Here's to you and all that you do!!

We have made it to 2024!! Yay!! Happy New Year!

If you are like me, you are always wondering and thinking about others, especially the person for whom you care for. 2023 was full of curveballs and changes. This blog, for instance, was founded in 2023, after years of encouragement from my husband.

While today is full of busy activity for me and my family as we prepare for our loved one to return home tomorrow from rehab from a surgery, I am taking this moment to reflect on how far we have come in the last year. I encourage anyone reading this to take a moment to reflect and relax for a moment as well, even if it is beyond January 1st. A moment to just breathe is always needed, right?!

Our youngest child was supposed to be born in January, but decided they had wanted a December birthday between Christmas and New Year's. We always try to celebrate their birthday on New Year's Eve to make the day extra special for our children and to keep them moving. In previous years, we always seemed to be sick or have some emergency pop up during this particular week, but yesterday we were finally able to celebrate the way we had planned. Everything turned out beautifully.

During the party, we surprised all our guests with a small painting project for a global connection project. Each person's individual artwork will be sent out to become part of something greater on a continental level, North America specifically. Our child loves painting, so allowing everyone to be part of something bigger to connect us with others seemed more enriching than simply gifting our child another paint set to sit in the cabinet with all the other paint sets that do not get used.

Sometimes we underestimate our presence or feel inadequate when we are alone, but we are part of something much greater than ourselves. And our unique perspective and approach to our own lives helps make this world beautiful in the bigger picture. Participating in this mural project allows us to visually participate in something that, alone, we may miss sometimes.

Our interactions in this world really do create ripple effects. While we may not see the effect we have to one person or group, we do influence those around us, even strangers. Doing a kind deed for a stranger or loved one may cause another, related or unrelated person to then do something kind for another person that we will never know about. Sometimes, though, it is good to see it for ourselves, such as purposely creating a piece of art for a global mural to be seen by people we do not even know, in a place we have never visited.

Even at the party, my idea to do this art project for my child's birthday caused a family member to think about someone else who could do something similar in a local area. While it can come off as rude (and it is rude) to do this during a party in front of the host, especially mentioning that someone else could do what someone else literally planned and is doing right in front of them, it is good to know that my positive actions are creating positive ripples in the world.

As this year moves beyond the first day and we get back into our grooves, I wish everyone a clear conscience and understanding that their actions, seen or unseen, are creating good in the world. Our actions are causing others to think about what they and others are doing and what they can do. Motivating others is a good thing; however, try your best to not let anyone bring you down or take from you things you are actively trying to do for yourself. You deserve credit for your own good, too.

More importantly, enjoy everything you do. As my grandfather used to tell me: "do everything with your whole heart or do not do it at all."

Inspiration can come from anyone and any place, even a dropped and slightly melted ice cream cone. My child absolutely loves ice cream, just like me, so their birthday cake was purposely made to look like an ice cream cone had been dropped and was melting on top. It turned out beautifully and was fun to make. This year, I hope you are also able to push yourself to see what you can do, learn something new that interests you, and to find moments to just breathe because taking care of humans, young and old, is exhausting. Even when things do not go as planned, use it as inspiration and motivation to move forward. There is good and inspiration in everything, even dropped ice cream cones.

And if you feel like you want to remind yourself that you are part of something bigger, find a way to volunteer, join a local organization that reaches others, or even join us on the mural we are participating in for 2024! Click here to join us with America Connects.

As caregivers, we need to be reminded that we are never alone on this journey. While small, painting a small piece of a mural allows us to literally see part of ourselves in the bigger picture. Sometimes, we need that. None of us need to be perfect, we just need to do things with our whole heart.

For 2024, I know our lives are not slowing down. I know things are not easy, but I wish everyone peace, time to breathe and restore, understanding of how things are in your lives and calmness to handle everything to our best abilities, and to achieve everything you want to achieve this year. Time never slows down and the necessary things in life that need done by us never cease to end, which should be obvious given that I have not had time to sit and write for this blog since October! The second half of 2023 was insane for me, and I know I am not alone in that sentiment.

I hope 2024 will be a great year for you. Thank you so much for being here.

** LifeAlongtheLake and Rose Gold Initiative, LLC are not affiliated with Global Roots - America Connects, are not a paid partner, and are not responsible for anything affiliated with them. If you choose to participate in America Connects, we hope you have fun.