Twenty-twenty was anything but awesome for many people. I, myself, didn’t have too terrible of a year. Thankfully, the health of my family remained in tact. And I was able to stay at home and care for my young family. I realize that this is not a position that everyone was in. But I found myself pleasantly surprised by the turn of events that landed me in a new role serving as a public official. That stands as only the beginning of my wish for the New Year.
My wish for my personal life
Twenty-twenty consisted of some major changes in my personal life. I said goodbye to people who had come into my life at various points over the last few years. In many ways, I saw this coming. I knew that 2020 would be a game-changer when it came to politics. I knew that my personal politics, which I stand firmly grounded in, would be pushed up against those with severely differing opinions. And, in many ways, I was prepared for that to happen. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t suck to lose people.
Moving into this new year, I hope that my new and strengthened relationships from 2020 continue to grow. Even if that means I’ve curated a very close group of like-minded friends and acquaintances. I will nurture those relationships and hold them close. It’s the only way to remain close to people throughout a pandemic.
My wish for my career
To my surprise, 2020 was a super busy and successful year for me. After losing my part-time job in April (after having already taken a leave of absence), I bucked down on doing what I love — creating content and recipes. I shared some of my favorite dairy-free recipes and shared shopping tips to help save money.
In February, I got involved with the On Our Sleeves campaign. Partnering with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, I travelled to Columbus with other bloggers. The experience was life-changing. I met so many other influencers who value the importance of mental health. And it also happened to be the last time I travelled, as the pandemic struck the US shortly thereafter.
My goal is to continue building a community. I want to offer resources for parenting, money challenges, recipes, and also mental health.
But there’s another part of my ‘career’ that really blossomed this past year. I took on a very unexpected role in public service. And I am seeking reelection for the first time later this year.
My wish for health
At the beginning of 2020, I was on a path to better health. I had been practicing intermittent fasting and I was getting healthier. But I was also still teaching cycling and was super active with my kids at the YMCA. The pandemic didn’t immediately side-track my health, but by the Summer it had. I had grown tired of the same old routine at home. We were eating a lot more takeout. And my workouts were minimal.
Knowing what we know now, and about how this is going to be a long road back to ‘normal,’ I’m taking a different look at health. I’m truly focusing on whole mind-body health. In October of last year I bought a Peloton. My work schedule was so busy in October and November, that I really didn’t get ‘into’ riding until December. But upon finishing cycling workouts I’m reminded of just how good exercise is for my mental health.
While my kids have remained super active throughout the last year, I’m trying to get them to be more intentional with moving their bodies. They’ve started doing kids yoga on YouTube and talking more openly about their mental health.
Cheers to 2021
I surely hope that you and yours remain healthy throughout this year. What big or small goal do you have for this year?
