First Quarter Check-In with EK
Hi, friends! It’s the day before Valentine’s Day and a snow day which means it’s the perfect time to write this blog. Back in December I wrote a year in review as I usually do. I struggled through writing that blog post. I started plenty early. I remember staring at a blank page while I vacationed in Florida for Thanksgiving and the inspiration wasn’t there. I finally put something together and, when I look back on it now, I can read the reality I was hiding through the words. 2023 was a challenging year in my personal life and it was tough to find the silver lining to write an end of year recap.
For this reason, I’d like to politely request a redo. If you can ask for one in elementary school playing 4 Square at recess, you can ask for one as a 30-something photographer running her own business. However, instead of getting mired down in the end of 2023, I’d like to talk about what I’ve already learned in the few short months we’ve been in 2024.
My focus for the year has been made clear to me:
Be genuine, know your worth, be comfortable and confident being who you really are.
With Valentine’s Day less than 24 hours away, it feels right to share these sentiments with you right now. My goal for this year is to love myself to the highest standard. I hope you’ll do the same. It’s probably the best I’ve felt in my adult life and I know it’ll only get better from here.
If you’re anything like me, being genuine can be a challenge sometimes. It’s not that I purposefully try to mislead people. Rather, I’m so concerned with people pleasing that I don’t always give a genuine response because I don’t want to hurt others’ feelings. I’ve learned this year already that you can be genuine while also showing compassion to others. Want to go out for dinner again? No, thank you. You’re a really wonderful person, but I just don’t feel we’re a great fit for each other. Want to go to this event with me tomorrow? No, thank you. I’m really looking forward to a night at home with the dog and a good book. I hope you have a great time! Saying no and being genuine, while it sometimes feels icky, is really freeing. Doing it with compassion is even better.
After a lot of reflection, I realized I was making a ton of concessions in some of my personal relationships. Concessions, unlike compromises in which both parties benefit, breed resentment down the line. While I thought making concessions was a loving thing to do, it turned out doing so was devaluing me. No person or relationship is worth thinking less of or doing less for yourself. Each one of us is so valuable. If concessions are needed to show that to someone else, you're not valuing yourself in the way you deserve. Know your worth and insist on upholding it.
Finally, the first quarter of 2024 has helped me be more comfortable and confident in being and accepting my true self. Once I silenced all of the things that were distracting or getting in the way of me really knowing me, I found I’m really happy with the person I’m becoming. Of course I’m a work in progress, as we all are, but the person who is already there is pretty great. I’m excited to see what she creates and who she becomes this year.
So, here we are, 43 days into 2024 and I can finally say I’m ready to begin. I hope your year is off to a great start, too, and that you’ll consider being your most genuine self, knowing your worth, and finding the utmost comfort and confidence in who you really are. I’m doing it now…and it’s shaping up to be my best year yet.
XOXO,
E :)
