Every new year, I adhere to the tradition of writing a blog post. This 2023 I am doing it differently. I’m ending the year on a high note with a final blog post. I want to reflect, give thanks for the current year, and set new goals for 2024. May this post motivate you to end your year right, too.
1. Review the Year
What went wrong?
As a menopausal woman, my emotions are at their peak over the last couple of years. I want to blame my hormones but I shouldn’t… well, maybe just a little. I’ve allowed circumstances to dominate me, reacting too quickly instead of taking a step back and staying composed. My behavior was regrettable and Its repercussions are embarrassing.
The uncontrolled negative emotions affected my spiritual life too. The level of closeness I felt with God changed based on my circumstances and mental state. I relied on other people’s validation rather than God’s approval. I had a pity party because I doubted God and His plan for me.
I want to end the year right by letting go of these things. They never helped me grow but they held me back. As I renew my intimacy with the Lord daily, He will help me get back on track.
What went well?
I never realized that turning 50 this year is a milestone until a colleague of mine congratulated me.
Is turning 50 worth celebrating even if I have nothing spectacular to show, made many mistakes, haven’t reached my goals yet, and have not yet arrived in life?
Yes, it is worth celebrating. God has created us as unique individuals, each with a specific purpose and timing.
If you feel you have not accomplished much in life, take heart. God doesn’t compare your journey with other women. He has called you for Himself and it’s up to you to follow His lead or not.
Another milestone this year is our daughter completing 10 years of homeschooling, while I ended 14 years of home education. If you are a homeschooling parent, you know it is never easy but it is the best decision we have ever made as a family.
2. Express Gratitude
Yes, 2023 was an emotional year, but it was also my reboot year. I am grateful to have the opportunity to start a new career and recreate my life.
I want to end the year right by saying thank you to some key people who helped make my 2023 a memorable one:
Personal
- My husband and children supported me and put up with my sometimes very volatile state.
- My mother loves and supports me even if we drive each other crazy sometimes
- My Dgroup leader who knows when to call me out and patient to listen
Professional
- CBN Asia for including me on the roster of devotional writers for 2024.
- Kaye of Mamacademyph and Viviene of The Fulfilled Women for allowing me to be one of their group speakers
- Janice of MommyMundo for allowing me to contribute an article for the website
- My Manulife family specifically my branch head and teammates, for helping me start a new career as a financial advisor
3. Set New Goals for 2024
My final way to end the year right is to set new goals for 2024. It is exciting to plan but if I don’t know why I need to plan, then it is a futile exercise.
But don’t moms have their hands full to set goals for themselves? I understand why stay-at-home moms often ignore setting personal goals because I was once that mom.
My priority is homeschooling my children and anything that steals my time away from that gets ditched. However, taking care of our own is not selfish but necessary. We can raise our kids to become responsible individuals with promising career or professions without neglecting ourselves.
If you have not set personal goals since becoming a mother, I suggest you do so in 2024. It doesn’t have to be a big goal. You can start developing yourself in simple ways like:
- reading a book
- taking a new hobby
- listening to podcast that interests you
- joining mom communities
- enrolling in online classes
- exercising
My primary goal for 2024 is to focus on setting things right. I made many mistakes in the past because of my lack of planning and now I want to start to create a life plan. I have created a vision board and I will be sharing this with my family. We will set aside time to share each other’s goals for 2024 and create one family goal. Oh, Lord, please help us. But isn’t this exciting?
How do you want to end your 2023? What are you looking forward to in 2024?
