My 2018 started out with frozen pipes, a move and a car that wouldn’t start. It didn’t take long into 2019 to realize that it was going to be a better year. I have hot and cold running water. My car is running. And the best part is that I don’t have to move out of my apartment.
Now, if the rest of 2019 is just as easy as the start, it will be smooth sailing.
I’m not a fan of resolutions.
Instead, I try to focus on a particular character trait.
In 2018, I tried to be more aware of boundaries. I said no more often. I really tried to respect the boundaries of others. It was a good year. I learned to stop taking on responsibility that wasn’t mine. I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m definitely closer to the person I want to be.
This year, I’m going to live by this quote from J.K. Rowling: ?“It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends.”
A few months ago, I was sitting in a board meeting (for a non-profit) where we made a decision that went against our primary mission. In retrospect, it wasn’t a huge thing, but it would displace our clients for an afternoon. During the meeting, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
Why couldn’t I stand up to these people who were colleagues and friends? Fortunately, the board fixed the decision the next month.
I know I have a tendency to prevaricate and to be agreeable for the sake of agreement.
That’s what I want to change in 2019.
To live authentically, I need to be able to be myself. I want to make 2019 a year of truth.
Dawn Brotherton is a Sr. Staff Writer at The American Genius with an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is an experienced business writer with over 10 years of experience in SEO and content creation. Since 2017, she has earned $60K+ in grant writing for a local community center, which assists disadvantaged adults in the area.
