Hey Pretty! Believe it or not, the Queen of Self Care and creating new healthy habits doesn’t do New Years Resolutions. Are you shocked? I do love New Years. I love the idea of a brand new book filled with 365 blank pages that we get to author. It’s new, exciting and sometimes a little scary.
So why no Resolutions? It’s simple. I used to make a resolution every year. I did the usual ones, lose weight, get healthy, save money… I NEVER ever succeed at one of them. I started a new diet on Jan 1 and was ready to do some sketchy stuff for Chips and Queso in less than 2 weeks. This only lead me to feel like more of a failure than I did before I made the resolution. It was the ULTIMATE, “I failed myself!” Geez we are hard enough on ourselves every single day, why would I want to add to that? But that also doesn’t mean I don’t want to improve from one year to the next. I don’t want to remain stagnate in where I am. I truly believe the New Year is an opportunity to take ACTION!
Rather than a resolution, I decide to LEARN something every year. I’m a natural student. I mean, I do work as a high school counselor. I joke that I’ve been in high school for over 20 years just trying to get it right. By learning something each year, I’m taking action that gives me measurable steps. And when you learn something new, no one (not even YOU!!) expects you to be an expert over night.
Here is my list! What things would you like to learn? Any suggestions for this year?
Give your life an honest review. Write it down. Make a list. What things do you need to leave behind you in 2022 and what areas of your life do you need to make room for MORE? In recent years, not only do I focus on learning something, I also realized I needed more and to make additional changes. But still changes that a resolution just couldn’t handle.
Make a LIST! The Things I Hate vs The Things I Love.
Use the last few days of 2022 to reflect over your year. What did you love? I mean LOVE, like love love love. I’m afraid we toss that word around like confetti and don’t realize the depth and importance of using it. I LOVE fresh flowers, traveling, eating delicious food and I love not cooking (can I get an AMEN!)
What did you hate? Yep, I said it HATE! Hate is a STRONG word, a word I don’t use unless I truly mean it. For example I HATE oysters (any kind, any way – trust me, I’ve tried!) I hate stepping in dog poop (come on who likes that?) And as an LEO wife, I HATE disrespect of our people in uniform or our flag.
I give you these examples so that you can really dig deeply to identify the things in life that you are willing to use those very strong words for LOVE and HATE. Don’t take it casually. This is serious business. This is reflecting on your life and what you need to leave behind and what you need to take forward.
Get Excited!! Your Vision of the NEW YEAR should set your soul on FIRE!
Ideas to add more JOY to your 2023
Truly anything that you do to add joy to your life can be an act of self care. That’s the beauty of self care, you get to decide! You drive this ship we call life. No matter what you choose to add, subtract, make room for or avoid, please promise me one thing. Each and ever day you will Choose Joy!
Let’s Connect! Find me on Social here
Always remember to “Fill Your Cup”
XOXO,
Ashley
Happily Ever Beauty 
Leave a comment