I don’t claim to be an expert on much, but this I know to be true: I am an expert self-doubter.   Like many do in January, I began thinking about the new year and all I wanted it to hold.  And as I put pen to paper, I began wondering why I even bother.
And for everything I wrote down, I found reasons why it wouldn’t work.
And then I remembered a conversation, a nugget of priceless advice: Begin writing down your goals by first writing down your gratefuls.  All of them.  Everything you can think of you’re thankful for.
Scratch that.

Start again.

So I started writing and writing and listing and laughing and before long, pages were filled and I felt overwhelmed by all I accomplished in 2013.  I learned, I grew, I stretched, and I conquered.  I attempted really hard stuff, really scary stuff.  I had butterflies a lot.  I had those moments when I wondered what I’d gotten myself into and I’d suddenly be talking to myself out loud.  Why had I said, “yes”?

But here’s the amazing thing:  none of these chances ended in disaster.  Not ONE (well unless you count my first wedding shoot when my skirt ripped out…)   And, good grief, I accomplished all these things on my list while being a mother, wife, friend, teacher, sister, neighbor…  I suddenly had to stop and give myself a little credit, because credit was due.  Big Time.

My second list of goals for this year didn’t look much different from the list I’d started and tossed.  But as I read over the page, they didn’t seem improbable or even doomed to disaster.  In the reflection of my gratefuls, I looked at myself differently.  I stood taller, felt braver, and more hopeful. I’m taking chances, and it feels good.

So thankful for my people, my home, my God.  I’m blessed with this crazy fan club of friends who consistently cheer me on, push and encourage, bring me chocolate and coffee.  They believe in me and pour into my life.

So if next January I sit down and all my worst case scenarios happened, nothing was accomplished, I’m confident I’ll still have hands to hold and a soft place to land.

Here’s to a wonderful and exciting new year.