I know I said I wasn’t going to post again until the New Year, but some thoughts and reflections came to me last week and I didn’t want to leave 2016 hanging in the dust, forgotten.
You’ll forgive me?…
So, how was your Christmas? Ours was lovely, if not rather balmy with the 70-something degree weather we had. We enjoyed a relaxing few days with my parents and my in-laws, though, and saw Christmas through the eyes of sweet Bazooka. Having a child makes Christmas so exciting!
It seems crazy to me that 2017 is just days away, but here we are.
2016: Reflections
One night over the Thanksgiving holiday, when we were having dinner with my in-laws and Mark’s uncle and grandmother, I was discussing the blog—the redesign, projects I had done or wanted to work on, whether I’d generated any income, etc.—and received the nicest compliment.
“It seems you have found your voice.”
As a writer, knowing your voice—and speaking from an authentic place—is crucial.
I haven’t always written in (or known) my own voice. I’ve tried to emulate other bloggers, thinking I must write or photograph or share certain things, but lately, I think there is some truth to that comment: that I have found something unique and relevant and honest.
And I don’t think that discovery is limited simply to the blog.
The last few years have been challenging. For many years, I’ve dealt with ups and downs at my job—never feeling like I had a purpose, always thinking I was a failure because I wasn’t doing life-changing work or achieving enough.
I fought to climb out of the comparison trap, like so many of us do.
Avoid the comparison trap in 2017... #selfawareness #TOL Share on XAnd then I had Bazooka and learned how challenging—and fulfilling—being a mother truly is. That you can have more than one purpose in life and turn simple things into extraordinary ones.
2016 has had its highs and lows, but I think it was the year in which I found my voice and became content with the path I’ve journeyed so far.
I took a deep, hard look at my life and how my actions/choices/struggles affect my family, and I made the decision to go on medication for my anxiety/depression.
In doing so, I realized that I wasn’t all-powerful (of course I already knew this), but I also realized that my weaknesses could become strengths if I let them.
I want 2017 to be the year of discovering and developing my strengths and learning to speak more loudly and eloquently with my voice. I want don’t want to speak with an effort to serve only myself.
2016 was a year of self-discovery, and I hope 2017 will be more of the same.
2016 was a year of self-discovery…what will 2017 bring? #reflections #TOL Share on XSo long, 2016…
And may the New Year bring you joy, adventure, good fortune, and endless discoveries.
[thanks for letting me think out loud]
So tell me…
- What was the biggest lesson you learned in 2016?
- Do you have any goals for the New Year?
- What does “finding your voice” mean to you?
To me, finding your voice means learning to stand on your own two feet. That doesn’t mean that you do everything yourself–sometimes, you are tired or the wind blows too strongly–but you carry yourself.
So beautifully put, Susie. I agree that learning about yourself and your voice sometimes involves relying on others. We can’t do everything! Have a wonderful new year…I know you have quite the journey ahead of you and I wish you the best.
These thoughts could be my thoughts. I started a blog this year about my special needs son and twins and I thought hard about my “voice”. It’s hard to read other’s words and NOT start to sound like them. It’s hard to know your voice if you don’t take the time to know yourself. I admire your courage and honesty (something hard in the virtual world). My goal for the new year is to stay grounded in family and not let social media take over my life!
Thank you for the encouraging words. It’s weird, but I almost find it easier to be myself in writing than I do in real life…it’s always been something I’m comfortable with, even though it is easy to lose that unique quality, as you say.
I think that’s a great goal for the new year – I hope to do the same! Have a wonderful 2017, Jamie. 🙂
Finding the voice that you’ve been given is such a gift; that is a super encouraging sweet compliment. <3 Finding my voice means writing what God is teaching me, writing what lessons I've learned, and praying that it can bless others without me adjusting things to just please people.
Definitely an encouraging compliment.
I feel like you absolutely know your voice – your words and thoughts are so genuine and encouraging. Hope you have a blessed new year, Emily!
What a compliment- having someone recognize that shift in you in so flattering. I too have felt myself become my confident in my own voice. While I’ve noticed some new insecurities pop up, I almost feel more comfortable knowing what they are. It’s strange!
I look forward to seeing more content with your very own Catherine voice.
Thanks, Kate. I think you’ve grown a lot – based on your blog, at least. I’m sure you have in real life too 🙂
I think the wonderful thing about growing up is that even though those insecurities never go away (or still arise), we are better “trained” to move past them. Happy 2017, Kate!
I would absolutely agree that you’ve found your voice! I’m glad that everything fell into place with your blog after all. I know it was tough post-redesign because that just takes so much effort!
I feel like I’m still in the process of finding my voice. Or rather, I think I’ve found it but have a hard time sticking to just being myself and being true to me all the time (on the blog anyway). I really hope that 2017 is the year that I really nail it in that department.
Thanks, Melissa. <3
Yeah, it seemed like so much else (a mobile toddler and job changes) happened at the same time, but I think I was able to realize that some things matter MORE than the blog and how to fit everything in a little better.
I'm so glad you decided to continue blogging. I think you've really developed your voice and I love your honest talk about motherhood and life in general. Keep doing you!