This is the third blog post that I have written in honor of the new year. In 2021, I wrote a post called “Intentionality.” I was ready to be intentional about everything that I did and claim the year. Fast forward to 2022, and the post was called “Intentionality ≠ Outcome.”  SO I would love for everyone to guess how the “intentional” year went. And fast forward one year later and here we are again.

When I look back on this year, I would say that it was relatively calm. I feel nervous even typing that out because usually once you do, the universe hears. But I mean it- I lived alone, I developed a lot of good habits, and I dug down a lot deeper into the human that I want to be (I also raised my credit score 80 points.) Instead of a resolution for the new year, I chose the word “embodiment.”  Embodiment to me is the practice of becoming my best days. Embodying the small practices that I have created and carrying them into the new year in order to grow and enhance their impact. 

Here is what I mean when I say “becoming my best days.” This summer I had a really, really good day. The day was so good that I wrote about how good it was so that I wouldn’t forget. Here is what happened: 

It was a Saturday morning in July and I didn’t have any plans. When I woke up I walked next door to the track where I walked a mile and talked on the phone with my mom. From the track, I walked down to the farmers market and sat on a grass hill in front of the flower stand and people watched. I reflected on how lucky I felt to live in a city surrounded by so many interesting people. By the time I started to feel creepy from all the people watching, I walked a few blocks to the overpriced neighborhood market. I got all the ingredients to make cowboy caviar (essentially white people pico de gallo) and I came home and made it. Then I wrote in my journal and took a nap. After the nap, I got ready and went to get dinner with my friends. We drank wine and ended the night with a cookie skillet. 

Now I’m not saying that everyday needs to start with a walk and end with a cookie skillet but hear me out. When I really start to break down the things that make me feel the best and the most like myself they are attainable every day. For instance, I know that I really like to spend mornings alone and during this time I like to exercise. So now, I wake up before work and do it. But it wasn’t until I decided that spending that extra time with myself, rather than sleeping, was worth it.

Then, on my best day, I talked to my mom and later saw my friends at dinner. I was able to have my alone time where I recharged and then went and gave energy to my people. I have said it once and I will say it again…fill your cup first! Do the things that you know allow you to recharge so that you can give to other people. 

Also, I don’t believe that everyday needs to be the best day of your life. Or that it’s even remotely reasonable to assume so! But I do know that you can have a really, really good part of each day. 

This is not the year of reinvention. In fact, this is the first year where I am proud of the habits that I’m carrying into the new year because I know they are forming who I am. I even made a vision board this year with a picture of my current body at the gym. To some this may sound vain, but it isn’t because this is my dream body, it is because I am happy in this body. I feel the most confident after I work out so I decided not to put a picture of someone else’s body (that lets bffr is probably photoshopped or fake), and instead remind myself THIS MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD. And I choose this year to feel good. 

By doing one thing from your really, really good day, each day, you are allowing yourself permission to keep having those good days. And on the not so good days, you can always try again the next day with a little more intentionality. I am aiming to let go of the things I can’t control and control the things that I can. Like ordering cookie skillets.