The Year of Intention.
Well, this year has been off to a rocky start, to say the least. I’ve experienced a wide range of emotions, from a consistent presence of anxiety to feeling so much joy, and beginning to feel settled and find myself again. Life has a way of cramming everything into your heart and head at the same time, pushing you to be present and become fully aware of what is happening around you. Whether that be your relationships, the changing state of the Earth, or the political climate, making the intentional effort to stay in tune with what is happening each day can take a toll. Now add parenthood — being fully aware not only of yourself but the life of the human being you brought into the world.
When people say they stop watching the news or just don’t go on social media because it’s all too much, I think to myself “it must be nice to be in a position of privilege to just turn a blind eye to what’s happening” but I usually end up saying something like, “it’s important to pay attention to what’s happening because it impacts our decisions every single day and political decisions impact our loved ones and our neighbors.” Depending on where the conversation goes, I will add “we do have the power to help drive change.” If everyone asked, 'What impact do I, one person, have on the country?' then no one would do anything. Our power is in our collective, in our organizing, and in our coming together as a community. Our congress works for us, so make your voice heard.
I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, but I decided that 2026 would be my year of intention. I was intentional during my job hunt and found an amazing opportunity that fit all my boxes, and I get to work with some incredible human beings. I truly could not be happier with my job and feel so lucky to be a part of their little community! I am being more intentional with my purchase decisions, asking myself, do I REALLY need to buy this right now? Is this something I can get from a small business vs. a big box chain? I’m being more intentional with my relationships — if you, your energy, and your values do not align with mine and do not serve a positive purpose in my life, you won’t be in it. And for those whom I do keep in my life, being more intentional about making space for them. Finding time for conversations and even traveling to visit. For example, I sort of spontaneously booked us a trip to Mexico because our friends from Canada are vacationing there, and although it’s been over 3 years since we’ve seen them, they are still an important part of my village. I’m being more intentional about what I eat and drink. I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can buy organic foods and more expensive brands that have better ingredients. I don’t drink pop (okayyyyyy the occasional diet coke), and while I’m surely not giving up coffee, in March it will be 2 years since I stopped drinking alcohol. You heard that right, I haven’t had one sip since March 2024. Why, you might ask? Well, unpacking my relationship with alcohol will have to be for another time, but again, it was not serving me positively, so it had to go.
Lastly, I'm being more intentional with my day-to-day. I told James that when we lived in Phoenix, I felt us going into a rut. I knew it when we were living it, but didn’t fully realize it until we left. James and I were both working full-time with Mia in daycare, and there was no family to help us out. We weren’t really feeling settled in Phoenix, and our village was so small there that we were just going through the motions. It was also a huge financial burden (and emotional burden) to have to fly back to Michigan to visit family. We are now in a position that allows for flexibility, and we’re capitalizing on it! We’re prioritizing our little family and making sure that our time together isn’t just spent in front of the TV but in conversation with each other, and finding creative ways to spend our time together. It can get challenging with a VERY active 4-year-old, but we do our best to take a few things out of the Bluey playbook — IYKYK. Honestly, it’s good for us. It helps us continue to grow together and find joy in the little things.
I’m so grateful for everything we’ve worked so hard for, and that’s why what is happening within our country weighs so heavily on me. All people deserve to have a home for their families, food on the table, and should not have to worry about being taken away from a place they’ve worked so hard to get to. All families look different, and they should look different, but what’s most important is a foundation built on love.
My energy and my intentions will continue to be used for good this year, aligning with organizations like the Sierra Club to fight to protect people and the planet. With that said, I’m going to go contact my reps in Congress and make my voice heard.
You should too!
xo, Stef
