Buh-bye 2018! My “Last 30 Days” So Long Initiative

PEACE OUT, 2018! Let’s end these last 30 days better than the first!

Phew, 2018 hit us head on with some pretty substantial obstacles. In the grand scheme of things, everything is fine. We all have our health. We have a home, food, transportation; all our basic needs are met. In reality, we are abundantly blessed. That’s where it gets tricky. When you feel tested, deflated, and depressed while being abundantly blessed, it can produce a giant cloud of guilt, shame, and self-judgement over you that paralyzes every effort toward contentment, gratitude, and happiness.

Wow, that’s some self reflection right there.

This is where I’m stuck. Things could be a heck of a lot worse, as well as a heck of a lot better. I’m wedged here, stewing between my expectations and my realty, in a constant state of battle. Which will I choose today? … mind-numbing bad habits? or uncomfortable self-betterment (that doesn’t appear to be making anything better at all)?

To say I’m stuck in a slump is a bit of an understatement. I’m so uncomfortable in my life at this moment that I need to take some action, any action. I can’t let myself stew here any longer. (God is probably up in Heaven thinking, “Finally! Let’s do this, girl!”)

Let’s Do This!

Over the last few weeks I started retreating into God’s Word, reading daily devotions, devouring a new book by Lysa Terkeurst, and listening to videos and podcasts by motivational speakers. The same messages keep appearing to me over and over again from all these different sources. Often times, I feel like Lysa wrote her book specifically for me, calling out challenges in my life like we’re best friends.

Talk about good timing! God is certainly giving me the tools that I need at the exact moment I need them.

One of the messages I keep hearing is, “Amy, just be yourself!” At 42 years old, you would think I’d be solid in who I am as a person. You’d think I would have left that “what other people think” mentality in the past long ago. I honestly thought I had. But, recently I’ve been judging myself so fiercely against so many different things, my expectations, my consistency, my success, and admittedly, other people.

In Lysa’s book, It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way, she covers so many areas of addressing disappointment from a Christian perspective. One of my favorite quotes that I wrote in the front of the book is: “What if, instead of being so epically disappointed in everyone, we saw in them the need for compassion, beginning with self-compassion? We must get to this place of self-compassion if we ever hope to have true, deep compassion for others.”

WOW and YES.

How do I accomplish this? By opening myself up and sharing myself with you. (Sorry, or you’re welcome, I’m not sure which. **insert winking emoji here**)

Let’s Start at the End

I’d like to invite you along on my “Last 30 Days” so long 2018 initiative! This is an adaptation of Rachel Hollis’ Last 90 Days challenge, as well as her Start Today Journal. I’ve committed to completing the following challenge, as well as keep a daily journal from now until the end of the year. Here’s what it looks like!

Do these five things every day:

1. Wake up an hour early to do something for yourself
2. Drink half your body weight in oz of water
3. Move for 30 minutes
4. List 10 things you’re grateful for throughout the day
5. Give up 1 food category you know you shouldn’t be eating

Journal Daily

Here are the journaling prompts from the Start Today Journal:

1. List 5 things you’re grateful for right now
2. List 10 goals you want to achieve like they’ve already happened
3. Write down the first goal you want to accomplish

I’ll be checking in with you on Facebook and Instagram every weekday morning at 8:00 AM. If you’d like to join me on this challenge to end 2018 better than it started, I invite you to tune in each morning, be sure to give me a follow. Share in the comments what you’re grateful for, as well as the goal you’re working toward! I’m excited to learn and share with you as we see out the year and bring in 2019.

My Five Things:

1. Wake up an hour early, read a Bible study, write the Word, journal, shower
2. Drink 80 oz of water every day (that seems like a lot!)
3. Complete core workout from my PT or walk for 30 minutes
4. Practice gratitude
5. Give up alcohol (this is terrifying!)

Your five things might look completely different, and that’s okay! Feel free to share them with me in the comments! I’d love to encourage you throughout these last 30 days. See you online!