Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2022. First, I want to say thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. Thank you for sticking around for over a year. My heart is filled with gratitude.

There’s a lot of pressure around setting new years resolutions. Many of us step into each year determined to be a better version of ourselves. The momentous fresh start of the new year provides inspiration to attempt a lasting change. I haven’t set any official new years resolutions. However, the desire to live a healthy and happy, well-balanced life remained the same. I still want to focus on creating better habits that fall within larger themes. These are continuous goals not bound by a specific date or the turn of the new year, and they cannot simply be checked off of a list. 

Two weeks ago, I came across a few verses in Ecclesiastes:

“Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere… So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.”

Where do you find meaning?

We can provide almost anything that we want. In theory, most of my general wants can be ordered with a swipe of a card and delivered in a few days. I imagine the excitement a pile of boxes would bring, but it would wear off in a few days. The tale is as old as time, material items do not create long-lasting fulfillment. Some aspects of the “grind” culture would certainly argue otherwise. And the people encouraging it are in full force around this time of year.

Here are a few suggestions for meaning: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I find meaning here in this newsletter. This little idea has pushed me to get uncomfortable and face a few fears. In turn, I’ve received comfort in routine and your positive feedback. My intention is to provide a place of encouragement and reflection with honesty and grace. You can read more about it here. Let’s consider that a resolution to you. 

Conquer this year. It’s already yours.