I know how cliché it is to have New Year’s resolutions but, what better time to set some goals than the beginning of the year. I don’t know when it became such a bad thing to be honest. I love sitting down at the beginning of the year and setting some goals for my new year.

I didn’t set any goals at the beginning of 2024 and it shows. I did a lot of growing. I hit what was probably the darkest time of my life in the middle of the year and am still shocked I survived it. I found an amazing therapist that I absolutely love! She has helped guide me through some tough stuff this year. Jen, if you are reading this, thank you for being amazing at your job!

I also learned the value of true friendship and how to love people as they are. I realized I had been trying to mold people into my life the way I thought they should fit and people just are not moldable like that. They can mold themselves but I can not mold them. I think I may have re-arranged myself to fit the world I want to be in. I have a new love for myself as well as the people around me. 2025 is bound to be amazing.

As for my goals this year, they may be all over the place, but I am trying to be someone that 13 year old me would be so freaking proud of. The adult version of me that 13 year old me would look up to and admire the crap out of. I’m not far from it. 13 year old me would totally love the me I am right now, but I want to do even better for her. I want to always be happy and to chase the shadows away.

So here are the goals for this year:

1. Write more. Obviously. I wrote a lot of poetry this year, but I want to finish a book this year!
2. Finish that one novel I have been working on for way too long now.
3. Publish a poetry book.
4. Paint more and sale the heck out of them!
5. Make money with flowers. You will see them, I can not wait to make these flowers!
6. Become the healthiest version of myself. Healthier than I have ever been.
7. Become a gym girlie again!
8. Make sure my friends know how much I love them.
9. Read at least a book a week.
10. Train my puppy, Nico, to be the best little horse that ever was.

We are already headed into week 2 of the year and I have been dragging my feet. I don’t want to drag my feet anymore so…let’s get this show on the road! I am ready for it. I have been having trouble focusing and I think I have a few things in place now that will help me focus a little better. I’m just a little late to the game, but when am I not?

I really want to give myself a chance and push for the things I really want. I want my name to be known. I want to share the stories that live in my head. I want people to read the raw emotions of my poems. I want to finally give myself a shot at being the published author I have always wanted to be.

I know I will meet so many amazing people on this journey.