December 30, 2020 – 2020 has been different for everyone and it has definitely been a different one for me. I have been through so much – a lot of lows. I was sitting on the couch last night, wondering/worrying about what 2021 was going to have in store for me. I wanted to start 2021 with positivity and gratitude.
I thought back to the days when I lived with my sister, Diane, and how we started every year with hope. I moved in with my sister in Spring 2007 when I split from my ex. My sister is a very spiritual person – always looking for the deeper meaning in things. My first year living with her, as the new year approached, she announced that we were going to do two things on New Year’s Eve. We were going to take a balloon and write one wish on it. At midnight, we were going to release the balloon and let it float up into the universe. The other thing we were going to do was create vision boards. We only did the balloon release once. However, every year that I lived with her, we spent New Year’s Eve day creating vision boards.
I powered up my laptop and began typing my list of goals for 2021. I tried to think of goals that were attainable and realistic but also necessary for my growth. I started tapping out what I wanted to accomplish in 2021. I grouped my goals together and saw that I had three major themes – financial (stick to my budget, start saving), health (drink water, start menu planning, get moving), and growth (commit to a writing schedule, continue working on my novel, blog once a week, get organized). I decided that I also wanted to have some key phrases on my vision board: “choose me” (a reminder to put myself first), “I am worth it” (a reminder to love and respect myself), “today” (a reminder to not put off doing something with the hope that I will have the time to do it tomorrow), and “your future self will thank you” (a reminder that the sacrifices and positive choices I make now will benefit me in the future).
Satisfied with my short-listed goals and my key phrases, I had to gather some images. If you’re not familiar with the vision board process, you are supposed to cut out pictures from magazines that represent your goals and then make a collage. Because it’s 2020, and I don’t purchase magazines, I began an online search for free images. Some images were easy to find and some were not. I made a poster-sized collage and uploaded it to a printing website. It won’t be here for January 1st. But, when I do receive it, I’ll hang it in my walk-in closet. I’ll be able to see it every time I get dressed. It will be a daily reminder of where I should be focusing my energy.
I am grateful for the tools that my sister gave me. I am happy that I am started on the right path for 2021.
Diary of a DOW 