Oh 2020, thanks for totally raining on everyone's parade and being a messed up life ruiner.


But...thanks for uncovering some serious issues our country and our world still have too. Just a seriously messed up way to go about it, dude.


While 2020 hast been (to put it lightly), a pretty crappy year for all of us, I challenge you to think about what 2020 has actually gifted us as well.


For me personally, it's helped the way I see job security and money. It's helped my sometimes naïve head in the clouds positivity that there are more seriously messed up people in this world with some seriously messed up views than what I originally thought, which in turn made me grateful for my viewpoints, how I raise my son, and those people that have genuine loving hearts.


It's helped me refocus on what's important, on how I see my loved ones, and on how unpredictable life can be. It's helped showcase human impact and how easily our planet could heal itself if we actually gave it a chance.


Yeah, 2020 has been one for the record books and will be notorious as one of the worst years ever, but it's also been a gift of enlightenment in many ways.


I remember writing my first blog post after launching my business last year with my "new years resolutions" for 2020 and I thought it was going to be an EPIC year. Well, not only did I not follow my resolutions (pretty much totally tanked most of them), but I'm going into 2021 after a year like we've had with some different thoughts, viewpoints and "resolutions" this time.


Do I still want to work on posting more consistently? Sure. Am I gonna say "Drea, you're gonna set a goal to make a post everyday and you're gonna stick to it this time"? No. It's unreasonable and makes me feel like a failure mcfailson when I inevitably suck at it.


I'm not perfect, and I have a busy life being a single mom to a little one who still needs me a lot, dealing with online learning, learning business, and working two demanding jobs while also trying to be a good partner for my person who's love language is quality time.


Life's busy, and I'm going to choose to love myself this time around.


This time my goals aren't going to be "post content daily" or "exercise 3 times a week". I'm not saying those aren't good goals, I'm just saying I'm realistically and thoughtfully reframing my mind set going into next year.


This time my goals going into 2021 are:


  • Continue to give undivided attention to my son each night I have him (I'm proud to say I did great with this one and I love the time we have together).


  • Be there for my parents when they need something (like when my mom calls me and says she could really use a foot rub - you do a lot for me, of course I'll give you a foot rub, momma.)


  • Be more present when I'm with my partner and plan things for us to do together.


  • Go on at least one hike a month.


  • Do something just for myself for 10 minutes each day.


  • Don't buy shit I don't need.


  • Try to consistently Marie Kondo my house - keep only what brings me joy and chuck what doesn't.


  • Think of 3 things I'm grateful for everyday - write it out or say it out loud, and thank the universe.


  • Continue to do the best I can with my business (as long as I'm moving forward in the right direction, I'm making progress. Even if I'm being a turtle.)


  • Be kind to myself.


  • Ask for help if I need it (sooo hard to do.)


This past year many people tragically lost loved ones, lost their jobs, learned opposing viewpoints from those they thought they knew, dealt with stress, anxiety, frustration, fear, depression, and uncertainty...


But I hope that no matter what 2020 did to you, you have the ability to look at what some of it gifted to you as well.


Hopefully we'll be more present when with our loved ones, but that's up to you.


Hopefully we'll care more about this planet as individuals and the people in it, but that's up to you to make your own personal changes in your habits.


Hopefully we'll keep in contact more often with our family members and our friends, but again - that's up to you to do. It doesn't have to be a 30 minute conversation on the phone either - it can be a simple text when someone you care about pops into your mind of "Hey, just thinking about you and hope you're doing well. No need to respond, I just wanted to say I love you. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you or if there's anything you'd like me to pray for."


Simple as that.


So here's to 2021 - to whatever it may bring, bring it on. We are all in this crappy situation together and we'll come out of it stronger for it. I hope you can show yourself more love this coming year...you deserve it.