NYE 2022 Post

 Happy New Year's Eve!

Ah yes, it's time for another episode of "Danielle writes a long-winded New Year's Eve post." As I write this, I am running a fever and feeling overall not my best, so maybe this year's NYE post will come with a side of loopiness.

Each year the last several years, I look back on my prior long-winded posts from NYE - they are typically thoughtful, introspective, and mention that while I enjoy setting intentions for the new year, I don't necessarily make solid resolutions. I think reframing how I go into the new year with intentions also seems to help me achieve those intentions. So here goes.

As the new year approaches, I intend to start off with a sense of wonder, and a sense of opportunity for new beginnings. While every day is an opportunity to start over, I do enjoy the sense of so many of us collectively starting anew.

As always, as I continue to work on my mental health, I intend to stay as present as possible in my every day life - enjoying the moments with my kids, little and big, fun (and well, not so fun), laugher, tears... everything. Because even when it's hard, being present in the here and now is still better for me than perpetually being stuck in the past, or worrying about the things I can't control in the future. I don't want to go through life focusing on what I've done wrong, especially in situations where there is no way to right those wrongs. My intentions going into the New Year are being present and positive.

In terms of being present, I'd also like to make sure that I'm more thoughtful capturing those moments. Last year, I took a ton of pictures. I mean a TON of pictures. But I realized as I combed through the pictures over this year that I hadn't taken many (or asked for many) pictures of myself with my family. I can't explain why that occurred more this year vs. prior years. But it was a trend that spoke to me in my tendency to disappear into myself at times - like I'm an observer, but I'm not really experiencing the moments. So I would like to take less pictures randomly, and more pictures at thoughtful moments - in short, I want to hide behind the camera less and just be there with my family instead. I still want and certainly will, take way too many photos; however, I'm hopeful by setting the intention to be more present that I'm actually experiencing those moments.

Lastly, I want to go into the New Year with an overall sense of contentment. As I'm writing this with a splitting headache, a cat snuggling on my lap, and my kids quietly playing in the room over, I'm grateful. This year was hard, do not mistake me. And I made mistakes. I struggled, though I often did not wish to share those struggles with those around me. But right now? Right now I'm content. Happiness, sadness, anxiety, those are just moments. They pass. What I strive for in between it all is just to be content with myself and where I'm at in life.

May you find contentment in the New Year. May you go into the New Year with a sense of new beginnings. And may you be gentle with yourself as you take stock and leave behind the past year.