Oh I loved this thank you Emily and your beautiful word, it really helped prompt a reflection of my 2023 !
Reading this, I realised that my 2023 as sad, chaotic and unexpected as it was unknowingly became one that embraced free where I didn’t have a plan just a knowing that the year was likely to be up and down with my fathers inevitable passing .... the events and emotions of that occurring were unexpected and feeling free to set firm boundaries, free to do what felt right, free to let go of some hopes/dreams and free to take a retreat made a tough year one of growth, celebrating life and living my life freely 🦋
Happy New Year and hope you love FREE as much as I did !!
So sorry for your loss Sue, and thank you for sharing your year of Free. Being free to do what feels right and let go of plans, hopes, dreams, and free to accept new ones, or not, feels like a release 💛
Love the honesty of this post! I completely and utterly failed at so much this year especially relating to my creativity (my art mojo has been MIA for about 6 months) so it’s reassuring to know not everyone is hitting the goals and have it figured all out xx
Thanks Rach! Although it’s gone by fast, January 2023 seems like such a long time ago. I’m glad you enjoyed it and I hope that your art mojo returns in spades for you. Xx
Thank you Nupu 💛 I feel like it’s a release, to just do what feels right. Free to plan and stick to it and free to let it go too. Here’s to embracing what the universe has in store!! Happy New Year 🥳
I also loved the honesty of this post. Every year I choose a word for the year- after spending the holidays with my four year old granddaughter my word for 2024 is wonderment. I will endeavor to view the world as a young child does- with delight and curiousity in my daily life!
As I read your 'failure' list, I felt the weight of the expectations you'd set yourself. I felt quite heavy reading them tbh. I can relate to that feeling of excitement you had but those were some hefty goals!
As I read on I already felt FREE before I saw your beautiful cursive FREE. Letting go and giving yourself that space is such a gift. I'd like to take this energy into 2024 too.
I'm thinking a lot about how I can give myself more grace and compassion. I think you've role modelled it here beautifully.
Thank you so much for your lovely words Janelle 💛💛💛 grace and compassion are beautiful gifts to ourselves. I’d seen many posts reflecting on amazing achievements and I couldn’t say I’d achieved much from my plan, but my year didn’t feel like failure ruled - even though the first 9 months were pretty bad on many fronts, the final three turned it all around, despite the list of things I didn’t do!! 🤩
Thank you Linn. It’s been such a relief finding a new day job. It’s made such a difference to how I feel. I can look back at 2023 and feel like it was a good year despite some of the bad times 🌟
I mean, let me qualify. I got a lot done because a lot needed to get done (wife, kids, cars, farm, ministry, house). Very little of it was what I wanted or intended to do.
This is so inspiring, Emily. I think I need to embrace the freedom of hopping off the band wagon, as you have. It's too easy to be suffocated by all the expectations and arbitrary standards! And it completely strips the joy out of creation.
Thanks so much Isabelle 💛 its so easy to fall in with what so many others do and think, and that can be good, to have the camaraderie and feel like we're not alone, but sometimes, I think we go along when its not quite right and we need to feel free in our own views to not 🌟
I could have penned this. Something that has resonated with me lately is taking a month off to think about 2024, and let things unfold. I love that. We do go in all guns blazing and then we can be left with disappointment. We were away so there was no time for reflection and goal making. I think it worked out just as it was supposed to. 💕
Man plans and God laughs. Is a quote I recall here today for us all to contemplate because we can plan and it's always good to plan and set goals and dream and hope but its not always what zgod has planned for us and its also not what we are truly ready to achieve at this point in our lives. Generally we might expect far more than we can do and there are many more less glamours goals and trails we need push thru and grow from and then their are the needs of others around us and the circumstances we find ourselves in. Not all things are in our control except perhaps our response and attitude. We are not what we get done that defines us either. We are but children of God and seeking to worship and know God better is a worthy live indeed.
Oh I loved this thank you Emily and your beautiful word, it really helped prompt a reflection of my 2023 !
Reading this, I realised that my 2023 as sad, chaotic and unexpected as it was unknowingly became one that embraced free where I didn’t have a plan just a knowing that the year was likely to be up and down with my fathers inevitable passing .... the events and emotions of that occurring were unexpected and feeling free to set firm boundaries, free to do what felt right, free to let go of some hopes/dreams and free to take a retreat made a tough year one of growth, celebrating life and living my life freely 🦋
Happy New Year and hope you love FREE as much as I did !!
