Words of 2022. Courage and Grace.

As I scrolled through Facebook this morning, one of the groups I belong to asked, "What is your word for 2022?"

I thought for a moment, because I knew I had one. The first word that came to mind was COURAGE. Okay, I'll go with that. That could be my word for 2022. I have a lot of things flying at me lately-good things, but it's going to take a lot of courage to see them through to be successful. As a self-proclaimed, and recovering, self-sabotager, I need a lot of courage.
It wasn't until later, when I'd been writing at my kitchen table, still in my pajamas, because Fridays are for me to take on my own time, that I remembered the other word I had chosen for 2022. GRACE.

I'd begun to beat myself up over not having the kitchen clean, or having started on other work, or blah, blah, blah. Then I took a moment to remember that I was giving myself grace this year. Things didn't have to be over planned and scheduled for every moment of every day. Wasn't that what I learned by January 2nd when I'd filled out three different planners? I had decided that I needed to focus on me, and give grace to the things that I didn't get to. Because seriously, when you plan out forty-hour weeks on three different planners, when are you really going to have time to cross off every item on that list? Not to mention, where does self-care fall there?

I love lists. I love planners. I love events. I love ideas.

What happens in those situations is burnout, and it happens fast! When 2020 came to a screeching halt, I had to learn grace. I was very diligent in journaling and keeping a routine, because I knew, even locked in my own home with some of my family, I needed a routine. It did wonders for my mental health. But I had to give myself grace for things not always being perfect, because I couldn't control so many things. Carrying that into 2022, I still need grace every single day.

But in order to have grace, I need the courage to give it to myself. We are programmed to overdo everything, and then feel the guilt of not having done it all perfectly.

In 2022, have the COURAGE to give yourself some GRACE. You deserve it.

Peace and love, my friends!
Bernadette Marie 

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