But I feel like 2017 will also be a year of anti-progress. After all, we only have less than two weeks left under the Obama Administration and President-Elect Trump will be sworn in soon. Day to day, life might not change much for me because I am a married, heterosexual female firmly rooted in the middle class. But that’s a privilege that doesn’t apply to everyone and I fear for what 2017 has in store for millions of American families and frankly, families all around the globe. I could go on forever and write dozens of blog posts explaining exactly what terrifies me about the incoming administration and the items on Congress’ purported agenda, but I’ll spare you for now. Suffice it to say that I’m not looking forward to much of it.
Right before the New Year — with both my family and the overall country in mind — I sat down to consider what I wanted to focus on in the coming year. Of course the usual things like “workout more” and “eat better” were on the list but I also noticed “intentional date nights” and “frequent calls to Senator and Representatives” along with “focus at work” and “make time for friends.” I stared at this list for hours and wondered how I could possibly do them all in the New Year. Suddenly, it hit me — Effort.
I needed more Effort in my life.
Don’t get me wrong. I work hard. I wake up and get a kiddo ready for dayschool before going into the office around 7:45 am. I typically work through my lunch break and get home anywhere between 5:00 and 5:30 pm. Then, I help Adam feed Hols and we both spend time with her, and get her tucked into bed before either one of us can finally take a breath around 7:30 pm. That kind of a day isn’t exactly ripe with free time.
That said, when I step back and am honest with myself — I know I can do more. If I made a bit more of an effort, I know I could find time to:
- Call my Senator/Representatives;
- Attend local/community activities supporting causes that are important to my family;
- Enjoy monthly date nights with Adam;
- Laugh through play dates with fellow local moms and friends;
- Practice yoga;
- Eat more intentionally by preparing meals ahead of time for lunch;
- Workout more frequently;
- Work on my planned novel;
- Read books again;
- Start (re)learning conversational Spanish;
- Stay on top of my family budget so we can pay off debt;
- And more…
So with all of that in mind, 2017 is going to be a year of Effort for me.
I plan to put a little more Effort forth each and every day towards a goal of mine.
I do not expect to live a storybook life. I don’t think I’ll be speaking Spanish by year end or that I will have time to do everything all at once.
I know that change does not happen overnight but my Effort will build upon itself and I know that with time, I will look back on 2017 and be proud of the fact that I really put in the Effort.
