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Happy New Year!
I hope the holidays were not only enjoyable for each of you and your families, but also peaceful. I am excited about the New Year. 2024 was good, but I expect 2025 to be better!
Do I have some New Year's resolutions to pursue? Lean in, I want to let you in on something...NO!
Why? I spent the beginning of last year game planning and watching some things unfold, while others remained yet to be opened. As I write this January leadership message, there are some things from last year that may very well play out later this year. So what does this mean?
Last year, though I had many successes with some of the resolutions I set, the ones that did not pan out so well, made me nervous. Yes, the over-achieving, woman with a plan, became anxious when things did not work out as I planned. As a form of punishment, I did not allow myself to take a break or enjoy little satisfactions. Instead I continued to grind and tweak what was not working in hopes of checking off what was slowly becoming an unattainable goal.
By the end of last year, I made the conscious decision to live life. Forget the goals! I would be intentional about what I set out to do, but allow "wiggle room" for the things that sometimes don't go according to plan.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Leadership Circle hosted by Montgomery Women and led by Sylvia Henderson. At the beginning of the session, we discussed personal goals and the choice to set them or not. That portion of the session was important as it reiterated we can have goals; oftentimes, we may achieve them, but sometimes, we will not. However, when the latter happens, be open and adaptable to what is occurring before you. If delays happen, accept them.
It is ok if I don't drop10 pounds by March. I will still continue to exercise, though I may not stop indulging in some of my favorite Starbucks treats. If I am able to reconnect with three friends versus seven this year, that is progress and it is still deemed successful. And finally, the world will not end because Ijeoma chose to put herself first. I am challenging myself to do a better job mentoring so that others can take care of business when I am not around.
Sure, it is good to have some goals. However, I don't want the goals to make me miss the other parts of life that you just can't make resolutions for.
Be kind to yourselves this year, and resolve to enjoy life as it happens.
All the best for a successful new year!
Ijeoma Enendu
President, Montgomery Women
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