New Year Adjustments

It is another new year. I am not one to not take advantage of an excuse to reflect on what's been and what I hope will be. It has been our first full year in Colorado, and it's been a good one. I am a big believer in living your life with intentionality. To do that well, you must reflect and be strategic in the changes you want to make to align with your values. Even the significance you put on your values may change over time. One season, you may value "working hard," and the next, you may value "playing hard." 

Here are some adjustments I am making for 2023. There is the idea, and then there is the strategy. I'll hit mainly on the concept. 

Create for me more than I consume. I want to be an example for my kids to see them do the same. 

I've spent 20+ years working, creating, and building other people and things. And that is good. That is why we all get paid for our jobs. This is not a negative. But I want to do the same for myself. I also want to inspire my kids to do the same for themselves. The economy is changing. 

Create and seek environments for fun for myself and my family. I want to laugh more. Not a "ha ha" laugh, but a belly laugh. Those are two different strategies. 

We've been really good at having fun as a family. But I've noticed as the kids have aged, the type of "fun" in their minds has evolved. Hiking Maroon Bells to them is not fun; it is punishment. Teenagers are too cool for many things, so we must adapt. And adapt, we will. 

Talk less, listen more. Find outlets that help me do this better.

I am an Enneagram 5. I think. A lot. Sometimes, I need to process all of that thinking. I need to be more strategic about who I do that with and when I do that. Most people do not care about what I think. I've learned that, and that is ok. So I need outlets. This is one. I also want to do a better job with those close to me being more attuned to their thoughts and feelings. It is difficult to do that if I am talking all the time. So I must process somewhere, make better decisions as to when to share and when not to, but go into conversations not thinking about myself, and start by listening and asking questions. 

Start a business. This is becoming clearer.

I've been thinking about this for years. I feel this is now the season to move forward. The direction is becoming more apparent. 

Look to eliminate anxiety. Stop trying to change things I have no control over or responsibility for. 

As the saying goes, "you do you". Being responsible for things you have no authority over is a bad place to be. I will avoid that. Historically, I've done the opposite. 

Many other things could make up this list, but I have already adjusted to align with where I want to be and the process. I call these "adjustments" because they require some aspect of change.