced and healthier moving forward.

This is especially important now that I’ve finished taking a daily medication to help prevent a second battle with breast cancer. I no longer have to endure the unpleasant side effects I tolerated for five years. I can walk up and down the stairs without wincing, and wiggle my fingers and toes pain-free. I’m grateful to have stopped feeding myself pharmaceuticals that make me tired and depressed, and can’t begin to describe how much better a night’s sleep feels these days.

While 2021 marked the end of a long and arduous medical journey, it’s the beginning of an exciting and renewed commitment to health and wellness. I’m looking forward to eating right, exercising more and with greater intensity, and simply having more interest in spending time with other people. Focusing on a more balanced life in 2022 will be my top priority, which is exactly what I wish for all my fellow readers and writers out there!

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis