Resolving 2024

Dawn. A cool, clear dawn, with strands of coral cloud parting like old wool to allow the sun to rise through them.

Morgan Llywelyn, Bard

Holy moly we only have two more weeks left to go until 2024. Is anyone else in shock? Anyone else think it’s still actually September because there is no way it’s December 17th? No? Just me? Cool, cool.

It has been a hell of a Fall and beginning of Winter for our household. I think I’m on cold number 4 since September, as are my husband and the kids. For all the amazing moments we get with young kids, the constant illness is definitely a drain on the system.

So, I’m giving myself the gift of the last two weeks of December off from work and writing commitments. Now, that doesn’t mean I can’t schedule some blog posts for the new year if I feel like it but I’m not going to stress myself out trying to post one every Sunday (or beat myself up when some weeks aren’t possible). Merry Christmas to me!

I couldn’t go out without posting my annual Resolution post though. So here it is. May it serve, if nothing else, as a reminder that resolutions are wonderful but not required. If your year turns out to look differently than you planned in a flurry of productivity at the beginning…that’s OK! I think the point is to commit to growing every year, even if we end up growing in ways which are unforeseen.

I always prep for these posts by reading my resolution post from the previous year. You would think I would learn by now to write my resolutions down somewhere other than my blog so I actually remember what they are throughout the 365 days that follow but…thus far I have not managed this. So, it should come as no surprise that I didn’t meet all the goals that I made and then forgot about but…I did achieve some related things! I’m going to take that as a win.

In 2023 I was going to…

• Finish chronicling my 2015 visit to France. I did not do this but I did manage to post a few chapters from it instead of, well, none the year before so I’ll take it.
• Catch up on some book reviews. I don’t think I posted any this year? But I did more than meet my reading goal of 23 books by reading more than 30! I’m very proud of this.
• Redesign the blog. I did not do this either but I did buy a business which requires me to run a whole other website (which I did update) and I also committed to running the social media for our local historical society so I wasn’t making no effort in this respect.

My word of 2023 was also HEALTH. I was somewhat successful in focusing on this goal. I certainly exercised more and ate better overall but I still found my energy and commitment flagging for much of the year which was frustrating. It wasn’t until November when I got some tests back which highlighted some possible future health issues if I don’t make big changes that I started to truly focus on taking care of my health. At least I have a plan moving forward now which helps immensely.

So. What is 2024 going to look like?

Well, first of all, I’m going to keep the same goals for my blog. I think they are achievable if I actually remember them and it’s getting easier to write more now that the kids are getting older and on more of a schedule. Let’s see how I do!

I’ve also decided that my word for 2024 is going to be: JOY. One of the test results that came back was that my cortisol is very low which I thought was good but apparently it means you’ve been under a heavy load of stress for a very long time. So, the best way to counteract this (I think) is to focus on finding the joy in life again.

I honestly have so much to be joyful about: my amazing husband and his love for me, my extraordinary children, supportive family and friends, my business which allows me to live a more balanced life (and not commute!)… Not to mention we live in a safe part of the world and are relatively healthy most days.

Luckily, the year kicks off with a belated honeymoon to New Zealand with my wonderful husband so that should fill up the joy tank more than enough to get me through any difficult seasons to come this year. And difficult ones there will be but there will be easier ones too.

So, as we approach the dawn of a new year I want to wish you all a safe and happy holidays. And if you have any resolutions of any kind, feel free to share them below!

And, remember, life is beautiful.

xo Erin