Eyes On Your Own Paper

I used to be the person to never do what everyone else was doing. Honestly I am still that person to a point but that's not my point. I love doing my own thing on my own time. Sometimes though, I am late to the party and by the time I want to do that "thing", the fad is over and it's not cool anymore. Or maybe when I finally am ready it's so overwhelming I don't even know where to begin. So instead of dealing with it, I shove it under the rug like I do with all the other BS I don't wanna deal with anymore.

When the ball drops on January of the new year, why can't we just sit for a moment and reflect on that beautiful year we just had? No, it seems like it's always on to the next goal, and hashtags smacking us in the face. Every commercial and post out there is all about what is your New Year's Resolutions? What are your goals? What is in store for the new year? Honestly, for years I hated hearing about resolutions. It was all the same thing. I wanna lose weight. I wanna make more money. I wanna be a nicer human. Now, don't get me wrong, these are great resolutions but maybe we need to narrow the focus and only put ourselves in the spotlight. Stop looking at everyone else' paper. What is it that you want out of the new year? If you say you wanna lose weight, are you willing to do the work past February?

Maybe you are reading this and are thinking well, Alesha, because last year was a shit show and I don't care to reflect on all that again. New Year, new me! Ok, I get it. Last year for me, was such a rocky roller coaster and it sucked, royally! It sucked up my energy, it sucked up my passion, it turned me into a person I was not liking at all. But as I reflected on the good that came from the hardship and saw the amount of good friends and family I have, and are surrounded by, I was able to feel good and happy about moving on into the new year. I soon became happy in my own skin again. I am stronger, happier, and more free, because the good outweighed the bad. I have more faith in God than I ever have, because I learned to trust him and start letting go of control. He is always there!

Last year I had a huge awakening on my word for 2022. It was smacking me in the face so many times haha. No joke! It was hilarious how God was telling me what it was going to be. I was talking to my friend on the phone about what I wanted to accomplish at her retreat Wildly You and I just couldn't put my finger on it. Then, I broke another thing and it hit me. Chrystal, I think my word is supposed to be Breakthrough. I have broken like so many thing's. So that was it, finally after 20 some years I had a word that actually meant something. Little did I know it would be the hardest year I have ever been through as an adult. But the blessing in all of this is that I am still standing and I wake up every single day. God has reminded me so much that I have a fantastic life and amazing people who surround and support me and I

have a gift he wants me to share with the world. That alone gives me determination to keep going and push past my fears and insecurities. He also put a little bug in my ear to write all about my Breakthrough. So, guess what? Yep, I am in the process of writing a book! I cannot wait for you to get your hands on it!!

So, push aside the stereotypes and forget what everyone else is doing. Calm the New Years chaos and put the focus back on you. What do you want out of 2023 and what do you plan to give, in 2023? If you are not sure yet, don't worry, it will come to you. Sit in it, journal about it, pray about it. Do whatever you need to do. If you don't want to have a word of the year or a resolution, then don't. It's that simple. Eyes on your own paper!

By the way, my word for 2023 is Let Go. I was pondering on my word for so long and thinking about it so hard, that God spoke to me and said, Alesha, Let Go! So that was that. The feeling of letting go is so freeing. I am putting full faith in

God and am letting go of control. My life and journey on this planet is in His hands. I have faith that 2023 will be so so good!

So ask yourself, do I want to have a word for 2023 or a resolution or hey maybe even both? If it seems too overwhelming for you, you can always pray about it. Whatever you decide to do know that a resolution or word of the year is a small goal to narrow your focus in the new year.

I have faith in you!

Your Friend, Alesha