Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019

I can truly say that I am glad to see 2018 go. I am ready for a new year with new possibilities. This year has brought many troubles and difficulties for me, for my family, and I am sure for you. It hasn't all been bad, but it proved to be a tough year. With that, I also learned a lot. I am thankful to have a God who cares so much for me that even through the trials, He is still able to teach me new things about Him and about myself.

New year's resolutions are not really something I take part in. But I do try to start each new year with a new outlook. It is a reset for me. No matter what has happened in the past year, I will start fresh, taking what I learned from the year before, into the new one ahead.

This morning, I went out to coffee with a friend of mine. She told me that this year she will try to be content with where she is, who she is, and whose she is. It really got me thinking about how I can take time this year to better myself and grow in my relationship with Christ. How can I be content with life? I have always struggled with rushing ahead in life and wanting to be where I am not. In middle school, I wanted to be in high school. In high school, I could not wait to be in college. Now I struggle with wanting to be at the next stage in life. As hard as I try, I can never catch up with where I want to be. But lately, I have been reminded that if I continue to rush through, I will never enjoy my life for it's true potential. There is so much to look forward to in the future, but there is so much to see right now.

This year, I want to slow down. I want to put the brakes on and take the blinders off. Enjoy the moment. Be in the "now". I know today is still 2018, but on my way home from coffee I started enjoying life at a slower pace. There are some back country roads by our house and instead of rushing home to an empty house to watch TV or do something less interesting, I blasted my worship music and went for a drive. That was one way I found time to take a pause and enjoy being completely myself. Music up loud, singing at the top of my lungs, cruising down the road... life was good. I am sure people driving around me were confused at this girl making a fool of herself, but I didn't care. I was being in the "now". I was content.

Life has been unsteady for me for about a year and a half. So much change, transition, and disappointment. But through all of it, I continue to grow. This year taught me to be okay with where I am at. I will take that with me into the new year that awaits. I will be content with life. I will continue to learn how to be my best self and not to focus on what other people think of me. As long as I am honoring God and becoming who He wants me to be, that is all that matters. This year promises to bring more pain and more trials, but it also brings new opportunities to grow and new adventures to be had. I am ready for ya, 2019. Bring it!

Here are a few songs that have been inspiration for me to take life slower and focus on where I am at:

Trust In You - Lauren Daigle

Control - for KING & COUNTRY

joy. - for KING & COUNTRY

Not in a Hurry - Will Reagan, United Pursuit

Seasons - Tori Harper

Getting There - Steffany Gretzinger