The holidays are over, people are back to work, and it’s time to start the new year, right? Well, I’m here to say—take your time. If you’re not ready to jump into the new year, need some time to process the holidays, or didn’t quite get the break you were hoping for, I’m giving you permission to take all the time you need—now.
For me, the last few weeks of December were not quite relaxing or exciting either. I wrestled a lot with how I would celebrate the holidays, and full disclosure, I decided not to celebrate them this year, and I allowed myself a good cry on Christmas Day. But the time wasn’t all bad. I caught up with old friends, resumed my at-home workouts, did some sightseeing around Long Island (including taking a tour of the Vanderbilt Mansion in Centerport), spent time reflecting on what I accomplished in 2022 (see my list here), and also thought about what I wanted to pursue in 2023 (more on that to come).
But do I feel ready and eager to tackle the new year? Honestly, not really. My grandmother’s condition has declined a bit, so going into the new year felt like a continuation of the old year. I also didn’t take much of a break, and to be honest, I feel like I could use one now. While it was nice that the world seemed quieter the last couple of weeks, client work doesn’t stop and kept me plenty busy.
So, as we transition into 2023 this week, I’m taking my own advice and allowing myself some time and grace as I slowly ease into the new year. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that a new year brings a whole host of emotions that never arose when I was younger, so I am sitting with them and giving myself time to process everything as we embark on this next chapter.
How are you starting off the new year?
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