Only Love in 2023

Originally posted January 20, 2023

My sisters called me on the eve of my birthday, and it just might’ve been the muse I needed to kick off my blog in 2023. My January birthday is a gift. Each new age comes with a brand-new year. People love to hate January, but for someone who appreciates fresh starts, I consider it a blessing. And this year will be a great one.

My personal theme for 2023 is, “Love begins within.” It means I’m required to show love to myself even if I feel unloved in the world. I have those days, as I suspect we all do. For too long, I looked outside myself for love and validation, hoping and waiting for someone or something else to make me whole. It’s nice to be loved—essential even. But to place the burden on others before I offer it to myself is a hollow and meaningless pursuit. Love begins within, knowing I’m loved and whole just as I am. Only then can that love radiate from me to others.

Here's a bit of inspiration from the Tao te Ching: “Because she believes in herself, she doesn’t try to convince others. Because she is content with herself, she doesn’t need others’ approval. Because she accepts herself, the whole world accepts her.”

2022 was a year of healing, self-acceptance, and deep personal insight. It was the year I flipped the script. (Actually, I’d done that a couple years prior, but this was the year I let others know about it.) I took a step off the path carefully laid out for me and stepped onto the path of my own forging. It was unexpected, to be sure, but revolutionary. Nothing could’ve prevented what’s happened to me. It was absolutely inevitable. I am where I’m meant to be in this moment.

I’m well aware of the test of love this required of some of the people in my life. I’m well aware that some may not approve, and I understand why they may feel that way. I’ve also become aware of something else rather unexpected. Many of them love me anyway and have gone out of their way to tell me and show me so. This has surprised me again and again. My husband, the clearest example of this, told me that he wouldn’t want me to be any other way, and I know he’s sincere. He understands my need for authenticity, and he loves me for it.

Another theme for my new year is, “I honor my own path and yours.” I’m working hard on this concept. It seems we’re all convinced we’re right. But the only place from which we can adequately judge is our own experience. We can try, but we can’t fully know another’s experience. We only have one brain, one heart, and one set of eyeballs through which we see the world. When I come to those points of frustration and I refuse to see another’s perspective, it means I’ve retreated into backward thinking. It means I’m not honoring my ownpath. The two are linked. When I honor my own path, it automatically assumes trust in yours. This may also mean diverting from people who bring you down and don’t support your journey.

Despite my shift in faith practices, I’m still me. In fact, I’m more me than I’ve ever been before. At this place of self-acceptance and path-forging, I’ll show more love and compassion to myself. I’ll do those things that bring me joy and be around people who uplift me. I hope you’ll do the same. I can’t promise anyone they’ll approve of everything I do and say, maybe even here on this blog. But I can promise I’ll speak from my heart.

Here's to a blessed, happy, loving, and trailblazing new year!