Last year I wrote about my selection of 2 hashtags to guide me through my year (some people choose a "word of the year," but I like to think of myself as more modern). Once you've taken a moment to read why I chose them, I'll give you the quick recap:
#SoftPants was obviously a huge win. I recognize this is a weird, lazy thing to choose, but here's why I think it was great: I gave myself permission to be comfortable and who I was. I like to chill in my sweatpants, and by declaring it to the world via my hashtag, I was both announcing who I was, and inviting people into it. My friends and I all now have an understanding that unless otherwise stated, if we are invited to one another's houses, #softpants are expected. There's a real freedom & grace in that, and for that I am thankful (and more comfortable).
#RiseAboveTheAwkward was maybe a bit more challenging, but still a great summary of the year. I chose to say yes to things that I might have normally shied away from to avoid an awkward situation, and for that I believe I had a richer, fuller, more spontaneous year than I have in a LONG time. God calls us to embrace who we are, even if it's awkward, and there is a real freedom and grace in that as well (though slightly less comfortable).
2015 was a pretty great year. I worked harder than I maybe ever have, but I played harder too. I took trips, traveled with friends & also did some traveling alone, took on projects I never thought I would, and honestly felt more like Becki Laird than I had allowed myself in a long time. And I'm thankful to say it paid off. I reopened friendships that felt closed for a long time, and made space for some new ones (both human and cat). There were certainly some hard things and hard conversations that happened in 2015, but I think ultimately for the better.
After a pretty solid year with some pretty silly hashtags I started to wonder what it was that I should be shooting for in 2016. Things are running pretty smoothly, but what are we if we're not growing? So, where do I focus my energy? What's next? As I thought about it a lot over the past 2 weeks, a clear thought seemed to keep coming forward. 2016 is the year where I #MakeThingsHappen.
If I'm really honest with myself, I've let the last 10 years more or less happen to me. I haven't taken the wheel (if you will) for a number of reasons, but I think it boils down to two things: I honestly haven't been sure where it was I really wanted to go, and I hate failing, so if I just let things happen I haven't tried for something and failed at it.
In 2016 I'm going to make intentional choices. I'm going to maybe have hard conversations and make hard decisions, but I'm going to do it thoughtfully, with discernment, wisdom, & guidance, and with the reminder that making the right decision for you does not always mean you're being selfish.
I'm going to allow myself to truly consider what it is that I want and need, and what it is that God is calling me to be a part of, and I'm going to go ahead and #makethingshappen, and not just sit around to see if things happen to me.
Won't you join me?
