Yet

We are not there yet. I wonder if we will ever know if we have arrived there yet? Where is ‘there’? Mine is forever blurring, flickering, and then shifting focus. At times it’s a clear picture and other times it shakes and flashes like a television searching for a signal. What I have learned and now know for sure is that ‘there’ exists and ‘here’ is what I will be present for and need in order to get to ‘there.’ ‘Yet’ is the word that comes after everything that I believe. It is almost like a promise to myself that I will do it and that I am doing it now. A promise that I won’t wait until the time is right. It never will be exactly right. So what ‘yet’ are you working towards? How will you make it there?

It is a new decade and how blessed are we that we get to live through the rolodex shifting of another ten years. The important part is that we are living and not just existing. I have learned that existing is just not fun. I am the one who has to make something happen for myself, no one else cares as much! I also have to see what is right in front of me and the intention and work behind what I want to do to live my best life. I write it down. I write all of my goals down every day. It is a promise to myself and then I tackle them one by one. This past year, I accomplished two major goals. However, the word yet follows those goals. I wrote a proposal and a book. I haven’t found a literary agent or a publishing company…. yet. Yet means it will happen. I am the only one who can make it happen. So I will. What will you do to make something happen for you this year? How will you know that it did?

It is always easier to say that we will do something. It is very hard to start, commit, and then to persevere through it all. I have had to search for ways to keep me accountable and one way that has worked so far for me is to make my journey visible. I actually have a calendar that I write on each day to show the work that I did that day. Even if it was for a short time. This has motivated me because I could actually see myself growing and moving forward. I even started to do a mood check in where I would rate my mood that day. I found that my mood shifted too. I went from being neutral, indifferent or even sad at times to feeling more satisfied, comfortable, and happier. Seeing this on a calendar made me happier too! Making it visible can look any way you want it to, in a book, on an app, on a calendar, etc. Just make sure that you notice it, name the work you did that day, notice the pattern and trends, and celebrate and respect every single step. I have included my kids in the journey and they have started doing this as well.

We are hard on ourselves and always see the flaws and the downward dips but we don’t tend to notice the little things that build up if we stay consistent. The downward dips will still happen but they won’t dip as low because you see the growth, learn from the last dip in order to change the direction quicker, and know to have faith in the importance of keeping going. So often than not we give up because we aren’t seeing our growth so making it visible is so worth it. Setting goals is worth it. Doing something that makes you happy is everything.

Reflect often on your goals. Say them out loud to all who will listen and especially to those who won’t. Do something towards your goal every day. When you reach that mile marker, the feeling will be incredible but don’t stop there. Keep going.

2020 is a big year! It will be a year of promise, kindness, making dreams happen, resiliency, purpose finding and hard work. ‘Yet’, it will be this kind of a year, only if you choose…I wish you the best year yet.