20 Things in 2020

Wow, another year bites the dust. 2020 here we come! It wasn’t an easy one, to say the least. Every year it seems that the universe throws a different challenge into our lives and we’re forced to put up our umbrellas and wait it out. I don’t think anyone has an easy time navigating life, but this year was a whole new level of back roads.

I started the year opening up and sharing pieces of my life here. Slowly I started to fade away as I lost connection with who I am until I became unrecognizable. When I realized I didn’t know who I am anymore, I started to do some of the things I used to love. At night I put down my phone and I started reading again. Instead of crying it out, I started writing again to express how I feel. I dusted off my guitar and fell in love with music again.

I started the year with 3 goals; 2 of which I completed. I went to a conference this year, which I wrote a blog about, and I started therapy (which I have yet to talk about). The third goal of starting a podcast I’m rolling over to this year.

Word of the year: Grace. It’s the year of giving grace for others as well as giving grace to myself. I’m not the same person I was even 1 year ago, and that’s ok. Somehow I’ve gotten caught up in my own whirlwind that I’ve forgotten that other people are in their own windstorms. Thinking about forgiveness and grace, I don’t think they have to coincide. I’ve had a hard time forgiving people for their mistakes. At least when you give grace you understand their mistakes and act with compassion and love, with an open mind to forgiveness.

1. Start a Podcast.

#1 for 2020, rolling over from 2019. I don’t know what about yet, and I think that’s why I’ve pushed it off, but it’s still something I want to do. So I’ll make that happen. I have a few ideas, but I don’t want to do a business podcast. They’re becoming slowly over saturated, and talking about business isn’t something I love to do. Admittedly, topics like business are on the bottom of my podcast list.

2. Go to Church.

Me and Richard have talked about this on and off for a while now, but it’s time. There are so many excuses I’ve made for not going that are so stupid. So at least once a month we’ll be at church.

3. Record my Songs.

Ok, so I know I said I let this dream die in this blog, but I started writing more music in my “I’m gonna find myself” moment. I have notebooks full of songs I’ve been writing since I was 11. Some really bad, some are ok. Not letting those songs live on paper is something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I’m not sure if I’ll do anything with them, but I’m excited to let them live again.

4. Take a Vacation.

A much needed vacation. When and where doesn’t matter. I want to travel to somewhere I’ve never been before and I’m making it a priority to do so in 2020. Beaches, here I come!

5. Exercise.

Losing weight isn’t what I want, but I’ve been so physically exhausted for a long time now. My body and physical wellness have been pushed aside as I had other things I needed to work on. I’ve been pretty upfront with my need to exercise. I never want to put pressure on myself to lose weight or go to the gym. However, it’s time. This is one of my top goals for 2020.

6. Volunteer.

I’ve been lucky enough to start volunteering this year with a puppy rescue out of Texas called Texas Rescue Riders. If you don’t know anything about the dog population in Texas I highly encourage you to educate yourselves. I’ve learned so much about rescue dogs and shelters across the US. It’s been therapeutic for both me and Richard to have something like this to do and I want to keep doing so next year!

7. Get Rid of the Clutter.

This is a constant battle for me, but all the stuff around my house stresses me out big time! Clean, goodwill, mess, repeat. Our house isn’t that bad but it’s time to stop hoarding things and time to focus on other things besides stuff. 2020 will be a minimalism year if I can help it!

8. Write More.

I’ve kept a journal since I was in middle school, and slowly fell out of it. Journalism and writing is what I love! I have so many ideas in my head I’ve never released. Writing and publishing a book is in my top 10 things I want to do before I die. Maybe no book by Libby coming in 2020, but sometime in the next 10 years I promise!

9. Save more Money.

Financial wellness should be at the top of my list, and dang it, it is this year. New Haydin Home hopefully coming in the next 2 years!

10. Read 45 Books.

I fell back in love with books this year! My goal this year started in October for 15 books, which I exceeded! I’m excited to read at least 45 new books this year, hopefully decreasing the number of unread books on my shelf.

11. Road Trip with Leo.

This year we went camping and now I think it’s going to be a yearly tradition for us. There’s actually a Thomas the Train theme park in Boston I’ve been dying to take Leo to, and hopefully I can this year! I think this year we may do a cross country train trip – details TBD.

12. Go Green.

I encourage all of you to make this a priority in your life as well. Earth is a beautiful thing, let’s not ruin it. I cut out plastic water bottles and have started using organic deodorant and hair products. Next up is finding organic cleaning solutions and cutting out sugars!

13. Use those cookbooks.

We have so many cookbooks on our shelves that are older than me and collecting dust. I really want to cook more food this year instead of going out. The dusty shelf in the kitchen is the first place to start.

14. Focus!

This may seem like a contradiction since this list is all over the place.

I’m bad for doing ten things at once and not doing a good job on any of them. This is especially true when it comes to blogging. I’ll be writing a post, checking Twitter, watching Grey’s Anatomy, and have a cat sitting on my lap. That’s not the set-up for good work. This year I want to commit to focus. If I’m writing them I’m writing; if I’m watching TV, then I’m watching TV. It’s so frustrating (to me and the bf) when we get three episodes into a new show, and I have no clue what’s happening because I’ve been more plugged into my phone.

15. Serve my clients.

I’ve went from having 30 clients a year to a dozen, which makes my job all around easier. Having a few clients makes it easier for me to be available to each couple without feeling burned out. I’m excited to keep being able to serve each client as I enter a new phase in my business. More about you, less about me.

16. GROW A BETTER GARDEN

The yard at our is huge, but I’m determined to make that a good thing. This year is the first one we’ve made use of it, and it’s been trial and error. We have a few trees to chop down and more plans for this year.

17. Get that bedtime routine down.

I feel like a bad mom sometimes. However, I hear this normal. I’m reeeeeaaaaaaaaaly bad at staying to a routine. We’re slowly working on it but now it’s time to be accountable to sticking to it.

18. Find out who Libby is again.

Yesterday I told my husband it’s the 7 years of Libby. I was so confident in myself 5 years ago. I was president of the drama club, going to school for photography, starting my own business, and taking on the world full force. Somewhere along the way I completely lost touch with that person. It’s ok to grow and change, I know I’m never going to be the same Libby I was at 15. However, I started to do things I love again like reading and writing music instead of spending hours on my phone absorbing mindless content. Hello world, I’m Libby and I’m ready to find my place!

19. Go to More events.

This is my nice way of saying I need to get out of the house more. This year I took a cookie decorating class because I wanted to. I want to do more of that. Things I do just because I want to. Not only that but continue to network and push out of the introverted box I’ve locked myself into.

20. Take More Pictures.

Duh!

 

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