Oh, Hello, 2021!

I love a new year. I always love a fresh start, a clean slate, a new page and an opportunity to reset my intentions. We are going to say goodbye to 2020 and while we want to kick it out the door (for very good reasons), we can also say thank you for the lessons, thank you for the gifts and bless and release this time in our lives.

2021 is unlike any other new year and here is why….

We are reminded that we need to change the way we work and the way we play. We spent too much time filling our schedules and being busy, we have learned that a pause is good for the soul. We have a better appreciation for our freedoms, our health and the things we take for granted. We appreciate the gift of seeing those we love, perhaps we will pick up the phone more often, visit with a friend and focus on the important things. We realize who the real heroes are, they are the hospital staff, nurses, doctors, first responders, essential workers—they are the heroes and we need to continue to honor them.

How can we teach from these lessons, the adversity and the way we over came so much. How we became kinder, more compassionate and more grateful in the midst of the chaos. We learned patience and we tested our resolve. Even thou it was a hard year, we are better because of it.

So while the challenges were immense, the resolve and the resiliency was even stronger.

While I think of all of this from the context of “the world” and our community of Living HIPP (what ever eyes are reading this), I know that change begins with me, and change begins with you too! So we can’t change it all (nor should we), we can however make positive changes in our own lives. As we begin the New Year, this is our own personal invitation to cast a vision of our lives, our dreams, our goals, and chart a course and a plan of moving in the direction of that vision.

2021, what does this year mean to you. What is it that you desire more of and less of in your life?

Each year I tend to take the process of reflection, writing, visualization and self assessment. I always begin with Life and the Vision I have for my Life and then break it down into areas that are most important to me. I have to have a vision for myself, and my life because when I run on empty (which I do at times), I can only go so far. When I am clear on what I want and I put in daily practices that support my HIPP Life, then I open up space for stepping forward in that. What trips me up each year is that by the end of the year I feel exhausted from the holidays (even this year which was more simple, I feel over spent)! I crave self care, I crave a schedule, I crave my rituals and I see this pattern and desire which is true for me year after year. I feel like I live my life in seasons and to begin a new season and/or new year is an opportunity to re-set and set intentions and come up with a plan to create that. Once I am clear on my vision and what I need to do, I make sure I put that all in place. I then think of my business goals and my purpose and I start with bigger goals, but in my business I break them down from 90 day goals to monthly goals (with the Year End goal in mind). This week I unplugged a bit, and I began to write out my intentions for 2021, I began with me.

I think the priority for ALL OF US coming out of 2020 and the year of the Pandemic is your HIPP LIFE VISION & GOALS. Basically what this is is a clear vision of how you want to look, feel and be (feel and be being the most important elements to this). It really is that simple (but oh so damn hard)!

You need to put yourself first, and work on yourself because only then can you be there for others. I know because when I do this, I am so much happier and better prepared to do what I need to for my family and in my life. When I am not, I can lead down that path of destruction and everything is harder. On the outside I look fine, but inside I feel like I am spiraling! Dealing with mind/body health can hold us back (that would be anxiety and/or depression or other challenges that some of us face and for me, it is a reality, and it can impact all of this, but it is real, and it is part of so many of us, and it is okay, you are okay. Living HIPP is the lifestyle brand that helps support this and you, it is tracks to run on, so when you can’t run, you can walk, and when you can’t walk you can crawl.

Here is what I am doing to prepare myself to feel my best in 2021. I am always big on progress over perfection because we are human, and we need to take the pressure off of ourselves, and offer ourselves more love and compassion.

My Daily Commitment:

H20 (hydration just helps with everything, cheers to that)

Alcohol Free (because no day ever starts great with a hangover)

Magical Morning (my time of reading spiritual, positive inspiring/healing words)

Gratitude (because gratitude is everything, it shifts our experience & mindset)

Yoga (either a class or at minimum a few poses)

Sugar Free (yes, because the binge is real) Better Eating!

Other things to add perhaps weekly or monthly:

Simple Joy Moments (working more on the simplicity of joyful moments)

Photography, I love capturing moments and will do more of this (I Phone)

Field Trips, discovering local places and spaces I can visit or explore.

Service: I do things of service, but have not aligned with an organization.

Writing: Writing is part of my creativity and fills my soul.

Hike: I want to do more of this (simple trails my friends)

I will add some other things to support me in living my best life, those are more around body and mind work, so necessary for me to feel grounded and focused.

As my first boss in my professional career shared with me “Rome wasn’t Built in a Day”, yes, I am one of those people that go all in and want results stat! The mantra of progress over perfection will continue to guide me in the new year. But this is not new to me, all of these things are not new, I have been doing many of them, but also have become complacent in some ways too.

I hope this inspires you as you begin to set your intentions for the year. Remember my list might not be what you need, write the list that suits your needs and what works best for you. Go inside, listen to the whisper of your heart, think about what brings you joy. Add your own experience, your history, your truth and come up with the list that works for you. I am going to share more on what I am doing, so that you too, can feel inspired to do the same. 2021, let's do this!