2019 Resolutions
(If you wish to skip this part for the actual highlights of the year just scroll down a couple of paragraphs and you'll see.) So, heres the deal: I didn't really have a goal to write a certain amount in my blog, or really ANY "resolutions" for the new year pertaining to this blog. My husband and I made goals such as having purposeful savings, continuing our plans to visit family every 3-4 months, read more, date more, move more (in replacement of specific exercises), finish minor remodeling to our house, sell our house, move, complete challenges (our own or issued by others) to promote self help, more gospel study, putting God first more, spend more time with friends, etc. Most of our resolutions you've probably heard before, seen before, or even done before so I'm not going to spend my whole time writing about those things. What I am going to write about is how as this month has progressed and I've reviewed the last half of 2018 (August-December) I've noticed a few things, a few things I should write about.
I've noticed that while I may not have many readers, as of right now, the few that have read certain blog posts (thank you family) bring up certain blogs that meant something to them. This humbles me for the simple reason being that these blog posts were written mostly for myself with the availability open to the public in case my thoughts and experiences needed to reach someone today; so the fact that they mean something to someone else as much as they mean to me is amazing, and also great conversation pieces. That led me to thinking that regardless of how many people read these posts I should try and compile a goal to work towards. I'm not going to tell you what that goal is, but hopefully by the end of this year you'll catch on to the pattern and if I was successful.
Now into the true purpose of this blog post:
The 5 Blog Highlights of 2018
I may have mentioned a few times (maybe I didn't) that I've caught on to certain lessons from the past 6 months that I've needed to learn and that was what compiled my blog post. I would find a topic that would excite my soul with wonder and/ or dread, I'd have opportunities to experience learning and growing within that topic, and then when I would feel the closure of what I had applied to my life from these life lessons and write them all down in one blog post. Typically it seemed that these lessons would come every few months and last until the next lesson appeared. While at the end of last year and the beginning of this year I felt that I had finished my previous lesson, no new lesson appeared. At times this would frustrate me and left me feeling disappointed. Had I not completely learned that lesson?
While new topic had appeared to me to learn (or I was too oblivious to catch on), the lessons that I had learned the past few months kept cycling through--almost like at school when they test you on everything you've learned the past semester or year. As I continued to study my life and the gospel of Jesus Christ I've continued to learn more about these 5 things:
- Gratitude . I learned this back in April of last year but then it resurfaced in an even more profound manner in, you guessed it, November. This beautiful soul of a human being whom I found on Instagram was doing a 21 day Gratitude challenge that would arrive in your email inbox everyday of the month of November. I caught on late and ended up not being able to do it in November but I DID complete in in December and the way she puts things and helps you think puts gratitude in a whole new light.
- Agency and Accountability . This lesson was in May when I realized all the things I hold on to, and I'm not talking about physically (although this particular blog post also has physical evidence) but mentally. I also learned it again only a few weeks ago as I began the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints new program "Come Follow Me" as well as from another amazing individual whom I found through the I am Mom summit. I started following her on Instagram and she has been so helpful with mental clarity. There was a recent post she wrote on Linktree that I enjoyed reading which you can check out here; she says "Let yourself simultaneously accept what cannot be, grieve what may never be, and face what is possible."
- Simplicity . I learned this lesson in June about living each moment and then again a few weeks ago when I stumbled upon Minimal Mom's Youtube Channel . It was actually a video about simplifying meal planning but there was one part that I liked when she talked about how what ever you bring into your house soon becomes inventory you have to take care of. She has more helpful videos on making life a little simpler, which, lets be honest is what all moms desire in some fashion. We not only have our inventory but our husband, kids, etc to take care of and that can be exhausting and overwhelming.
- Friendship. I wrote a blog post in August about my knew understanding and knowledge of what ministering to others is all about: being a friend. I'll be writing another blog post about the friends in my life that also helped to shape my idea of what friends are in the next month so stay tuned!
- Fear. This one was a big one that I learned and took awhile for me to really grasp it. This is an on going lesson seeing as there are things everyday that we have to overcome. There is a rocking lady on Instagram who, with her sister, have a profile called "Strong Fit Mama's". They are a powerhouse of fighting back and excellent role models for not only Mama's but anyone needing someone to relate with. I seriously love them. If you literally want to kick fear in the butt go check them out and for a more gospel related message go check out Elder Rasbands talk entitled "Be Not Troubled".
I am so thankful for all the lessons and people God has put into my life to fulfill it, give it depth and meaning, and to grow me into a better and stronger me. Heres to a whole new year of meaningful lessons and lot's of exciting new beginnings.
-Megan
