“2022, We Welcome You!”

What’s holding you back?

Around this time last year, I wrote a blog post: “Jump the Hurdle! It’s Okay If You Fall.” That post was all about setting goals and resolutions for the upcoming year. It was written with a sense of joy and encouragement. “What do you want to achieve this year? What did you learn about yourself (or your circle) in 2020 that you wish to change or improve in 2021? What do you want to let go of in this new year? What are your 2021 resolutions?!” I wanted to remind us that even though 2020 was a crappy year, that it didn’t have to hinder us from doing something as “normal” as setting New Year Resolutions.

But that was a whole year ago lol. I just reread that post and I still love it! I still think it’s a work of art. I still think I got a little bit of talent when it comes to this blog post writing thing (huge thanks to yall for rocking with me this long!). But that was a whole year ago where I realized that in these unprecedented times we should allow ourselves more grace (yeah, Covid still here, it’s got some new friends, it ain’t trying to go nowhere).

What does that mean, exactly? “Grant yourself grace”? I say that quite often to myself and the people in my circle when we come across an uphill battle and stress ourselves out if we aren’t able to trek up that hill in a specific way that we originally expected. “Grant yourself grace” goes hand in hand with “control what you can control.” I also say that A LOT. When we live in a society like ours that demands production, innovation, and creativity from just about EVERYONE, our minds are constantly turning on a hamster wheel trying to figure out how to satisfy that demand. How to meet a deadline. How to put other people’s lives/feelings/wants/desires before our own. When we live in a society that doesn’t normalize R E S T, we get upset when things don’t go our way. News flash — YOU CANNOT CONTROL OTHER PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING.

People were born to be different. Humans were created with different attributes. Grant yourself some grace and control what you can control and I promise you will live a healthier, happier, promising life.

Since I wrote that blog post on December 31, 2020, I really applied those sayings to my life. And as I walked into the new year and welcomed 2022 with open arms, I still chose a word and a scripture to help “guide” me through the year. But I didn’t create resolutions per se. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t! That just means I am taking a different approach to how I live each day and putting one foot in front of the other.

Now, I will say, that I did use the coming of the new year as an opportunity to reflect and plan for what’s to come. Some of you may have already seen and heard, but last month I became one of the newest members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated! It is the first Black Greek-letter sorority, founded in 1908 and it’s a lifelong sisterhood. I won’t go into all of its history, but Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is dedicated to service to all mankind. Yall already know that my day job is one of service. I am now a part of an organization that is of service. Keeping in mind my other advocacy engagements and professional responsibilities, I knew that I couldn’t be operating mediocrely as I join this sisterhood. I need and want to be operating in all of my roles in EXCELLENCE.

How do I operate in excellence? One of my main goals for 2022 and beyond is to be all-in with all of the organizations I am a part of and to grow as a person because of it. (I also am going to continue to read daily and try to budget my finances better lol). Not just physically (or virtually) attend meetings, but also mentally and emotionally attend them. Place my duties and responsibilities within the organizations higher on my list of priorities. Actually BE a great asset to the team rather than just have that as a saying. Why do I want to do all of that when it sounds like it’s adding more to my plate? It’s simple. It’s what makes me HAPPY!

So, I’ll ask you again — what’s holding you back? And I don’t mean back from setting new goals, achieving great things, or joining new organizations. I mean what’s holding you back from doing what makes you happy? What’s holding you back from setting your own agenda and making your own rules? What’s holding you back from conquering 2022 in whatever way you see fit?! Do what makes you happy! Not everyone will agree with it, but that’s the whole point. Who’s life are you living, yours or theirs?

Hello 2022!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” — II Corinthians 5:17, NKJV.

Moni Jay, Off the Record