The “In-Between”

It’s 2022 and I’m still trying to get “ready” for the New Year. Don’t judge 2022 made me hit the ground running and I’m barely starting to come up for air. To be honest; though, I’m thinking January shouldn’t really count. Hear me out…

I love January as much as the next Queen, but it feels like January is that “in-between” month. “In-between” the holidays, some of us are recovering from the excitement or chaos that they bring. I love them, but they are a bit exhausting once you come off your Winter-Wonderland- christmas-baking-gift-wrapping high. Then you are expected to immediately plan and set goals, for the next 365 days, while contemplating the lessons learned during the 365 days that you just lived through and deciding which gym you will promise to go to for the first month of the year. All of this is happening in the last five days of the year.  Now that’s exhausting! 

Luckily I had the week after Christmas off and instead of stressing over the New Year. I decided to just chill, I decided to bake because I wanted to. I decided to watch “Castle” on Hulu, finish up some readings, and most importantly cuddle often with my boy. I needed that “in-between” time to rest and come down from my Christmas high.

Even though I had my moments of guilt, because everywhere I looked people were talking about intentions, goal setting, and all that jazz for the new year. I realized that was FOMO, and I didn’t want anything to do with it. “Good for them” is what I would say as I was asked if I was still here, “Yes, I am and we are ready to see another episode of Scooby Doo!” 

I’m writing this post on the eve of Lunar New Year, and I’m sure by the time I publish, we will be some days into the new month because…life. It’s February and my vision board still reads 2021. Luckily (?) my visions haven’t changed much, thanks to my ever-mutating friend Corona. But, it does need work. 

It’s the second month of the year, and my bullet journal only goes up to May. Yea, I’m that person. I love it, actually! I like seeing my day, week, and month in front of me. I also get to track books, steps, and my to do list, which never seems to shrink. But I still have seven more months to go.

It’s February, and I’m just writing a post about the new year. I was hoping to have 3-4 posts by now. 

Oh I know, “so many things I haven’t done to get ready for the new year.” According to whom, though? 

This is why January will officially be my “in-between” month: January helped me get ready for my son to go back to school. I made sure he was ready, waited two hours in a car with a 6 year old as we waited to get tested. We bonded, I was able to work on my intentions for the new year, and I learned how long I could hold my pee before my eyes got watery. The entire ordeal took four hours, driving to two different sites to find an open location. We survived, got tested, and got a Happy Meal for the road. 

During my “in-between” month, I was able to shift my mindset when it came to some of the intentions I set out from the year prior. I reminded myself that pivoting is an essential life skill, and focused on what I was able to accomplish in the year. 

• Wanted to read 12 books, read 34 and became an active member in an amazing Latinx book club. (Check out my list)
• Wanted to clock in 2021 fitness miles, I did a total of 1082.87. That’s 54% of 2021. Better than 0%, especially since I haven’t been able to run after getting COVID last year. But I’m walking and breathing without an inhaler. 
• I wanted to have $20k in savings, instead I realized that saving is not the end game. Building generational wealth is. I opted for $27k in assets, while paying off $12k in student debt. Building up my retirement fund so I can retire by 55; along with my financial knowledge and learning from experts that look like me. (More of this to come)
• I wanted to lose weight, after COVID I realized I just wanted to be healthy. Healthy doesn’t have a size. 
• I wanted to travel again with my family. No airplane travel for us, instead I opted for in-state road trips with the family and exploring outings with the kiddo. 
• I wanted my annual income to be $85k, but I was short by 10%. However, I ended up landing a great job right before the holiday season, that will pay me $80k a year with amazing benefits. 

I learned to PIVOT, I think that’s been my main lesson during this 100 year pandemic (let me be dramatic for a bit). Let’s be honest with each other, things are not going to get back to normal. At least not the normal we knew, we are going to have a new normal. Which, honestly, I believe will be even better. So, we have to adapt and make the best of it. We have to try new things, see what works, what fits, and leave behind what doesn’t. 

I learned to look at the bigger picture, what’s sustainable for me and my lifestyle. I learned that being present is not quite the same as being actively engaged. Main areas of my life I learned these in: parenting and writing.  I learned that being in the same room as my son while he plays and I watch TV or work, is not the same as being on the floor and playing with him. When I go to the park with my son, I have to be ready to play with him. Get on the slides, fly on the swings, climb the monkey bars, while running away from whatever Dinosaur has escaped their cage. Taking a book or scrolling my phone while he plays, is most definitely not happening. 

In writing, I learned that I can’t call myself a writer or intend myself to be a writer, if I don’t freaking do it. Who would have thought? This little blog of mine, means the world to me, yet I don’t act like it. I don’t put in the work, I don’t actively engage in it. I do, but not as much as I should. I can read all the writing magazines in the world, follow writers, bookmark future writing workshops all I want, but that doesn’t make me a writer now does it? Writing actually does, actively engaging in it does. 

This is also my way of letting you know that this will be one of my intentions for the new year. Write and post more. I journal everyday, but I need to post/write here more. Some other intentions are: 

• Homeownership (will talk more about this one in another post)
• Pay off 10-12k more of student debt
• Play more
• Be more flexible, it’s the year of the Water Tiger so it’s a must
• Read 30 books (Keep an eye on my “For The Love of Reading” where I track and review everything that comes my way.
• 2022 active miles, I mean you should have seen this one coming.
• Be actively engaged in self-care, don’t just talk or plan it but follow through with it. This includes my self-image, which translates to doing my hair and make-up for work more often. Didn’t realize how much I missed this until I started doing it again. 
• Have dance parties and listen to music, not just podcasts
• Let people be, but appreciate those that are actively engaged in my life
• Stay true to my boundaries, needs, and energy

Keeping it simple and engaging with what matters to me. Again, focusing on what is sustainable for my lifestyle.

As always thank you for reading and I hope your New Year is everything you need it to be!

I leave you with this beautiful song by Alabama Shakes, I hadn’t heard this song in years. But when I heard it, I was reminded why I would put it on blast, almost every day on my commute before I moved back home. I’ve cried, I’ve laughed, and I’ve just listened while listening to this song. I hope you enjoy it, as must as I do.