It seems like a telling sign that I’m sitting here writing this gratitude post completely astounded that January is almost over. It is already feeling like 2017 is going to fly by at record speed in much of the same way that 2016 did, so let’s take a few moments to slow down and reflect on how these first few weeks of the year have gone, shall we?
Now, before I begin discussing the positive things that this month has brought into my life, I do want to address my somewhat sporadic blogging schedule this month. Upon returning home from Venice and London I found that I really needed some quiet time to decompress. You can read more about why I needed to take a temporary step back here, but long story short I had a bit of a rough start to the year and needed to do a hard reset on life. I really appreciate all of your patience and support while I worked through some things and am excited to get back to a more regular blogging schedule going forward.
Though 2017 started off with some challenges, it is actually those less than stellar moments at the beginning of the year that I’m most thankful for this month. You see, the concept of balance – whether it be work/life, relationship/friendship, etc. – has always alluded me. I conceptually understand that it’s healthy to find a happy medium in all things but have had a hard time actually putting that idea into practice.
Take our trip to Europe for example. In no way, shape, or form did anything actually happen in my life that was worthy of the multiple panic attacks I experienced while abroad. They not so subtly crept up on me simply because I’d stressed myself out juggling work, my blog, and life to the point that my mind, body, and soul were all at the end of their rope. As a result, I found myself hyperventilating in the dreamiest of surroundings rather than enjoying them with my husband.
Upon returning home I tried to throw myself right back into work and Musings on Momentum but I simply couldn’t ignore the voice in my head telling me to slow down any longer. It was clear that when 2016 went out the window so too did the 12+ hour work days I had been subjecting myself to. Again, I want to stress that there was never a need for me to be pushing myself quite so hard. As much as I want this blog to succeed, it has become clear that I need to redefine what “success” means to me at this phase of my life.
And so, in this first month of 2017, I am grateful for being forced to confront the fact that continuing to try to do it all ultimately leaves me unable to do anything. I am not going to be the person who responds to all invitations with, “Sorry, thanks for the invite, but I have to work,” this year. I am not going to be the person who is so focused on getting four more hours of work done after I get home from my 9-5 job that I realize days later that I didn’t fully absorb an important conversation my husband was trying to have with me. As important as this blog is to me and as important as my job is (because the bills just never seem to stop coming, do they?), RELATIONSHIPS are what makes the world go round and further cultivating those relationships is something I’m going to be focusing on this year.
Have these first few weeks of 2017 brought any A HA! moments into your lives? What are your primary goals and focuses for the year?
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