Yet again, we’ve made it! Happy New Year ya’ll!

I don’t know about you, but 2022 turned out not to be the year I thought it would be. I thought it would be the year that everything fell into place for me, after all, 2021, even with its minor hiccups, had looked like a promising setup for the upcoming year. My resources were on-point, I had my circle locked in, I had begun to position myself for a new boo to walk into my life, I mean, all signs were pointing “it’s up.” However, I guess that was all smoke and mirrors. Tuh!

2022 ended up being a year of difficulties for me with both highs and lows, battles with my health, and moments of my faith beginning to gas out closer to empty. It seems I spent a lot of time fighting for myself while trying to find the balance in giving myself a chance. How does that work!? I’m still trying to figure that out.

While the year posed its challenges, I can’t front, I had some pretty memorable moments that I believe have become lucrative to my progressing forward. For instance, composing the right group of women to take a winter’s girl trip with and having some cool solo dates and overnight stays (By the way, if you haven’t started solo dating, please start. Thank me later.) Having a pretty dope and fun-filled summer, including my birthday barbecue. (Oh lawd, who could forget that jawn!? Ha!) And, when I wasn’t even looking, I met this handsome man with whom I shared several months of communicating and some dates with that I must say I will never forget, but not for the reason you may think, trust me! But that’s a story for another day.

I did learn several lessons about myself, mostly through my engaging with others, but also through the quietness of introspection. Fears were exposed. Areas I thought were healed, or at the very least reconciled, were brought to the forefront. Multiple “aha moments,” all necessary food that I needed to digest as I continue to evolve. And you know what, I welcomed it all even though it was hard to swallow.

One of the most important lessons I think I’ve come to the realization of is, though I am resilient in many ways, I’ve been heavily sleeping on myself. I attributed that to my procrastination, which I found was rooted in fear. I also attributed it to the personal inward struggles I face, but know I can overcome, its just that sometimes the load is too heavy. I’m one who tends to never just let a situation be what the situation is, I always seem to find a way to magnify it, which ultimately leads to me becoming overwhelmed, thus resulting in me not fulfilling parts of my purpose. And thanks to my sisterhood tribe who holds no punches, I’ve come to learn that I struggle with vulnerability, though they give grace because they understand from which that comes. Needless to say, all of this will be things I will lean into throughout this year.

See, the beauty in being a woman who is uncomfortable with self-stagnation has empowered me to curate the right assembling of people who can help me to improve, and they will ensure that I do just that. I’ve said it in prior blogs that yes-men and women are a cancer to your forward movement. I’m grateful to have women, and men, who aren’t afraid to share with me their experience of me; it’s necessary and I require it when you’re someone in close proximity to me. My point-of-view at times can be linear, especially if my back is against the ropes, but having someone share, with love, their truths of what their experience of Elle is through their eyes and emotions, it’s an assist with my self-awareness because I do take time to consider there offerings, especially if they’re someone I want in my life, or even potentially want in my life.

So-with 2023, I have no resolution, just a motto to do it all. Do it exhausted, do it poorly, do it scared, however I do it, just do it all! Writing that and restating that gives me such liberty, especially from my procrastination, as it eliminates the time constraints and limits I have been keeping myself held to. This year I don’t just want to speak freedom, I want to truly feel it and I am beginning today with disclosing my truths.

If you’ve been feeling in a confined disposition, take the limits off yourself as well. Start today and take steps to doing the things that you’ve long said you’ve wanted to do. It doesn’t have to be done all at once, but at least take a step. It doesn’t have to be perfect, hell, better yet, make the mistakes, learn, reconfigure, and then re-execute until it’s the way you desire. But- do it all, however you do it!

Cheers to a new year to do things differently! Happy New Year!