Let’s talk about March Madness. No, not the March Madness that involves basketball and brackets. I’m talking about March Madness — See Jane Write style.
dreams
A Birthday Note to Self
Dear Javacia,
As you turn 37 today I want you to enter this new year with this reminder: You are enough.
You are enough because you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your worth is not determined by your blog, your business, your byline or even the work you do in your classroom. You are enough.
Your worth is not determined by the number of miles you run or the number of pounds you lose. You are enough.
Your worth is not determined by the things you have or even the things you have done. Your worth is determined by who you are and you are enough.
So go on and celebrate another year on this crazy, beautiful earth. Go on and make your 37 for 37 list. Go on and go after your goals.
But, as you chase your dreams, do not forget that you are enough.
How to Handle Overwhelm
I have spent most of this month completely overwhelmed and it’s completely my fault.
I came into 2018 with a plan.
I know that I am at my best when I am laser focused on a goal. So this year I planned to set just 4 major writing, blogging, and business goals (in addition to a few personal goals) and I would work on one per quarter.
But the excitement of the New Year went coursing through my veins and settled into my bones and I LOST MY MIND. I decided I would do ALL THE THINGS all at once.
Hello 2018
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. — Proverbs 31:25
Hello 2018,
I thought you’d never arrive.
I’ve been waiting for you longer than you know.
For seasons upon seasons, I’ve been longing for a year like you.
Looking Back at 2017
At the start of this year, I declared that “grace” would be my word for 2017. Many people who know me well were surprised, assuming I’d pick a word like “hustle” instead.
But “grace” was my word for the year because I needed a reminder to be gentle with myself, to give myself a break and others the benefit of the doubt.
Sometimes gumption and grit aren’t enough. Sometimes you need grace.
And as I take a moment to look back at 2017 I need grace, indeed.
I need to be gentle with myself as I face the fact that I didn’t completely accomplish any of my major goals for the year.
I didn’t grow See Jane Write to 500 dues-paying members. I didn’t grow my blog traffic to an average of 100,000 monthly pageviews. I didn’t self-publish a book. I didn’t see my byline in one of my favorite national magazines. I didn’t participate in a women’s small group at church all year. In fact, I barely went to church at all. I didn’t take a real vacation with my husband. I didn’t lose 30 pounds.
But here’s what I did do: