January 6, 2020
When I was thinking about my word of the year, I struggled to come up with the exact word. I knew towards the end of 2019 what I wanted 2020 to be all about. It would be a year of doing the work and not feeling like I have to do it a certain way. Do you know what I mean? I think sometimes in the photography industry (or any industry for that matter) we get caught up with following a certain pattern. A pattern and a path that we feel like we have to go down in order to be successful.
Because that’s what we’re always looking for in life. We strive for direction, structure, the “keys to success.” We live in a world of “supposed to’s.” But life doesn’t work like that. I’m sorry, but there is no “roadmap” to the success of living a happy life that fits EVERYONE. It’s different for everybody based on what their version of success is.
I don’t want to get caught up into the things I “should” be doing or follow a path that isn’t meant for me. Maybe in the past, I used to care about that. I would think that others were further ahead than I was or that they had the success I THOUGHT I wanted. In 2020, I just really want to work on being the best me possible, serving God, and serving others. I want to do the work even if I’m the only one that notices. This thought finally led me to my word of the year.
Become
It hit me when I was rereading The Velveteen Rabbit for the millionth time. It’s my favorite children’s book and it’s usually the one I gift at a baby shower. But as I was reading it, I found this quote again that I absolutely love:
“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”
I think the journey of becoming “Real” takes a long time and it’s not something I can completely accomplish in 2020. It will probably take most of my life. “Become” fits that SO well! Because I’m in the process or as I like to say to my sister “I’m a work in progress.” I’m “becoming” so many things (or at least I want to!) I want to become a better wife, friend, daughter, sister, business owner. I want to become a mother.
There are so many things I’m working for this year, it’s a progress year. That doesn’t just have mean progress in business but it’s working on myself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually too. I’m sure it will be full of lots of surprises and joy too but my goal is to invest in the things that are important to me now. My idea of success looks different now than it did years ago.
Here’s to 2020, where my plan is to put in the work. Whether it’s working on myself, working on my 30 Before 30 project, working on my marriage, or working on my business – I’m redefining what my success looks like. I won’t feel trapped thinking I have to build anything the way others are building it. I’m listening to my heart and my fears and diving head first into everything. I hope you do too, friends. I hope you Become this year too.
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