goal setting for the new year

Happy New Year! I hope 2017 is treating you well so far. Obviously, Miles's year is off to a great start... we've had snow days, afternoons in the park, and he's officially decided that walking (errr... running) is a better mode of transit than crawling.

Last week, I finally got around to setting goals for 2017. Even though I know there's nothing special about a new year, it sure does feel like a fresh start. I always follow along with Lara Casey's Goal Setting series on her blog, but this year, I also got to use her PowerSheets! I'll be honest... I hadn't bought these in the past because I really didn't know how useful I'd find them. After all, I've been to the Making Things Happen conference, participated in a monthly accountability group for the past couple of years, and read the book, but these are such a powerful tool! After seeing how seamless they make this process and how helpful they are in gaining my focus, I'm definitely a believer. (They're sold out on their website, but you can still get to work on your goals using the blog series.)

I'm not gonna lie, this process takes work. Don't be fooled... this isn't just making arbitrary resolutions... it's about digging deep, evaluating, and setting meaningful goals with reasons behind them that motivate you to achieve them. After this process, I already feel a sense of balance restored that had been lacking for a very long time. (Let's be honest... I'm sure that sense will be upended at any moment, because I'm a parent, but for now, it's working.)

I'm not typically one to share my goals on the www, but for the sake of truly wanting to be held accountable (and maybe even inspiring you to join in), here we go...

1. Prioritize self-care. One big lesson for me this year, especially with a growing and increasingly active toddler, was that I have to start taking care of myself first. I was tending to everyone and everything else, and it made me constantly impatient and exhausted. There's a reason, on airplanes, that they tell you to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. If I prioritize me, I'm better for everyone around me.

2. Fuel my spirit daily. Even if you aren't religious, there's something about taking the time to just be quiet, meditate, and reflect that does the soul good. For me, this means spending time in prayer, scripture, and overall just filling my heart and mind with good things and relinquishing my own control. Man, do I feel free when I do this!

3. Love my tribe well. When you're busy with life, it's so easy to lose touch with those around you. This year, I want to be intentional about making my people (Josh and Miles, but also dear friends and family) know how loved and appreciated they are. I seriously don't know how I would have made it through this past year without the support of family and friends, and it's important that I take the time to encourage them, listen to them, and love them well.

4. Nurture my marriage. This is a big one for me. Having been together for over a decade before having Miles, Josh and I pretty much had things figured out. We rarely had petty arguments, could recognize when the other needed a break, and had plenty of time for each other. Living overseas and having a kid have been such grand adventures, but they've definitely taken their toll. With limited access (read: none) to child care, sleep deprivation, and the exhaustion that comes with an active toddler and a busy workload, we haven't made time to really connect with one another this past year. This is definitely worth the effort it takes to find our new groove as a family of three.

5. Be present and intentional in my time with Miles. I think part of it has to do with being so far away from all of our people, but I found myself slipping back into a constant reliance on my phone and social media. While there are times that I need to be on my computer while Miles is around, I want to make sure I'm taking time each day to be fully present with him and get to know who he is becoming. It can seem monotonous at times, but I know this time with him is so short, and soon enough, he won't want his mama's attention anymore. I need to soak it up!

6. Plan and forge a purposeful career path. With all of the changes that have happened in the past two years, it's clear to me that my business also needs to evolve. I want a career that serves my clients and my family well. I know this is not will not be a very easy or clearly defined process, but with our impending move back to North Carolina coming up, I want to figure out what work life looks like moving forward. I look forward to exploring this more!

My word for this year is NURTURE. Throughout this whole process, the theme that kept reappearing was the idea of nurturing. According to Dictionary.com, this means "to support and encourage, as during the period of training or development; foster." I can think of no better wish for the year ahead than to care for myself, my family, and those I love in a way that both supports and encourages.

Cheers to a new year, friends!

So tell me, are you setting goals for the year ahead? If so, what are some of your big ones? I want to know!