Happy New Year, friends! Doesn’t it feel like 2020 was yesterday and we woke up in 2023? It’s bonkers how quickly and aggressively the last three years have gone by. In those three years we have had COVID twice and every other virus under the sun. I’ve gone through lots of ups and many downs with my anxiety. I’ve been exhausted, frustrated, sick, tired, and stressed out.

I don’t do resolutions but I try to pick one word at the beginning of each year to live by and strive towards.

So my word for 2023?

Healthy!

 
For me being healthy means more than just not being sick. It means feeling vibrant, energetic, alive, and happy. I want to feel healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally.

A few ways that I plan to support myself in the healthy new year:

Sober Curious… Indefinitely?

I started this weird and unexpected journey in October thinking it would be a month or two but I still don’t see myself going back to drinking anytime soon. I will never say never because I know life throws curveballs and things change and people change and all that, but for now, it feels permanent in a way that I never in a million years expected it would.

I wake up more awake, I never have a hangover, and, most importantly, it has cut my anxiety down a ton. I saw a meme the other day (can’t remember the source) that said drinking alcohol is like pouring gasoline on an anxiety fire and in my experience that couldn’t be more true.

Every single morning when I wake up having not had a drink during a night out or evening home with friends, I feel so good and so proud of myself. And honestly just so…. healthy.

It feels weird to not shut up about this but I wish I could scream louder how much better I feel and I want everyone to feel that way!

Therapy

I have been sporadic in my therapy for the last year but am going to make a point to go back (still over Zoom) once a month. Checking in regularly with my emotions makes a world of difference and I need that to prioritize my mental health.

New Projects

When I get stagnant with my work, I get bored and also stressed out so this year I’m focusing on some new projects and can’t wait to see where they take me!

Social Media Boundaries

This year (and every year) I need to work on not tying my self-worth to followers or likes or engagement. Which is hard because that is also directly tied to my income, but my connection to social media often becomes extremely unhealthy for me and this is one of the big things I want to work on in therapy this year.

And Finally, Have More Fun!

For the first time since 2015 I am not trying to get pregnant, pregnant, mothering a baby, or thinking about when I should next be trying to get pregnant. Luca will be 2 in a few months and we are officially out of the baby stage forever and ever and ever. We can all take a deep breath and have some more fun! My kids are at the cutest, silliest ages and I finally feel safe enough anxiety-wise to get out there and do more things.

I want to travel and take them places. I want to see my children discover new people and things and adventures.

Here’s to a healthy, happy, and fun 2023!