Hey friends!! I am starting to believe change is my favorite thing. I ended 2020 with a little vacation between jobs, new car from totaling my car in an accident and grateful heart for a year that was full of challenges for many. If you have been here a while, you know I am a glass half full kind of girl. I believe to my core in the worst situations you can find joy and gain wisdom. Everything happens for a reason and nothing is a coincidence. Ever.

New year, same girl with a new perspective. This is the first year I haven’t sat down to create a “bucket list” for the year, lofty goals, and a plan for exactly how I was going to accomplish it all. This year I have a blank sheet of paper with nothing on it. This is a first for this type-a planner and I must say it is nice for a change.

Maybe it’s Matt rubbing off on me to live more spontaneous? Maybe it’s me finally letting go of the need to control everything? Maybe it’s me finally learning it’s not my plan, but his? Maybe this will be the first year I live totally spontaneous and see what happens?

One thing I definitely know is:

1. I am taken care of. Provided for. I am the daughter of an amazing God.
2. I am right where I am supposed to be.
3. I am confident in my ability to figure it out, hold on to my faith, and to trust my gut instincts.

Friends, I am a planner. I love structure, routines, and to-do lists! I will write something on my to-do list I just completed so I am able to cross it off. It just brings me great joy and a sense of accomplishment. I love to work and make things happen. When I decide I want something and my mind is set on it, you can say it’s done.

I have also “set my mind on something” and fell flat on my face. I started the race, took ten steps past the starting line and didn’t move again. I just sat there like a pig in mud. I even danced and rolled it at times. I realized I actually didn’t want whatever it was or wasn’t willing to do the daily activity to make it a reality. FRIENDS THAT’S OKAY!!!

Look you don’t know if you actually like something until you try it. Until YOU try it. Not your friends or your family. You. SO many, me included, people are too scared to start something because what if you don’t like it, not good at it, or whatever other reason decide it’s just not for you. I would always think it would make me look like a quitter or I wasn’t capable enough to do it. This last year taught me, it’s okay to go do something else. It’s okay to chase your “dream life” right now. You don’t have to wait twenty years. You can make all of those things a reality now… well at least start running in that direction. For me my “dream life” was living in a certain part of town, working a certain type of job, being a certain type of friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend. I am doing that today.

Honestly, most people have so much going on in their world, they may think about you for a second when you make a change or a life pivot and then they move on to whatever is occupying their life. Think about a friend that made a life change… what was your reaction? How much time did you spend thinking of him or her?

It’s your life sis. You are the only one that has to sleep in the bed you made. What you decide in that moment go for it. I just challenge you to not run from the first trial or tribulation though. No one said it would be easy. Worth it, absolutely!

Friend, I am cheering for you! I want you to have the most success and to live your dream life. I want you to be so happy you tear up thinking about all the ways you have grown, lived and learned. I want you to be proud of you. That my friend is powerful. You are capable of living THAT life. Have the courage to chase your dream, pivot when you need to, and to laugh along the way. My dad always tells us, “Enjoy the journey!” I did just that in 2020. I grew, learned, laughed, and made great memories even if it felt the world was coming to an end.

I am proud of me. I am proud of my journey. Most of all I am thankful for every moment, person and experience that has shaped me into who I am today. I get all teary-eyed when I think about my life today. All happy tears!

Was it easy, nope. Worth it, absolutely!

Thank you precious friend for reading along today! Have a wonderful week! Be brave! Be strong!! Be YOU!! The world needs YOU just the way you are. God only made one of you for a reason.

Until next time,

Amanda