AND NOW, YOU ARE HERE

And now, you are here;
over rivers, over mountains,
through an ocean of your fears,
through it all, you kept breathing,
and you made it another year.

I am not sure what the new year has looked like for you so far, but I hope more than anything, you can remember that these things are okay are in this space:

1 - It is okay to not have it all figured out on the first day of the year. There is nothing wrong with setting goals and dreaming about what’s to come, but I hope you also know it’s okay if you don't have it figured out yet. It’s okay if you’re still scribbling out your list, trying to figure out what it is that should truly be there. Perhaps the weight of last year is still sitting heavy on your shoulders. Maybe there are mixed emotions as you think about the things that happened and the things that did not. If you find yourself in that place, may you know that December 31st was not a deadline for healing. It was not a deadline for you to finally feel strong and brave. You are still wrapped in endless, boundless grace and you are free to travel at a slow and steady pace.

2 - It is okay to start slow. This time of year can often feel rushed, as you think about all of the things you have to catch up on and all of the other things you need to do. But even though there might be a long list of responsibilities and demands being placed on you, when it comes to the way you see and care for yourself, you do not have to be rushed. Yes, there are things to do, places to be, and a never ending list of responsibilities, but there is also room to breathe. There is room to simply take in the fact that after everything you have been through, you made it another year.

3 - It is okay if things change. It is okay if you reflect on the things you did not accomplish last year, or the things you hope to accomplish this year and say, “you know what? I really only wanted to do that to please someone else.” or, “I thought that was what I wanted, but maybe, there is something more.” There is nothing wrong with finishing what you started, and there is also nothing wrong with looking at the things you’ve started and taking another look at them.

4 - It is okay to not know, but to dream on anyway. If you happen to be the one who isn’t quite sure where she’ll end up a year from now, and she isn’t quite sure how to plan for what’s ahead, that does not mean that you are not allowed to dream. That does not mean that you are not allowed to hope for something better. Even if you do not know exactly what to do, you can still try new things. You can still create meaningful art, friendships, community...even if you do not have a clear “goal” in mind. Keep your eyes open. Keep your heart open, too. Let this year teach you and surprise you.

5 - It is okay to be excited about a new year. Often times, as we grow older, it gets harder to get excited about things. Even when something good happens, we can’t help but wonder what trouble is waiting around the corner. But the thing is, no matter how old and wise we get, and no matter how much we learn in this life, there will always be things that we do not know about the future. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t be excited. That doesn’t mean that we can look forward with hope that maybe, just maybe, by grace, we will be okay. Maybe after everything we have been through, we will have the strength to make it through whatever lies before us.

May this be a year of possibility and hope...and not for perfection, but for opportunities to learn and grow.

More tomorrow…
Sincerely,
Morgan Harper Nichols
@thestorytellerco
@morganharpernichols