Lala’s 22 IN 22 Posted on January 1, 2022

The few days between Christmas and the new year are always one of my favorite times of the year. Time slows down. My surroundings become less chaotic. My children play with their Christmas goodies, chill, and relax. There’s no schedule, no appointments, no practices, no meetings, no carpool, and time moves at a pace I relish. I nap… a lot. I live in my pajamas. I bake simply because I enjoy it. I read an actual book.

Like millions, it’s also a time I like to take to reflect on the past 360 days and to excitedly await the possibilities of the ones to come. One of the skills I have perfected over the past twenty years is the ability to forget. I do not live in the past. I have regrets- plenty of them, and I’d question anyone who tells you they have none; HOWEVER, even with my ability to not let my yesterday affect my tomorrow I completely agree with Socrates when he said that ‘the unexamined life is not worth living’. The great reward in taking a few moments to review one’s life is it gives one the opportunity to always improve and live one’s best life. Why be here on earth and put up with all the garbage that life throws at us if we’re not going to fight to make it worthwhile? Here’s the thing with trying to live one’s best life: it doesn’t just happen. One must be purposeful, mindful, and willing to fight for the life they desire. Below, are the 22 things I am going to focus on making priorities in my life for the upcoming year. They do not include the government, the CDC, buying a tiger, or arguing over those who wear masks compared to those who don’t wear masks with those who are not vaccinated compared to those who are on their 3rd booster shot. I hope- for your sanity and happiness- your new year is not focused on those items either.

22. I want to stop getting distracted by things that have absolutely nothing to do with the finals goals I desire for my life. This means I will have to begin saying “NO”. This is going to be a nightmare for me… I suffer from a severe case of FOMO.  

21. I want to wake up each morning and just decide to be happy. I want to stop waiting to see how my day goes to determine if I’m going to be happy that day or not.

20. I want to be first in line at Taco Bell if this rumor turns out to be true that their Mexican pizza is returning. 1998 late night runs here I come.

19. I want to be as excited about JUST ONE THING as my six-year-old son is about everything he participates in. John Michael says “this is the best of my life” more times in one year than I have said in my 41 years of existence.

18. I want to move more. I want to move to thank my body for still moving, not as a one-hour punishment at the gym each day.

17. I want to remember that looks fade, money goes, but humor is everlasting. And, I want to surround myself with people of that same mindset.

16. I want to always remember that disagreement a is 100% acceptable, but that disrespect is 100% unacceptable. I’ve lost a few good friends over the past two years because of politics, Covid, and our extreme difference of opinions of them both. At the end of the day, it wasn’t much of a friendship, I suppose if it dissipated that easily; however, they are still people I wish the very best for and will always treasure the wonderful times we had together.

15. I want to be more punctual. God help me on this one. God help me. He’s my only shot.

14. I want to hold myself accountable to the fact that, even at 41, the way I treat myself is the standard for how I allow others to treat me.

13. I want to remind myself that my husband is not boring just because he is a man of routine, military bred, older, frugal German that has an opinion on everything and that opinion is the only correct way to do anything. I want to remind myself that his boring routine is the steadfast, constant flow that keeps our family moving. He is the safety net that brings me and our three children the security of knowing at the end of the day we are safe, we are loved, and we are together in all we do. I want to remind myself that his grumpy arms that insist on going to bed at 8:30 are the firm foundation that brings me such peace and assurance when I am wrapped in them. I want to remind myself that my marriage is not a Romeo and Juliet love story because Romeo and Juliet is not a love story. Romeo and Juliet is a three-day relationship between stupid teenagers that resulted in six deaths. My love story is far better than Romeo and Juliet; however, the kids and I will continue to give him a hard time in this upcoming year.

12. I want to never forget that the most powerful action I can ever perform is the act of prayer.

11. I want to stop being mad about the fact that Tito’s is not a food group and instead be grateful that champagne always will be.

10. I want to never forget that on my best day I need God just as much as I do on my worst.

9. I want to learn to calm my mind. It is the ultimate weapon for every battle I face.

8. I want to acknowledge that Covid is real, but my fear of it is not. Science does not lie. Unfortunately, some scientists and politicians do because of the opportunities they can seize during this horrific pandemic, but scientific numbers do not lie. I will always love numbers for that reason. Two plus two will always equal four. FEAR: forget everything and run or FACE EVERYTHING AND RISE. The former sounds so enticing… oh man, there are so many times I want to get in the car and start over, but for long as I can, I will force myself to choose the latter. I will be smart about keeping myself and my family safe because that is my number one job as a mother. I will control the things I can control while recognizing there is very little I can control. Love and purpose will direct my days, not fear. I pray the same for you.

7. I want to stop saying “I can’t wait for things to get back to the way they used to be.” Life never will return to the life we lived prior to March of 2020. Normal will never be what it was because life is different. We cannot pretend to forget everything’s that happened, but things can still be fun, fulfilling, significant, and meaningful. God meets us where we are to make something of our lives no matter the surroundings we find ourselves in… it’s one of His specialties.

6. I want my sweet babies and precious friends to always know that my home and I will be their place of peace. I refuse to be another battle they must fight when they walk through my door.

5. I want to remind everyone that needs to hear it how God can change your heart. I know this because He changed mine when He saved me from myself and continues to do so every single day.

4. Instead of asking myself why someone does not like me, I want to change the question to ‘why do I care?’

3. I want to stop watching the news. EVERY CHANNEL is biased, and agenda controlled. Journalism is supposed to be one of the last remaining truths. Walter Cronkite said, “Journalism is what we need to make our democracy work.” I could not agree more. The lack of true and factual journalism is the reason our great nation of America is currently in such turmoil. We have to fight harder than ever to find actual truth.

2. I want to take a really, really, really, really, long walk on the beach. I haven’t found a problem yet that I haven’t been able to solve, or at least change my perspective on, when my feet meet sand and water.

1.I want to go on record as saying I want to embrace and be thankful for whatever 2022 brings. I won’t always be successful at that, but hopefully, I will be better than I was. I will base decisions that I must make on the answer to this one question, “How does this help advance me to the end result I desire?” and when I do not have that answer, I will simply ask myself, “What would Betty White do?” If I still do not have the answer after those two questions, I’ll simply ask my amazing husband to make me one of his famous whiskey rye old fashions and I will sit. I will savor each sip. I will then get up and just keep moving forward.

Peace. Love. Stay Safe. Be well.

Thank you for reading and never stop feeding your soul.

My cup runneth over,

Lala