2018. The year of fulfillment.

Do you all make New Year’s Resolutions? Normally, my answer would be no. And I think that steams from years of making resolutions like “Eat healthy. Loose 10 pounds. Be a better Mom. Be Present. Grow my business. The end.” See why that hasn’t really worked in the past? I seriously pull random thoughts of of the sky that I would LOVE to do, but there is no ‘why’ behind them. Yes, I would love to eat well and be a better Mom, but with out action, it’s pointless to say. That’s why I’m not big on resolutions. For me, there is no follow through. No finish line. No fulfillment.

A fun thing happened to me in 2017. I think I may have hit my breaking point (that doesn’t sound fun, but stick with me!). For those of you don’t know me personally- I’m a wife, a mom of 2 (one in elementary and one in preschool 3 days a week), the caretaker of my family and I run two businesses from my home. At any given point, I felt like I was being pulled in 6 different directions. Some days I felt so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even pinpoint the things that were weighing on me, I just felt like I was drowning. Everything felt like it was spinning out of control, I just needed everything to stop just so I could catch a breath and get on top of it all again. I doubt many of you noticed, because I’m pretty good at pretending like I have everything together (something I plan to work on in 2018).

In October on a whim I finally gave in to my kids weekly request to go to the library after school (taking a 5 year old boy to a place where quiet is the #1 rule, seemed like a mountain I didn’t want to climb). That day, we checked out books, we all survived, and we went back the next week. And then the next and the next. That’s when I started picking up books for myself; Lies Women Believe; And The Truth That Sets Them Free, Present Over Perfect, Make It Happen, Of Mess and Moxie, Grace not Perfection. And things started to change. Slowly, but I could feel it happening. Over the last few months I have been implementing small things and changing the way I do everyday tasks so that I can figure out how to feel like myself again. Funny how that trip to the library was exactly what I needed to find calm and simplicity in our life.

My saving grace during the last few months of 2017; fulfillment. I did it, I fulfilled what I said I would do. I read books that would encourage me right where I was. I prayed specifically for grace and patience (sometimes hourly). I put my words and plans into action. That is one HUGE thing that I have lacked over the past few years. I will be the first to admit that I’m really good at making goals for myself, but when it comes to seeing those things come to fruition, my follow through has been pretty weak. Which is why I’ve never been huge on making resolutions.

…until now. And that, one way or another, brings us to my resolutions and my word for 2018;

fulfill. 

Follow through. Complete the goals set before me. Face my fears, overcome my (sometimes paralyzing) perfectionism, and just fulfill the promises I have made to myself. I sat down one night this past week and scribbled out pages and pages of plans, goals, and prayers for 2018. Some are small. Some are very personal. Some are so BIG that they scare me tremendously! I won’t share them all here and I won’t share my step by step plan to fulfill these goals (that would be the longest post ever!),  but I will share a few. I would love to hear some of your goals for 2018 too!

Personal:

Wake up extra early. I started waking up at 5:30 this Summer while the kids were on break, because most days, it was the only time I could find to work. I want to get back in this habit and set aside an hour or so in the morning (which means making up at 5:00!) to work out, have quiet time, and plan my day. Speaking of working out; Im fairly active and Im really not too hard on myself when it comes to fitness. BUT believe me when I tell you that I have NEVER finished a workout plan that I have started. For whatever reason I have started Kayla Itsines’ BBG 4 times over the last 3 years and completed up to week 7 or 8 and just stopped. Every time it was a different reason, but for real. Never finished. We’re going to change that. I’m starting it again this month, so pray for me. (It’s so hard!) My biggest resolution for this year is to incorporate more quiet time in my day. I need it. I need a few moments to quiet my heart and mind and reset for the day. So, first thing in the morning; before scrolling through Instagram and Email, I will spend a few moments in prayer, reading the Bible or devotional.

Family:

It’s true what they say; “The days are long, but the years are short”. It’s not lost on me that my babies are growing up at the speed of light and the years that I have with them here under my roof are few. I plan to spend more intentional time with my family this year. Set office hours so that I can put down my computer and phone for more face to face time. More adventures and getaways. More date nights. More play dates. More happiness. More Joy.

Celebrate the BIG and the small. I swear most days around here are a complete blur. When we built this house, I used to daydream about welcoming our kids home from school with snacks and chatting about our day around our big kitchen island. 2 years in, it hasn’t happened once. Our days are so rushed. I want to stop and celebrate. Celebrate the little things like the 100% on spelling tests, the completed Art work, the recognition at work. I want the kids to see the house decorated for different holidays (this is their biggest wish!) and remember the fun traditions we do as a family.

Home:

I’ve tried to write this one a few times and it keeps sounding more like a ‘To Do List’ than a resolution. My home resolutions are so much more than a ‘To Do List”. Yes, I would love to finally paint the interior of our home and create a Mudroom for a more functional area in the Laundry. Finally complete our home office and organize my pantry. But more importantly, I want our home to be a place of peace. A safe place where we can all come home to and feel loved. I want to fill these walls with worship music. I want to simplify the clutter and organize my house hold duties so there is more room for saying Yes. Saying Yes when the kids what to play outside or Brian wants to drive to the middle of no-where to look at a lake he found on a map. I want to open these doors to community. Take time to gather with great friends, eat a good meal and enjoy a class of wine together. Stop saying ‘we should totally get together’ and actually get together with friends and family. These are the type of resolutions Im making for our home this year.

Professional:

I have made some big, scary goals for 2018 when it comes to this blog, Stella & Dot and my Personal Styling business. I plan to share more content in this space this year. Sharing outfit inspiration, more lifestyle and a video or two. I have a few big collaborations coming in 2018 and I can’t wait to share more with you all when it is time! I’m looking forward to a record setting year with Stella and our Southern Gems Tribe. I’m so excited to grow our team and help other women find the joy that I have found in my Stella & Dot business. I can’t wait to help them launch their new business and cheer them on as they kill it as Stylists! I finally sat down and started writing out my biggest goal for my Styling business. Something that has been on my heart for over a year, but was so big that I physically froze any time I started thinking through it all. I took a few moments and made myself get it all on paper, my goal is to launch this new part of my business this Spring or Summer.

Whew. Are you still reading?! If so, you’re the best! This was an overview of my goals with out getting too in depth, but with enough vision that we can hold each other accountable! I can’t wait to hear some of your goals for the New Year!