We always think of the coming year with what we need to do more of, get better at, etc. Aren’t we just telling ourselves we didn’t do life well enough this year? We weren’t successful enough this year? Think about what you did this past year. You ran, you lifted heavy stuff and put it back down, maybe you went to yoga, maybe you learned to meditate. You juggled the needs of your job, kids, school, parents, loved ones, neighbors, etc. You did enough. You are enough. Think about the coming year differently.
What did you really enjoy that you want to do more of in 2020? What were you successful at that you want to do more of in 2020? If you didn’t do something that you really wanted to, don’t focus on why you didn’t do it, focus on how you can do it in the future. Maybe it’s not possible in 2020 but if it’s something you really want to do, make a plan for it. Prioritize at least one thing you want to have happen in 2020 that is deeply important to you but not because society says so. Because YOU say so. Here are my 3 things for 2020. (My “beyond 2020” goal list is pretty big and that’s another post someday.)
1. what I really enjoyed and will do more of in 2020: hikes with Chris and Lucy the dog
2. what was I successful at and will to do it more: listening and responding to what my body and soul needs (and ignoring what societal pressures tell me)
3. what I didn’t do but will do: trail race with friends at Walking Tall 25K in October 2020.
There’s probably a lot of little things in there you can add to each of the 3 but dig deep and see what you can come up with that speaks to the work you did in 2019 and the knowledge that what you really want is important.
Yes, I realize many of you here are in your heads saying “I didn’t train hard enough; I didn’t run fast enough; I didn’t get enough sleep; I didn’t…..” Whatever. You can’t fix what happened but you have to move your mind to place of acknowledging that battering yourself for not being enough is getting you no where. Be proud of whatever you did in 2019.