Words By Mae

2023 is just around the corner.

And it’s mind boggling to me! What happened to this year? How exactly did it fly by so quickly?

It seems like just yesterday I was living in 2021 and setting my intentions for 2022. But in the blink of an eye, a year has passed and now I’m doing the same for 2023.

Similar to years past, I am ready for a new year.

I’m ready for change and growth and newness. I’m ready for a fresh start, fresh eyes, and a fresh mind going into a brand spankin’ new year.

2022 was a big year for me: I left a long-term job and started another, I lost my grandpa, I finally extended my lease after several years of moving, I almost feel for a guy — it didn’t work out, I turned 28. The list could go on and on and on.

Now that I’m settled into my new job (I started 7 months ago), now that I’m still mourning my grandpa’s death but celebrating his life, now that I feel like my apartment is officially home, now that I’m back on the dating apps, I feel ready ready as ever for this new year.

I’m hopeful! I’m expectant!

I think these will be my two words of intention for 2023. Hopeful is a reminder to have hope, to trust in The Lord’s plans for me. Expectant is similar but not the same, to expect good things, to know they are coming even if they’re mixed in with the ugly and harder moments (because joy and sorrow mingle).

It’s a good life I live. It’s not always easy, but it’s stretching, it’s challenging, it’s rewarding. And I’m hopeful 2023 will be good to me; I’m expecting more opportunities to learn and grow and become even more of the woman I’d like to be.

Let’s hope! Let’s see what comes of this new year! It’ll be filled with good things — I pinky promise.