A FRESH PERSPECTIVE

As I’m writing this, there are TWO days until Christmas, ya’ll. TWO DAYS.

Wow, this year has flown by.

It really feels like it was just the start of 2019 and I was working a second job at Starbucks, saving to buy a home in Columbus, Ohio, not knowing that I would be ending my year living in Orlando, Florida and not  buying a house at all!

This year has been a wonderful rush of joy, magic and adventure and I am RIDING. THAT. WAVE.

As I reflect on this past year, it’s hard for me to imagine that there’s still better ahead, but that’s the beauty of aging. There are always new sides of yourself to explore, more ways to improve and new levels to unlock in life.

This year, I’ve learned so much about who I am and have really pushed myself outside of my comfort zones. Moving to a new state is no easy task in and of itself, but I also recently took the leap into fitness coaching with Beachbody, which requires me to speak on camera to everyone I know. Can you say, SCARY?

I’ve always hated public speaking and I feel that this is just a step under that. It’s definitely growing me in ways that I never knew I needed. There’s still way more work to be done there, but any step is a step in the right direction.

I’ve challenged myself with consistency this year. Consistency with workouts, vitamin regimens, hair washing (haha)…I used to struggle (see that…changing that inner dialogue, low key) with consistency and it always bothered me about myself. I would start something and then get distracted and leave it half done, or not really give it a full chance at all and move on to something else. I’m done with that.

Still a work in progress, but training myself to stick to a routine will be worth it!

So, now I’m asking myself what this new decade is going to bring for me? What do I want it to look like. What progress am I excited to make?

I think it’s important to be excited about your “resolutions” instead of feeling obligated to them. If you feel an obligation, then you likely won’t follow through. Even if you DO feel an obligation….try changing the way you phrase it internally to reflect gratitude and see how that affects things. For example, try saying “this year, I have the opportunity to be in the best shape of my life”.

Sorry, teachable moment that I couldn’t miss! So anyway, back to MY 2020 goals.

Veganism//

I’ll start with this one because I feel it will be the most challenging and provide the most personal growth. Going vegan is some SERIOUS up-leveling. Jacob and I have both been toying with the idea of cutting out meat from our diet for awhile now (this year). We’ve talked about it and watched some very eye opening documentaries on it and we’ve even implemented a “no meat at home” type diet where we allow ourselves to indulge when we go out to eat, but any meals made at home will be meatless.

I love the idea of that and still think that’s a great concept because you’re still making a big impact on the environment and your own health with eating meatless 60/40, but for us, it just wasn’t working.

Mostly because we felt guilty after eating meat because we understand what it’s doing to our bodies and the environment now. But let me tell you, it’s HARD to not eat meat. ESPECIALLY when you’re eating out. You don’t realize just how many restaurants mainly serve meat until you’re trying to cut it out. Vegan and vegetarian options (while I feel like it’s gotten better), are still few and far between. And most of the time, the ones that are offered are less than appealing.

However, we still feel the cause is worth the effort. So, Jacob is giving vegetarianism a go and I’ve decided to go vegan. Dairy products haven’t been kind to me for years but I LOOOVVEE cheese, so I’ve suffered the consequences, but it’s time to respect my body’s indications that it’s not a good fit for me.

Not only that, but there are a slew of other reasons that I will save for another post.

Yoga Teacher Training//

This year I would like to dedicate myself to getting certified to teach yoga and dance. I was recently reflecting on all the previous hobbies and interests I’ve found myself diving into and what has stuck and I realized that there are really only two that I ever find myself coming back to and/or CRAVING. Dance and yoga.

And when you find yourself craving your hobbies, I feel like that’s how you know that you’ve found your calling. So I’ve decided that even if it’s solely for personal gratification, I am going to get certified in these areas and do the consistent (there’s that word again) work to involve them in my life.

Right now, I’m deciding whether an in person or online class would be better, so we’ll see how that shakes out!

Self Care //

This is another BIG one. I know that the term “self care” is incredibly mainstream right now and it’s becoming kind of cliche, but it truly is important to take time out for yourself and allow indulgence in making yourself feel GOOD.

Most of us spend our days tending to the needs of others, whether it be children, spouse, friends, family or work, a good portion of our time is focused on others and it can be easy to lose and neglect yourself in the never ending demands. I know because it happened to me.

We were saving money so diligently for a house that I started to feel guilty spending money on myself. I would go too long in between hair appointments, I’ve completely let go of buying myself clothes (and I’m now paying the price of needing to replace every single thing in my closet) and I NEVER indulge in skin or nail care. But those things are important!

When you don’t take care of yourself, you start feeling sluggish and your self-esteem starts to plummet and that’s not good for anyone.

So this year, I will be more intentional about setting aside time and money to refill my own cup!

Reading + Limit Social Media//

I’ve always enjoyed reading, but lately, I’ve found myself spending more time scrolling on social media than doing anything else. I really want to enforce a strict social media time limit in the evenings. There are SO many books I want to read and I love journaling, these things fuel my inspiration and creativity and add so much more to my life than mindlessly scrolling on social that I want to be intentional about adding them into my routine.

Composting//

The last one I’ll share for now is this. I’ve really been searching for a way to decrease the amount of trash that we’re producing in our household and I think composting is an incredible way to do that. Not only does it cut back on trash, but it creates consciousness around what you’re really using and how much you actually need. It also provides nourishing soil for your plant babies! You can’t beat that.

So there you have it. My simplified list of 2020 goals!

What are you striving for in the new year?