What if this was the Year?

The New Year always brings about a feeling of rejuvenation. A new chapter. A new start. A completely white canvas ready to be painted. It reminds me of the first day of school as a kid. Everything new and untouched, and we had those shiny planners that were intended to keep us organized. If we are honest, we all know the truth. We can choose any day of the year to make changes. We don't have to wait until January 1st to start eating healthy or being more patient or learning piano.

So many books reference this time of year when describing how good habits fizzle out. You know how it goes: gyms fill up and wellness apps see an influx in subscriptions. People start buying more salad bags than usual and going on evening walks.

Can you imagine if we all did everything we said we were going to do in the new year?

I wanted to share with you something that sticks in my head.

I cannot imagine that I wake up one day- my husband leaves for work before I can really hug him, I yell at my kids about cereal bowls, I'm grumpy with my coworkers, I'm annoyed about the dirt in my car, I'm rushing around trying to load the dishwasher and eating cereal at 9:00 pm only to find out that, crap, that was my last day on earth.

Then I get shown a pixelated black and white video clip. The person that I could have been. The person I was in MOMENTS when I was aligned with who I wanted to be. Dancing in the kitchen with my kids. Listening to acoustic music while eating breakfast with my family on Sunday morning. Looking out at the ocean-my long sundress flowing, feeling the vastness and knowing I have the same force within me.

Do you want to know the truth? The thought that I miss out on the best version of me is so much scarier than the changes I'm having to make to get there.

We tend to live like our time on this earth is guaranteed. Can you imagine what you would do and how you would live if you knew your expiration date? You would be shuffling around in a state of awe- smelling flowers and telling people you love them. You'd be staring at the sun beaming over a sparkling sea and skipping rocks. You'd be reading to your kids and calling your grandparents and smiling at your neighbors.

What if this January really was the catalyst for new habits and permanent change in your life? Nothing is so broken it can't be fixed. No habit is so solid that it can't be changed. What if you didn't let the salad bag rot in the drawer this year? What if you kept going to the gym and surprised the hell out of the regulars that are desperate for you to leave so they can use the stair climber? What if that wellness app sent you the email that they plan to renew and you didn't rush to cancel because you actually use the damn thing?!

My 12-year-old is an academy soccer player. He is pummeled with comments about the percentage of kids who actually make it. Everyone is constantly reminding young athletes that the probability that they make it is small and basically zero. One in a million, they say. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket."

I'm going to share with you what my husband tells him.

"Someone will make it. Why can't it be you?"

We all know what the odds are. But the second we commit to the odds as being what is true for us, we are declaring defeat.

What if you were the one in a million?

What if this was the year that you really did all the things on your heart and stood face-to-face with the best version of you?