Hope for the New Year

Friends, 

It’s the last day of 2021, and I’m both shocked and thankful that it’s finally here. 

This year has been HARD. The kind of hard that feels impossible.  

Usually this time of year I find myself reflecting on all the things from the year. Good things typically outweigh the challenges, and I almost always feel like there are some redeeming qualities that make the year a “good” one instead of the notorious so-called “bad” year. 

This year, though, I don’t feel like rehashing the events of the year is a productive exercise. Sure, I will reflect. Sure, there have undoubtedly been amazing things that have happened! And I’m entirely grateful for them. 

But for the first time, it doesn’t feel like a good year as a whole, and I’ve come to terms with that. As my good friend told me earlier this week, it’s best to ride with our emotions, whatever they may be, rather than fight against them. We can’t always control the things we’d like. Most times they’re things we shouldn’t be controlling anyway. 

So as we finish this year, I wanted to share a message of hope. 

I’m entirely joyful about the new year. I know there will be more challenges, because there always are. But after this year, I’m sure I can face anything that might dare to come my way. I hope that for you, too.

I wanted to share my hope with you today because I think it’s what we all need. The whole world has had a rough year, and we all could stand to use a little tiny slice of hope, and the warmth that brings to our heart. 

So here it is:

I hope you have amazing things to look forward to next year, even if this year has felt like a big dumpster fire (same). 

I hope you’ll continue working to be who you want to be, and not who anyone else wants - because you deserve to. 

I hope you have a dream as big as the stars and that even when you’re afraid of how big it is (as all huge dreams tend to be), you’ll keep stepping forward one step at a time. One day at a time. 

I hope that no matter how you’re feeling today, or have felt this month, or the rest of this year, that you’ll wake up tomorrow and see it as a chance to start fresh. 

Cheers to a new year, a new us, and new beginnings. 

May we be open, willing, and ready to accept new challenges and be brave enough to face each new day no matter what it holds. 

We’ve got this, together.