And just like that, 8 months have passed by. Two seasons have come and gone.
Since then I’ve travelled to new places. I’ve watched and celebrated the hubby train for and complete his very first half ironman. I’ve switched anti-depressants. I’ve put on a lot of unwelcomed weight (thank you, new anti-depressants). I’ve said goodbye to 2023 and welcomed 2024 in with the most optimistic arms.
2023 was a tough year for me. But then again, so was 2022. Hell, even 2021 could have treated me a little better. I’ve really struggled with my mental health over the last two years. While I can talk about my struggles with family and friends, it’s hard putting that admission here. I guess by saying it here, it’s out there. It feels more permanent. More real.
It also may have something to do with the fact that my entire mental health challenges have centered around….what’s been going on with my mental health. Yes, that’s right. I have spun my mind into a horrible vortex centered around my mental health. Actually, let me rephrase that. My mind has spun into a horrible vortex centered around my mental health. I have not done this (I’m trying hard to stop blaming myself for something that’s out of my control).
So, you see, by typing out the words ‘I have mental health issues’, it’s like I’m giving my mind even more ammunition. Ammunition for it to be more obsessed, anxious, and depressed.
But logical Renee knows that’s not how it works (she’s the one here at the moment).
The good news is that a new year brings hope and excitement for a brighter year ahead, even when words like ‘hope’ and ‘excitement’ haven’t been used in the vocabulary very much.
I’m ready for 2024. But, if I’m being completely honest, even though we’re already two months in, I hadn’t really given the new year much thought until recently. There was no reflecting on the new year ahead, or no new goals set for when the clock would strike midnight. After all, there’s been much bigger fish to fry around here. See: stay sane.
A few weeks ago though when I was mindlessly scrolling on Instagram, I came across an old post from someone who shared their ‘Ins and Out’s for 2024. Things you want to focus on, and things you want to leave behind. I know we’ve seen a ton of those posts in January. For some reason, this particular time I stopped (maybe I was having a better mental health day). I started thinking. And I caught myself feeling a little motivated. I wasn’t thinking about goals per se, but how I really want to spend my time and energy this year. Habits over results. Progress over perfection. I mean, isn’t that the goal right there?
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” – Annie Dilard
There’s no rule when it comes to reflecting or making any new improvements in your life, so I encourage you to do the same if you haven’t, whether you’re reading this now in February or even next year in say, October.What’s some things that you want to do more/less of? What are some things in your life that you really want to improve on? What makes you happy or content or gives your life more purpose/meaning? When do you feel your best? How are your relationships with family and friends? These are some of the questions I’ve asked myself recently. And here’s what I’ve discovered.
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been.” – Henry Ford
IN
- Giving my home more love and care
- Hobbies
- Reading
- Better listening skills
- Creating budgets
- Moving my body more
- Eating more vegetables and protein
- Going back to therapy
- Booking a place that’s been on my travel bucket list
- Creating deeper relationships
- Taking more pictures
- Compliments
- Self compassion and cheering myself on
OUT
- TV in bed
- Caring about what others think
- Waking up to a messy kitchen
- Energy drainers
- Comfort zones and not taking more risks
- Comparing
- Holding grudges
- All or nothing mindset
Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead!
Until next time.
Love those “ins”!!🥰