Skip to main content

Dear 2022, Thanks for the Memories

 Breathe. 

Do you ever choose a word to serve as the overarching theme for the new year? This is mine. While I'm not planning to make any resolutions, I do set goals all year long. In recent conversations about 2022 and a lot of reflecting, I realize just how much of my time didn’t actually belong to me. I did the one thing I said I would never do. I overbooked, over-scheduled and gave a majority of my time to others. 

I struggled with ongoing feelings of burnout. I was stressed to the max. Overstimulated most days. I rarely took time off from work, because I felt I couldn't. I felt that I let a lot of people down in the process; those I had to turn down. There were the friends we didn't get to see. There were the celebrations we had to miss. There were the moments when I just needed to breathe, but instead remained in survival mode. 

At the same time, 2022 did have its special moments and lifelong memories! Don't get me wrong. There were moments that I truly enjoyed! In no particular order, here are those that come to mind:

We welcomed a new nephew, sweet Corbin. 

We celebrated the marriage of Morgan and Lukas. I was blessed to be Matron of Honor and delivered what I believe to be my final MOH speech. 

Our sweet nephew Nash turned the big 4. 

We learned that Morgan and Lukas are expecting another nephew for our cute cousin crew.

We had a wonderful, much too short family vacation to the Gulf Shores. We're heading back this summer!

We completed our basement renovation project. 

Rhylan played a fantastic football season as a Palmyra Panther and had a great baseball season! 

Emersyn & Everly played both softball and soccer. So much fun! 

Morgan and I lived our 90's kid dreams and saw BSB together for an epic sister weekend! 

We attended countless weddings and witnessed so much love! 

We welcomed a new dog into our family. Betty Zehnle! 

My first trip to Nashville was a blast! Take me back! 

Our Dad celebrated his 60th birthday and we took a family trip. 

We reunited with old friends up in Iowa with a day trip! 

We took STL by storm on Black Friday! 

We celebrated New Year's Eve at home surrounded by family and friends. 

The list could go on and on, but reflecting on these special memories gives me a positive outlook on the coming year. 2023 is the year where I plan to make downtime a priority. 2023 is the year that I will be proactive in saying "no" to the things that don't bring me joy or are detrimental to my mental health. 

2023 is the year that I will disconnect as much as possible and just be. Be the best mom for my kids. Be the best wife I can be. Be the best friend I can be. Be the best leader I can be.

Breathe.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hashi-Huh?

The feeling of being trapped in your own body as it spirals out of control....how many of you have felt that way? I started 2023 in the doctor's office to talk about the crazy symptoms I had been experiencing (yet trying to deny) for the last year. Here's a run-down of the hot mess-ness that I found all consuming for far too long: Hair Loss Uncontrollable Weight Gain Debilitating Fatigue  Joint & Muscle Pain Terrible Menstrual Cycles Sensitivity to Cold Anxiety and Depression I remember absolutely cringing inside as I put this laundry list of front of my doctor. My inner narrative (this is something I'm still working on) can be so harsh and I had myself convinced that I was being a baby and needed to suck it up. However, "suck it up" was no longer an option. My TSH levels indicated a thyroid issue, which was commonly linked to the list of symptoms I presented. The first diagnosis was that of Hypothyroid Disorder and I was immediately put on Levothyroxin.  Mont...
Post a Comment
Read more

I Hate This.

It's taken me years to finally get the courage to address several areas of my own well-being. It all started with a trip to the doctor during the first week of January. I received so much insight into issues I've been experiencing and problems that I had been choosing to ignore. I've been on medications for over a month and I truly feel like a brand new version of me.  Growing up, medication was something that was frowned upon and feared in our household. Once I became a parent, my entire perspective shifted. I knew that I would do anything in my power to give my children relief from whatever they may be experiencing. From everyday colds, to the flu, ear infections and even a journey into Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis , we've overcome a lot....thanks to modern medicine. However, there is one particular person who was left behind in this journey.  Me.  How often have we kept ourselves on the back burner as moms? How many times have we made appointments for our kids, tak...
Post a Comment
Read more

2023 Taking Care of Me

For me, 2023 has been a year of conquering fears and making lifestyle changes. As parents, how often do we place ourselves on the back burner? It's so common and I am 100% guilty of it. This year, something inside of me clicked. Maybe it's the whole "wisdom with age" thing. Maybe it's finally getting the courage to go to therapy. Perhaps, it's a little bit of both. For me, it happened with a 3-step plan. It's a plan that terrified me, but I held myself accountable and put the plan into action.  Step 1: Medical Health January 2023, the 4th to be exact, started with a wellness visit to my primary care doctor. Was I even allowed to refer to her as that when I hadn't paid her a visit since 2018? Yes. 2018. Of course, we had the whole pandemic thing in the mix, but we can only use that excuse for so long. I hadn't had a women's well check since 2018. I was having all kinds of strange symptoms, that I told myself was just the downward spiral to 40 (n...
Post a Comment
Read more