2023 Word

You know when you have those well-intentioned plans to be on top of everything and then those plans fall through because you are terrible at following through and being organized, but you really want to work on that and you try very hard, but then it falls through anyway.
Ugh, this is me this week. I had a beautiful plan all written out. Graphics made and ready to go. Time carved out to get things done and well... life.
So here I am writing to you on the 5th of January to tell you about my word for the year of 2023. Lol... it's a good thing I hope that you appreciate authenticity as much as I do because that is all you are going to get from me this year. Is real thoughts about real life. Let's talk about 2023.

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My word for 2023 is connections.

Let me tell you about how I came about choosing this word. It is stupid simple really. I have heard it over and over and over and over... and well, get the picture? I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this word in just everyday conversations with friends, leaders, speakers, etc. And it just resonates with me. Everytime I hear it, the word just jumps up and down and says "YES! You know it Michelle". So, let's talk about how I intend to use this word.

I'm learning the art of slow down. 2020 was so hard on me, but did it teach me some things.

1. I don't have to live for other peoples approval.
2. God won't love me less if I'm not burned out for Him.
3. Being a mom and wife are ministries.
4. I'm not just a nobody. I am somebody. 
5. God can use me. The broken, hot-mess that I am.

First and foremost I want to continue to dig in and grow a deeper connection with God. I cannot even begin to tell you the difference I have seen in my relationship with Him. It is hard to explain, but maybe to say that it feels less rocky. Less on again, off again. I feel more of a steady hand-holding with Him.

To be clear, it was me, not Him. I have a history of inconsistency in every aspect of my life and it especially flowed through here. I had this idea in my head that in order for Him to love me I had to be going full-throttle all day, every day only for Him. I would put aside myself, my family, my friends and just drive until I burned out. Then I'd just quit.

Slowing down has changed my relationship with God. I'm no longer focused on earning His approval and trying to prove that I to should have a place in heaven. Instead, I am growing a relationship with Him that is developing in to a place of peace for me. I'm thankful for that and because I see the value in it I want to continue to foster that connection with Him.

Next, I want to connect with my family. Don't get me wrong. I do connect with them, but as Joe gets older (and Dan & I get older and wiser) I am seeing the value of just sitting down and enjoying. There is a time and place for my business, encouraging others and sharing our life. This year I want to intentionally spend time just with them. I want to disconnect from all the noise and just BE with these two guys that I love. I want to intentionally spend time with extended family members. Reconnect and enjoy each other. I'm tired of attending funerals of people I have known my whole life but have become disconnected with as we have gone on about our lives.

I want to get connected back with my friends. One of the greatest negatives of 2020 was that I disconnected. I have still had times where I get out with friends, but honestly I have limited them. Why? Anxiety. I will be so pumped and excited to get out with friends and all the way up to meeting them my anxiety will have me close to passing out. I am not talking about meeting up with acquaintances. I am talking about friends. People who know me. I can't even begin to explain the pleasurable relief I will feel when either they cancel or Joe gets sick or something comes up that we just can't make it. Want to know what doesn't make sense? When I do finally get out I enjoy myself immensely. I go home and feel so complete. 

So this year I am going to reconnect with friends. I am going to set dates and follow through with them. I am going to quit hiding my head. I am going to bolster up and go say hi to those people I have deemed worthy of being a part of my life.

Last, but definitely not the least, is everyone else. Whether you follow me on social media. Read my blogs. Get my newsletters. However, it is that you know me, I want to connect with you. I want to share with you and encourage you. I want to spark joy in your life. I want to make you belly laugh with the crazy thoughts that come out of my head. I want to inspire you about all that you can be. I want to remind you of how amazing you are and that God loves you so much. I want to shout to you "GRACE! GRACE! on those days that you have convinced yourself that you are a failure. Most of all I want to hear from you. I want to hear about what drives you, your favorite recipes, what made you laugh so hard you rolled out of your chair (this should happen at least once a day). I want to virtually hug you one your bad days and hear those things that bring such pain to your heart. I want to connect with YOU. I want you to know that at the end of the day I am not just typing words on a screen to meet a word requirement and make myself feel like I did something. No, that would be a waste of my time and yours. Let's connect and create new friendships together this year. I would love this so much.