As the New Year approaches, we all tend to do a lot of reflecting. I also tend to reflect a little more around this time because New Year’s Day happens to be my birthday.
20 year’s ago, I was ringing Y2K excited to be getting my driver’s license. Life was all about learning, growing, and planning for the future. I looked at adulthood as one exciting mystery.
Somewhere after college, I think I lost the fun of learning and the excitement of gaining the freedom that a driver’s license brings. When we are young we want the freedom that we believe adults have, but as we grow into adulthood, we actually tie ourselves into so much responsibility with careers, kids, and houses that sometimes we don’t feel very free.
There are three specific lessons that I learned over the last 20 years that I refuse to repeat in 2020. I believe these lesson have taken the fun out of life. This year, my resolution is to put the fun back in.
Lesson 1: Not having a big plan.
When we are in high school or college, we have so much that we are working toward and looking forward to, whether graduation or the big game on Friday night. Life was full of a plan of going to school, earning certain grades to graduation, and excitement for events like dances, games, or graduation.
As adults I think we forget to work toward a goal and look forward to the fun that happens along the way. Between going to work, taking care of children, and keeping the house presentable, there is just no time for anything else, except maybe a week’s vacation or occasionally going out with a group of friends.
We create so much stress that is really unnecessary if we have a plan. This year, I am not going into 2020 without a plan. (***SPOILER ALERT– It will be talked about in the future 🙂 ***)
Lesson 2: Not having FUN
If there is one word that I want to incorporate back into my life this year it is FUN! Each day, I want to remind myself that it is okay to have fun. Learning is fun. Creating new experiences is fun. Living a little outside of my comfort zone is… fun!
As adults I think we forget that it is okay to have fun, we put so much on our plate, that we take very little time to enjoy it because we are on to the next thing. Working out, taking care of your health can be fun… Saving money… that can be fun too… We just need to come up with new creative ways to get there. Ways that we enjoy instead of a task that has to be done with no clue how to get it started.
This year, I am going to live for more FUN.
Lesson 3: Not Sharing With the World
In 2019 I was determined to dream a little bigger and help more people on a larger level. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to do so. The business launched a new way to market our program, we overhauled what we are able to do and how we can help people with their fitness goals, I joined a Toastmaster’s group to improve my communication skills, and I did a lot of self discovery and leadership building. Therefore, I have to put what I am doing out there in order to help others. I got to send my plan and my fun out to the world.
As adults, we are so scared to be judged about what we are doing. Social media has us filtering our lives in order to be accepted. To the public we are displaying the good, but in reality we are screaming inside because we are wearing too many hats and juggling too many plates for it all to work. I have spent a lot of time worrying about what the world thinks of who I am… And hiding all these amazing things I have learned that can really help change the lives of others.
This year, there I want to be an example of something different. Something that screams, I am WORKING MOM hear me roar! And I am having fun and being efficient doing it.
Life is messy… I am not looking to get rid of the mess. Personally, I think that is an impossible feat. However, I am looking to change the attitude that we have about the world. To dream big. To spread fun and love. To help people, especially moms have a plan to get their freedom back and have fun… because moms we are important. We shape the perceptions and abilities of our children. They will repeat what we do. And I don’t know about you, but I want to be the mom that teaches my kids that adulthood can be fun too.
