Every year I stress myself out coming up with New Years Resolutions and an end of the year social media post about how amazing my year has been and how I’m looking forward to the adventures of next year. This year, the best I can come up with is, “I’m tired.” I sat in a mood for DAYS over the fact that I was having a hard time coming up with enough positive things to fill up an Instagram post. All I could think of was, I lost a baby, how dare anyone expect me to say this was a good year. While that thought isn’t wrong, I’ve overlooked so many blessings. My husband and I were able to take two honeymoons. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary. We grew as a couple after overcoming one of the hardest things a couple can go through. We kept our jobs in law enforcement in an increasing anti-law enforcement environment. My tribe grew. His tribe grew. Our dogs and cats are happy. We have a beautiful home.

So then I thought about what I want to accomplish in 2022. That’s easy, I thought, a baby. duh. Anyone else guilty of that one? So I dug into that and here are some of my 2022 resolutions. While a baby would be #1, there are so many other resolutions that will bring a baby into a happy and healthy home that are even more important to us.

1. Making Mental Health a Priority: This year we both let our mental health struggle. A started a new job, I had some things change at my work that increased my stress load. These things didn’t help our marriage, and got to the point that we weren’t putting our marriage first. We recently had a talk about making our mental health priorities, and made action plans for 2022.
2. Dating My Spouse: Next year, we start working on opposite schedules. We’ll see each other for dinner time, but that’s about it. So we’ll be working on dating again. Getting to know each other in our new roles in life. Figuring out how to balance work and social lives with each other.
3. Getting Rid of FOMO: I find myself sitting on TikTok or Pinterest looking at all these perfect moms and their perfect babies, without thinking of how they got there. I don’t know how long these sweet Mommas were waiting for their baby. I don’t know their history or their struggles. Instead, I’m taking the time to limit my social media and work on being a better, more grateful me. Praising other mom’s on how amazing they’re doing, while working on myself so one day I can be a sweet mom, too.
4. Getting Healthier: I find I have so much more energy when I’m working out and eating healthy. I also know that when the time comes, I’ll want to have a natural childbirth. I want to be strong enough physically and mentally to get through that and enjoy nature’s process. I want to be strong enough to keep up with an energetic toddler and my two puppies.
5. Reaching Out More: I know that when I was struggling, all I needed was for someone to let me know that they cared. I’m looking to reach out more to those who need it. Be it on my blog, on my social media, or in real life, I want to be the friend that’s there. I want to be someone that straightens the crowns of the Queens around me, and to provide support to those who need it.

What are your resolutions for 2022? How are are you growing as a human? Baby dust to those trying to conceive this year, and peace to those trying to overcome losses. We love you!