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New Beginnings, New Starts and New Years!
Don't you love the fact that you can start fresh or start again? I might be one of the only people I know that loves Mondays. On Monday the week starts anew. I am determined to accomplish more, be more disciplined, for that week to be the week where I can consistently do everything on my to do list plus raise $20k for Moms Adopting Moms and lose 30lbs but hey, I didn't say I was realistic. Just determined :) !
But how many of you like me, by Thursday are just trying to get to the weekend and not think about anything or anybody but how best to relax or have fun during those two treasured days off? I guess we are all very similar. We want more for our lives, we want to be the best version of ourselves but oh the flesh is weak and we are tired and lazy and short cuts are both easy and fun sometimes, right? Well, maybe for a little while but in the long term? They can actually be quite destructive. Maybe that's why only a few make New Year's resolutions anymore. Do you remember when they used to be so popular? I guess when you set them and fail at them time and time again they somewhat lose their appeal. We'd rather accidentally succeed and brag about it then have others see us fail.
I don't know about you, but by the end of 2024, I was running on fumes. It was such an honor to lead Moms Adopting Moms this year but I am by nature an over achiever. My husband says I hardly ever sit still to his great annoyance. If there are things to be done and no one is willing to do them, I usually just take it on myself. As a result I do manage to accomplish a lot. But I can wear myself slap out (as we say in the south) and 2024 was one of those years. I was worn slap out and I needed a break so when we left for England and my husband was tested to have Covid on day 1, I wasn't even upset. Days just shut up in our hotel where I could do nothing except watch movies with my daughter and play games on my phone or read a book was like a little slice of heaven.
So after two weeks of being nearly a complete sloth I am ready both physically and mentally to kick off this New Year with Moms Adopting Moms. Not with resolutions of such but just with small changes I'd like to introduce into my daily routine so I will not live with regrets. My primary difficulty? CONSISTENCY! Sticking with something for the long haul is something I admire in others but rarely accomplish myself.
When I come to think of it, this word is a good one for all our moms. Especially for the ones fighting for the safe and expedient return of their children. It is not easy folks to get up every day and go to work, go to recovery meetings, take classes, attend visits, meet with case workers and counselors and do it all while someone else raises your children. This is on top of your body craving substances you are trying to never pick up again and self imposed guilt and shame for allowing your life to feel so upside down. It is mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting. And yet that is what we are asking of each of our moms...
When it is hard and you want to give up - be CONSISTENT in doing what you know you need to do. When you are lonely and all you can think about is that quick hit that used to make you feel so great? BE CONSISTENT in your recovery. Sure, at first saying you have 4 days sober doesn't seem like a big deal. But my friend, it IS! Soon it will be 24 days and then 4 months. Before you know it we'll be celebrating your 4th year sober. Just one step at a time, one consistent move in the right direction after another. Consistency for me, consistency for you will get it done.
So here's to a New Year, a year full of consistent baby steps in the right direction for us all! Welcome 2025! It's going to be a fantastic year.
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