2021: Coming Home to Myself

At the start of 2020, I chose the word “cleanse” as my word for the year. I expected to embody this word mostly in the physical sense, such as decluttering my closet each month, maintaining a minimalist home, and buying fewer clothes.

But 2020 ended up being a mental and emotional cleanse for me too. I hit rock bottom and soon realized that the only way to heal was to turn inward, and learn to listen, understand, and trust myself more. I had to take a good, hard look in the mirror and be honest with what I wanted and the kind of person I wanted to be. As part of my “internal” cleanse, I took to journaling, writing daily affirmations, attending counseling sessions, letting myself cry, and going on some of the longest walks of my life. In 2020, I really began to get to know myself and gain the courage to start recognizing and shifting patterns and old habits.

I was trying to find a word for the year 2021, but nothing was speaking to me. Instead, I kept coming back to this simple 4-word sentence that I had copied down in my journal from a book I was reading last year: “Come home to yourself.” This phrase, this mantra, is something I keep coming back to each time I need inspiration or guidance. What I love about it is that it always leads me back to myself and my own knowing.

This year, I’m coming home to myself. I’m continually learning who I am, what I love, how I want to live my life, and why I make the choices I make. I’m opening myself up to new possibilities, new definitions of happiness, and trusting myself enough to know what I need.

“The opportunities to do things differently in this life are endless.” So I’ll embrace 2021 with a newfound sense of self and more meaningful intention behind my thoughts, words, and actions. This year, I’m choosing being present over being perfect. Being mindful over being a martyr. And being my own savior, my own guiding light, and my own safe haven when I need warmth, love, and light.

Cheers to a new year! Xoxo

Goodbye 2020