2021: Growth Spurts
Every day is a chance for a do over, but every year is a chance to grow.
We can all agree that 2020 was one hell of a year! However, at the core of the year, I’ve come to learn that 2020 was about clarity. What we thought was normal, we learned wasn’t. Some of us got real focused on goals. Others launched businesses and left toxic jobs. Above all else, 2020 taught us all to slow down, be patient, and stop waiting around for change, but to be the change.
Evolve or Repeat
Lessons are opportunities to grow. Take a pause and reflect on the year. What lessons will you take with you in 2021? What will you leave behind? A toxic job? Negative relationships? Self doubt? Fears?
Here are the things I’m leaving behind, the lesson’s 2020 taught me:
People who make you an option. Whew! People really showed me who they were in 2020. The ones who always made the “busy” excuse as to why they couldn’t reach out or return your calls/texts, and would only call/test when it was convenient for them, i.e., they needed something from you. The ones whose snide remarks were disguised as jokes, who let me know how they really felt about me.
Being the ear for others and it not being reciprocated. The dependable one who responds right away and made herself available ALWAYS. I decided, I reserve the right to disengage with fair weather people, and leave those types of relationships in 2020.
Not speaking my truth. I learned that not speaking up out of fear of being confrontational, thus, letting shit slide, I inadvertently allowed people to treat me indifferent and with disrespect and disregard. So in 2021 I’m re-training folks. What was allowed will no longer be tolerated.
Picking my battles. Some things are just not worth the fight. I learned how to reserve my energy by picking and choosing what I want to engage in and what doesn’t warrant my opinion, input or conversation.
Saying NO to the shit I used to say YES to. In 2021 I’m surrounding myself with people, places, situations where I’m celebrated, tolerated, and reciprocated. I’ve had my fair share of participating in other people’s events and social gatherings where I truly had no business being. My introverted self oftentimes feels alone in crowds, like the odd ball (I am truly at times). I’ve embraced the weirdo that I am a long time ago; however, the settings I surrounded myself with, I wasn’t being true to me. So here’s to saying YES to the shit I want to do, and if that means doing it dolo, I’m okay with that. I enjoy my own dam company!
Dumbing myself down to appease others. I no longer want to be around people who feel as if my contribution to a conversation isn’t warranted. People who feel threatened by my intelligence, my brilliance, my light, yet who keep me around for the same attributes. Going forward I’m only engaging in conversations within settings I’m aligned with. With like-minded people who can appreciate the beauty of actually having a dialogue.
Evolve or repeat; grow or stunt your growth…that’s the mantra.
Be great…the world needs more of that!
XO
-Gillian
