New Year's ease

I began writing this essay instinctively thinking I failed all of my 2023 goals. I remembered doing an ambitious annual review (borrowing from Steve Schlafman’s template), starting the year, and the next thing I knew we all got COVID, an ice storm hit, the power went out, and my plans went out the window.

Turns out I should give myself a little grace. Looking back at my goals for the year, I did shockingly well. I was just missing the ease.

We did weekly date nights. I started guitar lessons. I developed a solid gym habit. I got back on the bike. I explored my professional goals, ideas, and network, and landed in a good place (see my last email). We made a new baby (!). We nurtured and grew our community. I found a coach. We (almost) finished our major home renovations. I bought a new car. We’ve found our “regular” hangout spots in Austin, and continue to explore what our incredible city has to offer. We went to Mexico for our babymoon. I started a newsletter to my closest friends and mentors.

So why does it feel like I failed?

Maybe because my approach last year was that it needed to be hard. That these were ambitious, maybe even stretch, goals. That I needed to radically shift my habits for the year to feel like a win.

In retrospect, maybe I was subconsciously telling myself I’d fail before I ever started.

This year my goals aren’t that different. I’m not setting resolutions. Instead I’m just trying to make my life a little better, a little healthier, and a little more fun, each and every day. I’m trying to show up for my family, my community, and the world in the best way I can. And I’m approaching things with ease, giving myself grace, and acknowledging that sometimes life will be life-y.