Wow it has been an incredible year!
Too optimistic? Perhaps not optimistic enough. There were lows, but reflecting back on the last 365 days, this year graciously redeemed a few previous years that were full of growth but hard (that is an understatement). This year consisted of finally self-advocating and pursuing my own physical health needs, a lot of travel, a lot of change, so much growth.
I find myself, however, ping-ponging between “I need to do better” and “look how insanely well we are doing compared to even one year ago!” I attribute that struggle to the enemy’s pathetic strategy though, a common one he uses against us, right? To pull back into comparison, to rush, to encourage control where surrender is necessary, to always set the proverbial bar higher before pausing to truly acknowledge the depth of the gratitude that certainly exists.
Anyhow, this blog actually began as a journal entry (I was later convicted to whip up this blog). The thought to journal was personally odd, seeing as this is not a habit I possess, I discerned this was a nudge. You may call it a gut feeling, I call it a nudge from the Holy Spirit. Either way, it was time to be obedient and get to writing. The timing? Interesting. See, over the last few days I had found my easily-distractable mind wandering and hyper-fixating on my chosen ‘growth points’:
- Mental
- Social
- Spiritual
- Emotional
- Physical
This year was an experiment. At the start of 2025 I had challenged myself to release control as much as humanly possible in every aspect of life without jeopardizing responsibility and intentionality. I over-control my life to the most granular of detail. Why? 30+ years in survival mode? Maybe. Type A personality? Definitely. So I considered, “how interesting an experiment would it be to ride the Lord’s will and see if my discipline continued to maintain a growth trajectory in all five growth points?!” In other words, let God be in control, but live every moment fearlessly present and say “yes” to as many opportunities as possible while continuing to protect this incredible life He has blessed us with. Each decision or action evaluated through the question:
Does this support the life I am trying to create?
If yes, then proceed in conjunction with the following prayer:
Lord, please do not let me mismanage the moments I prayed for.
Ok so, how’d the experiment go?!
- Mental: I pursued spaces where I did not consider myself the smartest person in the room. Social circles, meetings, bible studies, events, I read and sought various perspectives. Stretching and breaking down walls that may have been echo chambers through curiosity. Growth? CHECK.
- Social: The HARDEST by far! I learned this: I have been an introvert out of necessity, survival mentality. After this year, I discerned I am most definitely not an introvert! Many have agreed I am an extrovert, but boy, do I recharge well and enjoy solitude. I’m going to label myself an ambivert…for now. I prefer people and travel. When I am local to Oklahoma, there’s something about this culture that prods me toward introversion. But I also found myself intentionally pursuing connection locally, with my friends and coworkers, than I ever have before. I explored working from cafes in local towns to cafes in new countries, working from Digital Nomad co-working spaces with private offices and leading calls, and various other private corners of bustling spaces with Wi-Fi connection that gave me the social rush I now crave. Growth? CHECK.
- Spiritual: Oh my, how beautiful is our privilege in this part of the world?! Direct access to the Word, to Jesus, to God. Without fear or persecution. Eternally grateful and emotional now at the very thought of this relationship with my Father whom I’d run from and fought against, but also begged for and denied, for most of my life. I am a prodigal daughter. I am a daughter who craves His Word, learns something new with nearly every pass of the same living scripture. I cannot get enough of Jesus. Nor can many moments pass without mentioning or thinking on His goodness. Growth? Praise God, CHECK.
- Emotional: This one presented different this year. My emotions have very little impact with Jesus at the helm. However, the physical/health attention I allowed myself yielded an inexplicable peace – years of frustration, brain fog, and pain are gone. Emotionally speaking, this brought immense peace and joy. Growth? CHECK.
- Physical: Last, but whew, not least! I underwent a Total Hysterectomy – TMI? Who’s she? Don’t know her. This procedure put three consistent and disciplined years of my fitness life on a jolting pause for six weeks. I had just achieved placing in my first 8K Trail Run to swing the pendulum to nearly no physical movement, certainly no lifting over 10 pounds. Talk about a high to low. The frustration once I was was cleared to workout, realizing how weak I had become and the healing my body was still undergoing was…a lot. Can you say body dysmorphia? But, I chose to consider the season a blank slate, a fresh canvas, and try a new physique program. It was amazing! Until it wasn’t. The gains, physical definition and PRs were fun. But due to time constraints as a single parent, I began losing my functional strength that I no longer had time to train. I also began losing my excitement for fitness. I didn’t find joy in it anymore, and began to dread and avoid my workouts. So, I took a few weeks off to reflect, seek wisdom from the best council (shoutout to Janessa), and chose to pivot. I learned necessary skills with that program that I will apply going forward, but I am going back to my favorite ‘hybrid’ training that brings me joy, melts away my anxiety, strengthens me for my future, and is FUN. Growth? CHECK.
What about you?!
I encourage you to take these five growth points and reflect on your last year. How would you say your growth either flourished or wilted in each of those points? Find a baseline. Pray and discern what this next year asks of you, what your life SHOULD embody and how each of those points can facilitate action and decision to achieve it! Let God guide you, let Him bless you through the lows and the highs. Relish in the goodness and gratitude!
2025 was a peach, bring on 2026, Happy New Year!
Your favorite nomad-ish friend,
Shay.