Encouragment – Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author

Hello dear Friends!

Even though my blog break during the holidays was wonderful, while also toasting to my late Father-in-Law who passed in October, I have missed you all! I hope your holidays were filled with love, laughter, family and friends, along with good food and drink! When I was thinking about what I’d post for my return to the land of blogging, some prior content came to mind, so here we go again (a little revised)…

It seems time becomes more clever as we bid adieu to each year. Do the minutes and months feel more fleeting as we clink our bubbly-filled glasses on the last day of the year? Now that we’ve dipped our toes into 2024, is your list of resolutions hanging on your fridge by a favorite magnet? 😃

As I reminisce about last year’s glories and sorrows, I’ve concluded that resolutions may just be a thing of the past. This doesn’t mean that setting goals isn’t effective. It’s good to have projects to work on, to keep our brains stimulated, and it’s healthy to keep our bodies moving if goals include incorporating more physical activity or getting in better shape. So, as we ponder our new set of goals, let’s remember to reach for them at our own pace – don’t worry about what others are doing. Okay, let’s expand on this…

Here are a few words from the author, Kirsten Sevig:

“I decided to measure success in happiness, progress, wisdom, accumulating rejection and failure, resilience and determination, pride in my work, confidence, and comparing only to myself instead of to others.”

Since a new year is upon us, it’s logical to wonder if we’re on the right path to success. But define success. Do you measure success in dollar signs only? Have you compared your accomplishments to those of your friends or acquaintances then easily beat yourself up for not achieving as much? I’m not afraid to admit that I’m guilty of doing this because comparing is a common human behavior. But it’s not a healthy habit to continue. Comparing your success to others can cause a lack of self-esteem, and in severe cases, depression that can trigger a breakdown. I don’t compare anymore, and maybe with age comes wisdom, or perhaps, the notion of “I don’t give a sh*t!” Sometimes, we care too much about trivial things, so it’s up to us to shift our mindset – no one can do it for us – mind over matter, remember? Put your cares and energy into the right stuff!

I hope this wisdom enlightens your visions for this new year full of opportunities! And even though you and I may have read similar encouragement before, this affords us another chance to create a new year in our lives that will bring contentment and true happiness.

Below is a fun poem I wrote a few years back that I hope you enjoy again, or even for the first time, as we welcome a new class of 365 days:

There were…
High points to celebrate
Low points to tolerate
Tears that flowed
but eventually slowed
Lessons to realize
Adventures to feel alive
Demons to fight
Wrongs to right
Goals completed
Some deleted
Yet, looking back
we witness impact
More time to forgive
Another year to live
Accelerate in high gear
No invite for fear
Pour the bubbles
Forget your troubles
Clink and Chime
Celebrate Big Time!

It’s good to be back, and I look forward to reading your posts again!
Happy New Year, and may 2024 be a good one for us all! 🥳🥂❤️

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