“Most of all, I learned to accept what is instead of trying to change it. Through these minor, micro-adjustments in everyday life, I have confronted the source of my unrealistic expectations and the depths of self-disillusionment. These acts of self-respect have helped me come home to myself; they’ve helped me come home to just… being.” - Kate Arends
After listening to the Sorta Awesome podcast Ep. 471, where they discuss their favorites of the year, they ended the episode by each sharing what they learned in 2023.
The idea stuck with me. A week later, after giving it much thought, I posted this on Instagram:
(You can read it HERE if you prefer)
As I plodded on this past year, I was challenged continually to say yes to my life, my family under my roof and what’s best for us, not what others are doing or saying.
This also included saying yes to myself and what my gut is telling me. In other words, learning to listen to myself. So often, I’m quick to shame myself for feeling what I’m feeling by assigning judgment to those feelings.
As a recovering people pleaser, I’m still very much learning what if feels like to disappoint others. I’m still learning how to hold uncomfortable feelings. To sit in that tension and remind myself that ~
If this is as bad as it gets, can I still be ok?
As I get ready to dive into another year, I’m holding these thoughts close. I wonder what all God has up his sleeve with this idea in 2024?
What about you? What’s one thing you learned in this past year?
I leave you with a SONG I’m loving right now.
It’s a blessing for this week between Christmas and NY’s.
We bless the seeds under the snow
We bless the patience, take it slow
We bless the limits, bless the tears
We bless the failures that brought us here
PS:
I know not everything I write gets shared here. I sometimes post things on my socials and they aren’t seen by ya’ll, my trusted e-mail friends. Which is a bummer. Honestly thought, sometimes it’s easier to write thoughts in shorter snippets than essay form. If you’d like to not miss anything I share, you can follow me on Facebook HERE and Instagram HERE
