Hello 2018, and hello to you! I’m ready to tackle a whole new year and a whole new set of goals? I’m ready for all the new things 2018 has to offer. Are you?
2017 was great in so many ways. As I reflect on my year and the goals I shared with you last year, I sit here thinking, what’s next? I hope so many great things for me, for you, and for our Stay Gluten Free Community.
If you would like to catch up on what I’m talking about, you can read my 2017 goals here.
I am very much committed to keeping stayglutenfree.com a food blog, but I like to add a little slice of life post here and there, because I want you to know me, and I want to know you. I value so much that you trust me with your time.
When I started stayglutenfree.com over a year ago, I also started my Stay Gluten Free Facebook Community (it’s FREE to join, CLICK HERE). I wanted an actual virtual meeting place. A place where we could speak daily about the successes and failures of gluten free living. It is filled with an amazing group of people and I hope to see you there.
I have always been a January 1st kind of gal. But if I am being honest, January 1st kind of ends up being more like January 5th or 6th, hence the date of this post. It usually takes me a few days to actually recover from the holiday hustle and bustle. It’s like I need to stop time before I end one year and begin the next. It’s a time of reflection, decisions, and renewal.
Today I reflected on my same post last year and I looked at all that I accomplished. Then I compared it to what didn’t even have a chance to get done. I am pleased and disappointed at the same time.
2017 How did I do?
Well let’s see, to briefly recap, I called 2017 my year of “Doing” or year of “D”.
- Declutter- my home
- Decorate- my home
- Develop- Gluten Free Gathering Guide
- Detach- from my phone
- Devote- time to God
- Do- better parenting
I am happy to say, I have decluttered a ton. In fact, I am still decluttering, and loving every minute of it. Getting rid of junk has been very liberating. It has been my letting go of “waiting for someday” and living for today. I am a long way from finished.
I didn’t decorate much, and I probably will hold off on that for now. Honestly, I am still really trying to figure out what my home should really look and feel like. I love to watch Fixer Upper and get inspired, but then I some how lose my way, much like a gluten free diet sometimes.
Figuring out what my home should look and feel like, goes right along with self discovery (not on my list). But this 40th year of mine happened to also be filled with so much personal growth and development. It was filled with more self acceptance and less with my desire to always please others.
Last year was filled with more “yeses” to me and more “nos” to the things that were less important. My time was not stolen, it was carefully given.
This past year, I have watched my boys grow, tested recipes and have grown stayglutenfree.com. I have enjoyed every minute of it. I also developed my first Thanksgiving Recipe Guide and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to share it with you.
Unfortunately, I did not detach from my phone as I had hoped. And I did not devote the time I would have liked to devote to growing my relationship with God. This was disappointing.
Why is it so easy to put the most important relationship in our lives on the back burner?
Better parenting has been a result of watching my two boys grow and begin bonding. I always say, my first son made me a mom, but my second son has made me a better mom. Being present in the moment is always something I will work on, because I don’t want to miss a minute of these precious years. I love them so much.
And although it wasn’t on my list, I totally surprised myself and started working out again. I am loving the early mornings, the workouts, and the “me time”. I really feel like this has brought me back to life after the adjustment of having 2 kids.
All in all, I would have to say that 2017 was a great year.
So where do I go from here?? How do I top 2017 “my year of doing”?
Now hello 2018
Instead of making a whole list of things to do, I thought I would focus on the one thing that meant the most, but got the least amount of attention last year, my relationship with God. So my goal is to read the entire Bible in one year, this year. It is something I have always wanted to do and there is no better time than now.
I can focus on just one thing, and make it happen. This will help me to get into the habit of reading more. More reading, less phone. I think it’s a win win, unless I am reading the Bible on my phone (insert eye roll emoji here).
With social media always keeping our eyes in motion, I feel like I need to retrain my eyes to see more and to see more clearly. To read and research about things that are important.
So as I close this post and finalize my plans for 2018. My goal for the year is to READ! I will attempt to read the BIBLE in one year and I will read and research so that I can keep you and my Stay Gluten Free Community (it’s FREE, click here to join) up to date on all things gluten free. This and I am going to TRY to add eggs into my baking again;)
Anyone want to join me?
Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know me better. I would love to hear something about you. Leave a comment below.
Until Next time