Dear World,

In all honesty, I have no idea what today’s post will be about. This is perhaps the free-est of the free writing that I’ve ever done – writing without even an idea or a topic to guide every tap I make on this keypad.

So, since I started writing this being unsure, I guess that’s the direction I’ll go…without knowing where I want to take this.

The year 2021 is coming to the end of the calendar year. For some, it’s the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

The thing with endings and new beginnings is usually a pile of uncertainty which can trigger some serious anxiety. This pile of uncertainty and anxiety affects me to my core to the point where I lose sleep over it.

However, I am moved to tell myself and others in a similar state of mind that uncertainty is part of the journey. There’s no way that we’re gonna be uncertain forever.

Perhaps we should look at uncertainty as an opportunity to pause, evaluate and re-evaluate every aspect of our lives. You know, what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve missed, the growth that we’ve undergone, the negative and positive energies that we emit. All of it.

As much as I hate the “new year, new me” cliché transformational line, it has its purpose. There’s just something special about the actual end of one cycle and the start of another that entices brains and hearts to reflect.

Maybe…just maybe a that’s what us anxious people need to do.

Reflect. I’d add another ‘R’ to that. Rest. So, in our reflections – we evaluate, re-evaluate and get some rest.

As a friend of mine said recently:

Think of this moment as if you were restructuring a business that’s special to you. To properly restructure, you have to audit and review what’s been done to know where to go and how to go about your new whereabouts. But for right now, let’s just reflect and rest.

A. Bowes

Let’s pick one area each day and dissect it. So we’re looking at mental health, professional growth, finances, relationships etc.

Hey! This might trigger more anxiety but it may also bring many considerations to the light. For example, we may feel like our 2021 goals have not been accomplished (even though it’s okay if the goals weren’t met) – with reflection and relaxation, we may find that 70% or whatever per cent of the entire list was achieved. That’s a win! The fact that more than 0% was attained is something to celebrate.

Make sure to make notes in your reflection and for Pete’s sake, be purposeful about how you review each aspect of your life. Don’t do this reflection and re-evaluation exercise just because a new year is upon us. Write it down, ehh.

Uhmm, yeah. Try that approach as we go into the new year and as we make other transitions in our lives that transcends a calendar year.

Let’s get ahead of our anxiety-induced uncertainty for 2022 and develop a healthy habit of reviewing and re-evaluating while considering rest.

I know that it’s easier said than done. Trust me. I know. Right now I feel like I’m living in a suspense film where the audience is at the edge of their seat wanting to know how I’ll manoeuvre this next stage. Part of me feels like some of you are in a similar boat. Either way, we have to try to beat this anxiety and uncertainty.

By the way, when you rest, you have to completely take the opportunity to rest and block out the stressors of your lives. If you’re in a position to do that, do it. If you’re not in such a position, you will get there someday and you’ll find a way – otherwise, your body will force you to pause and come to a screeching halt.

Anyways, I may be rambling. So let me end it here… Happy New Year’s Eve Eve. All the best for 2022.

Remember that these thoughts and expressions are my own. They have not been peer-reviewed and they are not supported by any empirical data. Cool? Alright.

Signed with love,

The Suburban Girl JA