2022 was not very good. Well, it was good, but not good for me. Well, it was good for me, but not good for my creative vibe.

Thanks to the pandemic aftermath, and I say aftermath because I can’t think of any better way to describe it, my husband desperately needed a project. I, however, did not. Somehow, I ended up getting caught up in his project, a new business, resulting in my setting aside all my goals and aspirations for 2022.

If you’ve been following me, you know that for the past six years, yes, I can’t believe it’s been six years, I’ve been journaling. I think this is probably the only habit that I’ve actually established and stuck to, and every evening I write down just a few sentences about my day. I’m prompted to put something I’m grateful for that day, my happiest moment, and then there’s usually a fun question to respond to like; Do you own uncomfortable shoes and if so why do you keep them? What’s your greatest strength? If you could take a plane anywhere right now where would you go?

It has become a ritual I enjoy doing, and as I mentioned, hard to believe I’ve been doing it for six years. And, I like to look back on previous entries. What was my life, my vibe, my mood the previous year, two years ago, three years ago? I found it fascinating as I looked back on last year as 2021 ended and 2022 began. I looked at what I wrote last year. I realized that the goals I had set for 2022 are the exact same goals I have for 2023, because I didn’t reach any of them.

So what does that say about me?

It says I need a mind-set shift.

I decided to forgo my usual journal for one a little more expressive, in an attempt to get more creative juices flowing (one of my 2023 goals). That, and I recently read that instead of making new year goals reflect things you want to give up, focus on what you want to add.

So what is in store for me in 2023?

Do something creative every day
Slow down and appreciate the good things
Spend more time with the people I love
Go on more adventures
Drink more water
Learn to say no to things I don’t really want to make time for

I am a career optimist, so here is to another year of productive intentions and good vibrations. Check out my vision board, because I heard vision boards help you manifest what you want. Yeah. Well, it can’t hurt.

Jessica