When we close out one year and welcome a new one, there is usually a focus on what we want to be different. “This year I want to be healthier. This year I want to travel more. This year I want to strengthen my prayer life. This year I want to read the bible more.” All admirable goals, but the focus is on what we feel like we’re doing badly. What if we flipped the narrative?
Instead of looking back on the past year and seeing where we failed, we could review the previous year and recall what we did well. Instead of focusing on where we flopped this year, let’s fix our attention on where we flourished. And then try to keep doing it.
This past year our family was able to take some trips. We did a big family trip to the beach over Thanksgiving. We played in the sand and ate good food and disconnected from all the obligations at home. My husband and I were able to take a couple of mini trips as well. One early in the year to San Antonio and one in the fall to Hot Springs, AR. We napped and talked and hiked and reconnected. This next year I hope our family can continue to travel.
Over the last year we meal planned like pros. We planned our menu at the beginning of each week, grocery shopped for the foods we needed, and we stuck to the plan. Sure, it wasn’t gourmet or glamorous, but it was consistent and healthy(ish). I hope we can continue to meal plan and stick to it in the next year.
We read through the bible this year. It was a children’s bible and it usually didn’t take longer than 5 minutes per day. Some nights we grumbled and groaned about it. And we managed to get 10 days behind once, but we caught up and finished strong. I hope the coming year sees us as committed to this nightly habit as we have been in previous years.
Admittedly, I could stand to lose a few pounds. And as I get older, I know I need to exercise more. My prayer life could always use some improving. But as I look at the New Year and what it means, I don’t want to shame myself for the things I stink at. Instead I will choose to give myself some grace and pat on the back for the things I manage to do well.
What did YOU do great this past year? Congratulations on that! Keep doing it!! And Happy New Year!!
Read more of Abbie Mabary’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
