Hello 2024..

January is a free trial month for the year. I commend everyone who can actually set goals and get going right away on the first day of the new year. I personally like to take January as a month to assess the last year and decide what direction I want to head in the new; its a month of planning. But February... oh sweet February, that's when the year really begins.

So now that my free trial is over and I am ready to shift my focus into the 'doing' phase, I wanted to share some of my personal goals for the year 2024 not only to give you insight on my life but really to keep me motivated to achieve what I set out to do. If I have them written out on the internet for the world to see, then certainly I must be successful.. right?

GOAL#1- TAKE CHARGE OF MY PHYSICAL HEALTH
This one is tough for so many and I am no stranger to the ups and downs of weight loss and fitness. In fact, I have struggled with this for some time. I'll do really good for a long time and then somehow it all goes flying out the window and I am back where I started.. or worse. But this year I am dedicating my time and energy to getting back on the horse. Okay, not a literal horse.. more like a stationary bike. I am spending more days in the gym with my sister. more afternoons walking with my parents and overall just being more active. Instead of burning myself out and hitting exercise hard and then eventually quitting, I am working gradually on something I can sustain. I am also working on my diet and incorporating more natural/whole foods and eliminating carbs, sugars and processed "junk" as much as I can. Certainly not all days will be good and I will stumble but the goal is to build habits that are going to last me a lifetime.. not just a short time. Because in the end.. I want to be here on this beautiful Earth as long as I can.

GOAL #2- SAYING GOODBYE TO THE PANIC
Mental health is one of the biggest industries in the world today and quite frankly I am happy to see that so many are finally opening up and talking about something that millions have struggled with for so long. Anyone you ask either struggles themselves or has a loved one that struggles with some form of mental health issue and if I'm being transparent.. I ended 2023 at one of my lowest points.
I'm struggling and most days I try to push through my panic attacks just to survive the day. If you have ever experienced an anxiety or panic attack.. you know exactly what that survival feels like. When every single ounce of you is just trying to make it through another minute, heck another second without breaking down completely. I hate feeling this way and I hate feeling stuck. I hate that my quality of life has to be impacted and my joy is dimmed by something that seems to control me. I've been focusing on taking back my control though and I am determined to get my life back. Determined to leave the survival mode in the past and start actually living again. This isn't an easy feat however and through therapy and medication, I am confident I will get there. 

GOAL #3- GIVING MY ALL TO SOME NOT SOME TO ALL
For so long I have tried to give everything I have to everything I do and everyone I care about.. that's a lot of "every's". And truthfully, when you try to do it all you start to stretch yourself thin and things sort of go to crap. So this year is about focusing on what and who is important. It's about giving my all to speaking opportunities that really mean something to me and organizations that I believe in. It's about watering friendships that bring me joy in return. It's about learning that I don't have to say YES to everyone and every thing. 2024 is about giving my all to every thing that makes my heart happy and knowing that no matter what.. it is enough.

These are some tough goals and something I will need to dedicate a lot of time and effort into achieving. Not all of the days to come will be filled with success and I know that there will be times I want to give up. But with the support of God, my family and my friends.. I know I can reach any goal I want. So thank you to everyone who is on this journey with me. Thank you to everyone who supports me in any way big or small. I pray that all of your 2024 goals flourish in the best way possible.

xo, 
​Ashley