To say “it’s been a while” is an understatement. Fall has come and gone at The Palm House … we already have Valentine’s Day decorations out.
A lot has changed since the last time I wrote a post (back in September 2020). Our baby is now a toddler, we’re expecting our second kiddo this summer, we’ve been working from home for almost a full year and have settled into our house being the hub for everything.
The transition from red, crisp leaves to clouds and snow was really tough for us. We went from being outside every day exploring parks, enjoying Saturday night backyard fire pits, and lots of front yard chalk and bubbles to being hunkered down with just our little crew. Our basement is now a hybrid kid play zone and man cave, and we’ve transformed a spare bedroom into a second office as we realized WFH was going to continue be a thing for a long while.
Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m in kind of in a weird place. A new year always brings a fresh start, a new energy and sense of excitement. This time last year, I was just back from maternity leave. We were gearing up for the fun of the Super Bowl and a big event at work. Maybe it was the new-mom fog and whirlwind start to 2020, but I didn’t have much time to really think about the year ahead. Now here I am a year later, really pushing to find new energy for 2021 while trying to identify goals for the year ahead. There’s just so much uncertainty still.
I came across this Forbes article on skipping the New Year’s resolution and instead focusing on three key things. In the spirit of starting off 2021 on the right foot, here’s my take on the approach:
- Set an Intention | For me, I’m going to focus on the big picture in 2021. I’m going to soak up all of the extra snuggles and time with Lincoln; enjoy having my husband home for a bit longer (he traditionally travels regularly for work); focus on how exciting it will be when Baby Palm arrives this summer.
- Word for the Year | I’m not sure I can drill down 2021 into one word, so a phrase to inspire what I want and how I’m going to get it is: “the best way to predict the future is to create it.”
- Write a Letter | Instead of a one-time letter to my future self, I look forward to taking the time regularly to reflect on three things I’m grateful for and three goals I have to pursue.
Here’s to hoping 2021 provides us all with clarity and a fresh perspective!
The Palm House KC 