Different Digits

I could start this blog post the same way as every year, with 'A New Start' or 'New Beginnings' or 'Resolutions' or whatever. But I gotta tell you, last year kicked me in the gut and I just want this year - this month, this day - to give me a break. 2024, 25, 26... it's just different digits. I can have a fresh start anytime I want, I don't need the first day of the year to make that happen. Besides, I'm just going to screw something up today and then, what, do I wait 365 more days to start over again?

No amount of planning or micromanaging (or complaining) is going to fix everything that's wrong - with our world, our personal lives, our family members, our job, ourselves. Sometimes, it all just feels so hopeless. Maybe that's why we look to a new year to fix all our problems, to give us the motivation to change. Because it's something we can pinpoint. THAT's the day! THAT's the number on the calendar when things will start getting better.

But that's just not how it works, is it? What if we told our kids to get their room cleaned up sometime in mid-September and they said, "I'm planning on doing that January 1st." Would we stand for that? We would not. Bossy McBossypants that we are, we'd threaten grounding or some sort of negative consequence for not doing what we said to do immediately. We can't just look around us and think, 'What a mess. Better plan to start fixing this on some date in the near or distant future...'

It starts now. And not just because it IS January 1st, but any day, every day. Any time, all the time. When we make a mistake, we make it right. When we fall off the wagon, we climb back on. When we make a poor choice, we own up, apologize, and move on. When we start in on a bad habit, we stop the moment we recognize it.

The only thing that ever makes a real difference, a real change, is taking small steps toward the goal you have in mind. If you step in the wrong direction, turn around. My church has said, for as long as I can remember, 'If you take steps in THIS direction, you'll end up over here. If you take steps in THAT direction, you'll end up over there." Feels like that should be intuitive, but we struggle with it so much more than we should.

As role models for the children (and, sometimes, other adults) in our lives, we have to walk the walk. I talk A LOT. (Just ask my husband.) But none of what I say matters at all if I'm not following my own advice.

This year, I challenge you to set one goal: be the best version of yourself that you can be and, if you find yourself not living up to that goal, try again - no matter what day of the year it is.

We have a new chance every moment of every day. THIS day happens to be the first of the year. So, welcome to 2026 - it's just like every other year, but with different digits.

Keep Trying,

Stephanie