So sorry for your loss Sue, and thank you for sharing your year of Free. Being free to do what feels right and let go of plans, hopes, dreams, and free to accept new ones, or not, feels like a release 💛
Thank you Emily , it absolutely is a wonderful release ♥️
Love the honesty of this post! I completely and utterly failed at so much this year especially relating to my creativity (my art mojo has been MIA for about 6 months) so it’s reassuring to know not everyone is hitting the goals and have it figured all out xx
Thanks Rach! Although it’s gone by fast, January 2023 seems like such a long time ago. I’m glad you enjoyed it and I hope that your art mojo returns in spades for you. Xx
Love this, Emily. I love going off plan. It means the universe has better (and inevitably BIGGER) plans than I was allowing myself! Happy 2024 🧡
Thank you Nupu 💛 I feel like it’s a release, to just do what feels right. Free to plan and stick to it and free to let it go too. Here’s to embracing what the universe has in store!! Happy New Year 🥳
I also loved the honesty of this post. Every year I choose a word for the year- after spending the holidays with my four year old granddaughter my word for 2024 is wonderment. I will endeavor to view the world as a young child does- with delight and curiousity in my daily life!
Thanks MK! I love that word! Wonderment - so full of childlike delight 🥰
Oh I love that! What a special lens to look through and live through.
I am always going off plan and that in itself is always a great plan 😂 Wishing you a fabulously free 2024
Absolutely Jo!! Plan to stick to the plan, plan to go off plan, and free to do whatever is right!! ⭐️🌟 Happy 2024 💛
Free is the very best we can hope to be Emily... enjoy every second! Happy New days lovely lady! 🥂🕊️🤍✨
Thanks so much Susie, here’s to feeling free in 2024 to be and do what feels right 🌟 happy New Year 😘
Standing ovation, Emily!
As I read your 'failure' list, I felt the weight of the expectations you'd set yourself. I felt quite heavy reading them tbh. I can relate to that feeling of excitement you had but those were some hefty goals!
As I read on I already felt FREE before I saw your beautiful cursive FREE. Letting go and giving yourself that space is such a gift. I'd like to take this energy into 2024 too.
I'm thinking a lot about how I can give myself more grace and compassion. I think you've role modelled it here beautifully.
Thank you so much for your lovely words Janelle 💛💛💛 grace and compassion are beautiful gifts to ourselves. I’d seen many posts reflecting on amazing achievements and I couldn’t say I’d achieved much from my plan, but my year didn’t feel like failure ruled - even though the first 9 months were pretty bad on many fronts, the final three turned it all around, despite the list of things I didn’t do!! 🤩
I'm so pleased that you have this perspective on things, Emily. What great energy to bring into 2024.
This is the most refreshing review I’ve read so far and I can feel your relief too.
The freedom of flowing with what lights up our hearts is freeing indeed.
I’m also so glad that you’ve found a new day job ♥️
Here’s to a 2024 filled with heartfelt freedom.
Thank you Linn. It’s been such a relief finding a new day job. It’s made such a difference to how I feel. I can look back at 2023 and feel like it was a good year despite some of the bad times 🌟
Love this, Emily! ‘Free’ suits you 🥰 and sometimes what we don’t do is just as important as what manage to do!
Thank you Sarah. I was searching for a word that summed up how I wanted to be, and when it came to me, it just felt right ⭐️
Relax. I got less than done than you did.
I mean, let me qualify. I got a lot done because a lot needed to get done (wife, kids, cars, farm, ministry, house). Very little of it was what I wanted or intended to do.
And that is, as they say, how it works.
So true Micheal. I think my big plan fizzled by mid February!
Free to beeeeeee I love that. Thanks for sharing 😍
Thank you Anna!! I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊
I feel like flowers don't have a to do list. Happy 2024!
I think you’re right!! Here’s to 2024 🤍
This is so inspiring, Emily. I think I need to embrace the freedom of hopping off the band wagon, as you have. It's too easy to be suffocated by all the expectations and arbitrary standards! And it completely strips the joy out of creation.
Thanks so much Isabelle 💛 its so easy to fall in with what so many others do and think, and that can be good, to have the camaraderie and feel like we're not alone, but sometimes, I think we go along when its not quite right and we need to feel free in our own views to not 🌟
I could have penned this. Something that has resonated with me lately is taking a month off to think about 2024, and let things unfold. I love that. We do go in all guns blazing and then we can be left with disappointment. We were away so there was no time for reflection and goal making. I think it worked out just as it was supposed to. 💕
That’s so lovely Mika, I think that sometimes, whatever happens was the right thing to happen. 💛
❤️
Man plans and God laughs. Is a quote I recall here today for us all to contemplate because we can plan and it's always good to plan and set goals and dream and hope but its not always what zgod has planned for us and its also not what we are truly ready to achieve at this point in our lives. Generally we might expect far more than we can do and there are many more less glamours goals and trails we need push thru and grow from and then their are the needs of others around us and the circumstances we find ourselves in. Not all things are in our control except perhaps our response and attitude. We are not what we get done that defines us either. We are but children of God and seeking to worship and know God better is a worthy live indeed.