Spending 2019.

At the beginning of every month, I write a post with ideas of how to spend the days in that month. I started doing it a few years ago out of a desire to experience more joy in the day-to-day, not just in the planned ahead trips and adventures. 

Ready or not, 2019 graced us with her presence last week, and this was the first year in a long time that I didn’t feel the urge to sit down and make a long list of resolutions. The reason for that is two-fold: One, the end of 2018 felt like it almost killed me, and two, the year as a whole shaped me into a person I’m actually pretty proud of. Why would I want to make a list of changes I hope to make to her disguised as goals? 

I have specific things I hope to accomplish this year, of course. But they all tie back to the same goal: I want to spend this year. 

I want to spend my talents, not just sit around and hope that someday I get the chance to. 

I want to spend the opportunities that come my way. 

I want to spend my time. I don’t want to be so caught up in things I have to do or should be doing that my time rushes past me without me getting to choose how to spend it. 

Whether you’re setting goals this year or not, I hope you decide that 2019 will be a year you spend. What an incredible thing a new year is. What a huge gift that, somehow, you made it through 2018. 2019 will be full of days with opportunities and hours and choices.

I hope you spend them all.