my biggest + easiest goal for the new year

Birthdays. Aren’t they just the best?

Whether you’ve got a big celebration or spend it alone, you wake up knowing this is your day. God put you on the Earth on this date and you’re gonna try to have the best day possible. Maybe you treat yo’ self  like Tom and Donna from parks and rec, or spend it with loved ones. Maybe you just go to work and try not to let anyone know because you hate the attention but you hold onto it inside like your special secret. After all birthdays do make you feel special right? I hope so.

One of the reasons I feel so special when June 9th rolls around is that people who I love reach out to me and I am filled with love and warmth. I hope you know this feeling too. People who maybe you haven’t heard from in a while shoot you a text to wish you a happy day. It may or may not turn into a check in. How’s it been? Hope you’re doing well. You feel that people care about you. Even if it’s just a quick happy bday- they took that time out to text you.

I was overwhelmed last year with feelings of love. I couldn’t shake the thought of how much community and connection fills my heart. And it’ so simple. Take a couple of minutes and check in with someone, they feel loved and cared about. Which you do, love and care about them.. right? So why aren’t we letting people know on more than just their birthday. We get so wrapped up in our own lives and our own busyness and put our people last.

You may think, Is this a new post? Keeley didn’t just have a birthday.. Why the heck am I sharing this now. Well, it’s the beginning of a new year. A fresh start. This is one of my biggest goals this year. Keep in better contact with those I love and care about. Send random flowers. Connect with more people. Have more people over to my house, even when it’s messy and covered in dog-hair. As kid president (my most favorite president) says “treat everyone like it’s their birthday.”

If you could make some one feel the way you feel on your birthday, wouldn’t you?

We never know what someone is going through and maybe that text is just the thing your friend needs to get through the day. It is so easy to listen to the lies in our head that we are not loved, not cared for, and are alone in this life. Brad and I tend to be introverts and homebodies so we really have to watch this inner talk when we spend too much time alone. We have seen in this last year how much a community and connection outside of ourselves can bring value, bring us out of a funk, and bring us life.

I am resolving, setting my intentions/goals whatever you want to call it, to show people I care and think of them.

An easy way we can do this is texting, calling, or sending a letter. FACT: my favorite time of the year for many reasons is Christmas because I look forward to getting Christmas Cards. I mean who doesn’t love getting mail that’s not a bill? It’s like its own little party in an envelope. We can send flowers, send an email, invite people to dinner, or invite people over.

I can’t wait to see where this year of being more intentional with reaching out, takes me. For me beginning this process looks like this: I have about 6 different calendars a yearly flip one, a desk one, a dry erase one that is above my desk, a planner, my iPhone one, and my google calendars. I know. I know. But they all serve a different purpose. (One of these calendars, I’m thinking iPhone so it will alert me) I’m going to be filling with my friends’ names so I can set reminders to text someone each day. This is just one of the ways it could work for you too.

Maybe for some of you this is something you are already great at. Tell me below how you reach out and connect us introverts need help! Are there more ways you can think of?

Also, I would love to know what some of your resolutions or goals are for the new year. Tell me in the comments!

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