Hello Friends!

It is that time a year again, when we start to think about the new year (although I think we have all been thinking about 2021 since March!)

Do you make resolutions?

I have never been a resolution gal, although I have dabbled. Over the years I have redefined the practice of resolutions into moments of reflection and goal setting for myself.

There is power in thinking back on a year and examining what worked and what didn’t and setting goals for the future. Actual goals, the SMART kind (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and timely.)

I do my vision boards in Pinterest (privately) for an electronic visual one. I also do the traditional art journal one with the magazine cut outs (I LOVE magazines, always have, always will, so I still use the traditional magazines!) I don’t think it matters HOW you do it just that you figure out a way to do it. Setting your intentions for the new year is great practice, and hey since we will all be at home this NYE there is an activity for you 😉

To be honest with you, last year for the first time in forever, I didn’t do a vision board. My future looked pretty bleak at the end of last year. I was sad. I was scared. I was worried. I was making To Do list of things like “make a will, sell my condo, make sure Chipman is taken care of.” Lists you never want to make but sadly sometimes life isn’t fair, and you have to those things. So, I worked on that instead of my hopeful Vision Board.

But a funny thing happened as the year progressed. Even in the midst of my grief and despair, little by little my hope came back. My wise therapist said it was always there just buried under all my emotion. I actually started to think about my future again.

To be frank, I still struggle with making plans for the future. I am worried about letting people down if I have to go back into treatment and back out of a commitment I made. It is one of the “joys” of living with cancer, it never leaves you. I am also the person who when I had cancer the first time and was told I needed immediate major surgery I asked very honestly if it was a day surgery as I had a big project I was working on and couldn’t miss work (insert rolling eye emoji here!) I also went back to work during my radiation treatment for that cancer continuing to work my 12-14-hour days (is there a stronger emoji than the eye roll to insert here?!) All to say part of my fear of commitment for the future is cancer and the other part is the recovering work alcoholic in me.

I am happy to say this year, I am doing the Vision Board! Living with cancer is my reality. I can’t control it. It has taken enough from me; it will not take away my joy. So, this year I will joyfully create my hopes for my future because without hope what is there?!

“Hope is seeing light in spite of being surrounded by darkness.”

-Unknown

Wishing you all the best vibes for 2021, I hope whatever your future holds it is what you need.

Sending you healthy and hopeful vibes always!

– Jenn