Well hello 2019! The new year has been off to a slow start for us and that is 100% intentional! We were running so hard the last two months of 2018 that we wanted a break! And once I had a moment to slow down, I realized how much I actually needed it!
Y’all ask me a lot how I do what I do, and I honestly don’t know. I am driven to a fault, love to help others, a people pleaser and so damn determined to be as close to perfect as possible. This fuels me to keep going but is just unrealistic to keep up 24-7.
So we have been easing into the New Year with lots of cuddling, family time, talking, dreaming and planning. The next few months are about to ramp up and our beautifully chaotic crazy lifestyle is going to kick right back in.
2018 REFLECTION
As I reflect on my 2018 Goals I would say I did an okay job. Here is how I would score each goal.
HUSTLE – 100%
I crushed The Hustle … no doubt about that! Full time career, photo shoots, styling clients, emceed a fashion show, styled photo shoots, tv appearances, numerous trips, fashion show modeling, NYFW, turkey and deer hunts, family photos, hosting events, launched a holiday collection, tons of collaborations, event appearances and so much more!
GIVING BACK – 85%
Throughout the year I participated in a variety of opportunities to giveback and raise awareness for some great organizations. (Stevenson University, Fashion Rocks Autism, Kennedy Krieger, and the Red Devils)
FITNESS – 15%
As mush as I Mom Boss and Girl Boss the heck out of each day there are only 24 hours to go around. Sadly something had to give. And fitness just didn’t make the cut. We spent a lot of time outside and would run a few times each month. But it was by no means consistent or a priority.
LOVE – 45%
My goal was to give more love and time to my marriage, my family and my son. There are so many proud Mom moments I have experienced this year. Which is where giving the 45% comes from. But I didn’t prioritize Spencer and my family the way I had intended. In fact, I actually realized over the summer we had become a bit disconnected as a couple. We were noticing our parenting success increasing but our marriage success decreasing. Additionally, I was hoping to spend more quality time with my family. We have a few great weekends but we need so many more!
All of that to say each year is a journey. I choose to make goals instead of resolutions because a goal is forever. You keep working hard till you reach your goals. Once you reach the goal more times than not that same goal has evolved in some way to the next goal. Goals are a constant strive, reach, reset, strive, reach, reset.
My 2018 goals are mostly the same for 2019. However, I am going to be a bit more specific so I have a better chance of achieving all of them. I also find the fewer the goals the better so you can really hone in on what you want to accomplish for the year. Better to do a few things GREAT than to do many things decently.
2019 GOALS
MOTHERHOOD, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, CLARITY AND NO FEAR!
Let me quickly share where I stand on HUSTLE and FITNESS. Hustle isn’t going away, it is a part of who I am. I was born driven and to be a hard worker. I don’t think it needs to be an area of focus because I naturally do it. And fitness is going to remain on the back burner while I gain clarity and outline my personal and professional long term life plans. (This will be part of finding clarity)
MARRIAGE
Putting our marriage first is going to be hard! I think it was Legendary Couples with Kids that said everything you know is telling you to be a parent first. When in fact you have to be a wife/husband first to set a healthy and loving foundation for your family. Thank goodness we have lots of love! We just need to make “Us” a priority again. Even if that means staying up late to talk, watching a movie or tv show together, scheduling dates nights and taking a weekend here and there just for us.
MOTHERHOOD
Raising Kade to be a loving, respectful, kind and hard working boy will always be a goal of mine. Pushing my growth as a Mom is as much for me as it is for him. With him I have a calm I never thought possible, patience beyond belief, a live-in-the-moment attitude, experience everything, and believe it all attitude. The more I embrace these feelings with Kade, the more I am hoping they seep into my everyday life. The joy he experiences daily is invigorating and I would love to see life the way he does!
FAMILY
The one thing we can’t buy or earn more of is TIME! I constantly take family time for granted. Especially those who live close to me. I always think… “oh we will see them soon” but then months go by. I want to make a conscious effort to spend more time with those most precious to us.
CLARITY
This is a big one! The best way for me to explain this is that I feel like my brain operates like the lead car behind the pace car. Going fast, anticipating the next move, thinking a few steps ahead, sometimes worrying about the cars next to me but not able to go full speed. That dang pace car is in the way. Only I am also the pace car. I need to gain clarity in my head on myself, my family and our future direction. Which also leads me to… no fear.
NO FEAR
It’s time to believe harder than I have ever believed before. Stop with the excuses and do it! Right now I am scared and there is doubt which honestly isn’t like me. But a good friend of mine just told me that when you are feeling these things that means “You’re about to jump into something amazing! You’re on the edge! Clarity is coming soon” I need to stop hoping she is right and believe it! Fear is a Liar and the biggest dream crusher. For myself, my family and my son I want to live a life without being held back by fear!
CHECKING IN
How will I accomplish all of these things? Well I can tell you not alone! I will need the help of Spencer, my family, my friends and you! I will check in regularly to hold myself accountable and as a reminder to stay focused throughout the year. Say yes to the right things and politely decline the ones that may not align with my goals. AND….we have some extremely exciting news to share soon!!! Which is all a part of starting to live the life we have been talking about!
Huge thank you to Megan at Maewood Photography for these beautiful Holiday family photos!
