This Year Doesn’t Dictate Next Year

I don’t know who all needs to hear this aside from myself but I’m going to put it out there anyway… if you’ve had a bad year, or even just some bad days or weeks, in 2022 then it doesn’t mean that 2023 can’t be different!

I know all too well after the past few years that sometimes it can feel like nothing is ever going to change for the better, and life is going to be nothing but a negative spiral from here on out. And maybe you haven’t been feeling that low lately, but I know that all of us have experiences that get us down sometimes.

So I suppose this post is just to remind you that you’re not alone. It’s so easy to feel isolated when things are going wrong in our lives, but you’re not as isolated as you think and at any given moment all of us are probably struggling with something. 

That’s why I think it’s so important to be a part of something; whether it be a friend group, a close family circle, or a community that understands what you’re going through. And that’s why I wanted to start this blog, to have a way to reach out to other moms so that we can all share our experiences.

And my experience this year hasn’t been the best…

This year I struggled with a lot of things. My oldest child moved out and although I’m happy for her, I’m still her mom and I worry a lot more now that she’s not with me. I’ve also been dealing with some health issues, both my own and those of other close family members. And I’m honestly really tired.

But I still want to have hope for next year because as fast as things can take a turn for the worst, they can also turn back around for the better. Life is a constant wave and I know that although I’ll have low points during this next year, as I have had in every year of my life, I’ll also have high points that make it all worth it. That’s just how life works.

I wanted to make this post to remind others who might be struggling of this fact, because I know that new years come with just as much uncertainty as they do hope and joy. And I know that especially when you’re having a hard time, that uncertainty can outweigh any hope you have but it doesn’t have to.

I’m challenging all of us, myself included, to try and let go of all the negative parts of 2022 and remember that there’s more of a chance of 2023 being a good year if we go into it with a positive attitude.

Don’t let the past weigh you down, not the past from a decade ago, not the past from a few months ago, and not the past from last week. Every day is a new day, every year is a new year, and every moment is a new moment. We are constantly blessed with a theoretical “clean slate” because our past doesn’t have to dictate our actions in the present. And we shouldn’t take that fact for granted.

I personally think that new years are great reminders of our perpetual clean slate, because it’s universally seen as a new start. That’s why it’s always been one of my favorite holidays, and up until recently, I’ve felt nothing but excitement going into the new year. And I want that excitement back.

So as much as I’m trying to motivate and encourage you all in this post, I’m also trying to give myself the nudge I need to look at the new year how I used to. As a chance for positive change and new, fun memories.

I’m going to fill out my list of resolutions like I always do, stay up until midnight with my daughters, and ring in the new year with none of the weight of the past years and a smile on my face for what’s to come. And I hope you’ll all have a good New Year’s Eve as well, to prepare you for 2023 and all the things that will come with it.

I’m sorry if this post has come out more like a rant or venting, but I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings with you all since this may be my last post of the year. I hope you were able to find something valuable in it, whether it’s simply comfort in remembering you’re not alone or it’s motivation that 2023 can be different.

I’d love to hear from you guys. What has your year been like? And what are your plans for next year? Let’s make it a good one guys!

And I’d like to end this post with a quote that sums up what I was trying to convey…

“Accept what is…

Let go of what was…

And have faith in what will be”

– Sonia Ricotti