The beginning of 2020 was a little different than New Years of the past for me. I spent most of New Years Eve at home watching a movie with my fiancé. Admittedly, I spend most of my New Years Eves in a similar way, but this year I just let the clock hit midnight and ring in a new year without thinking, “This year I’m going to change so and so,” which is actually quite irregular for me.
I’ve made big resolutions as long as I can remember and I’m always thinking of ways to improve this and that. The problem is, that kind of lifestyle has completely burned me out.
I no longer have the energy to think of a new way to improve myself, and I’ve finally come to the realization that that is OKAY.
It’s taken a long time for me to come to that realization, but wow am I glad I have. Constantly wanting to change something has caused me to seriously overwhelm myself and those around me and it was just unnecessary.
I would hit a huge milestone in my own life, and just because it wasn’t exactly like someone else’s or someone else didn’t see it’s significance, I let myself think less of myself.
I’m starting to think we get so wrapped up in where we think we’re supposed to be that we lose sight of the significance of where we actually are. Every detail of our lives isn’t exactly the way we thought it would be or how it happened for someone else and we let the disappointment of that get the best of us.
There’s really just no need for that.
I overheard the following advice a few weeks ago: “Talk to those around you who are older and ask them what they were doing when they were your age.”
Almost everyone will have a different story and wow let’s talk about the beauty of that.
Everyone, and I mean absolutely everyone, is not and should not be on the exact same path in life. We’re all different for a reason and it’s about time we all started to embrace that.
So stop being envious of a friend’s milestone. Stop comparing yourself to celebrities or people in the spotlight. Stop letting other people define YOU.
Accept where and who you are and enjoy the peace that comes along with it.
I guess if I have to make a New Years resolution, it’s to spend the year with no expectations for myself, but to simply let my life unfold and excitedly wait for the next chapter.
I hope you’ll consider doing the same.
While, I could talk or write all day long, I think other people can often sum up what I’m trying to say best. I’m forever a reader and a big believer in the written word’s ability to change lives, so I often like to end my personal writing with a quote that I think sums up my topic. With that said, I will leave you with a quote from Mitch Albom’s book titled, “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.”
“You have peace,” the old woman said, “when you make it with yourself.”
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Sydney Taylor is news editor for The News Observer. She can be reached at 706-632-2019 or by email at sydney@thenewsobserver.com.