Times of change and seeking joy

It feels like we have been living in a transitional phase of our lives for several years now. We regularly asked ourselves what the next step is for us and the answer, repeatedly, has been to wait. For a while now, it has felt like we needed to wait just a little bit more.

That little bit more has been the hardest time. It feels like the moment when you can see the destination on the horizon but you’re still just out of reach. Truth be told, we’re still there. Slowly creeping closer. It’s hard not to wish time away, not to try to press the fast-forward button.

The new year feels like a difficult time, everyone is talking about goals and dreams and we have been within sight of ours for so long. We are making steady progress in all aspects of our lives.

Patience is not a virtue I find easy and I’m starting to struggle to find the joy. The last quarter of 2022 had lots going on. With how things are progressing, 2023 will be a year of change for us.

To keep myself organised this year, I’ve purchased ‘the Essential Planner’ by Emily Rollings with Lauren McDermott. In her letter, Emily writes:

‘while you do have errands to run and tasks to complete, life is not about planning’.

With this quote in mind, this year, I’m not setting goals and I haven’t come up with a word of the year. Instead, I have started with a list of what matters most to me. I hope that 2023 is filled with the items on that list. In this time of transition - in this difficult moment of waiting just a little bit longer - that list is what will get me through because those are the things that bring me joy.