For every high there is a low, and for every low there is a high. I would say those words sum up this last year. 2018 was definitely an emotional year but I am beyond grateful for it. I would say it was a year I truly needed to experience in order to continue to grow.
Like most people, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on the last 365 days. I’ve meditated on it, journaled about it, and even cried over it. Each year I go into January with very high expectations. For someone like me, who is very Type A, it’s hard not to. It’s a new year, a new month, and everything feels so fresh and clean…how could you not?!
But as I reflected on what 2018 brought me I quickly realized no year will ever be perfect no matter how hard we strive for it to be. The only thing we can do is enter each new year with all the love that our hearts can hold. Because when we start a new chapter it is important to hold that space for ourselves (and others) to keep growing.
So, when you look back at the years, whether it’s 2015 or the previous year you had, remember that nothing is linear. You can’t have the good without a little bit of the bad. There’s no light without darkness. Cherish the highs to carry you through your lows and appreciate the lows to fully embrace the highs.
With that said, this year I am throwing out any expectations I have. I want to go into 2019 feeling light and full of love, not anxiety and dread. I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in setting clear goals and intentions for yourself to manifest in the many months to come.
Here are mine-
Meditate and journal every day. This is something I have done for so long but about halfway through the year I neglected this practice. It wasn’t something I intentionally did but kind of fell out of. However, this last month I have picked it back up again and I must say I hope I don’t lose the habit again. I also want to start incorporating it into my brand again!
Stop feeling guilty for taking time off. This one is very important, especially because I am going to be a new mom and that comes first! The first half of my pregnancy I struggled with this a lot and felt like a failure for taking a nap instead of blogging or setting aside my coaching business to embrace this stage of my life. I’ve gotten a lot better at it but I want to be mindful of it going into the New Year.
Take each day as it comes. Continuing the theme of letting go of expectations, I want to fully embrace each day for what it is and not let the past or future dictate my present.
Continue to grow my business in creative ways. Although I will be a new mom and quite literally have my hands full, I don’t want to give up on my business and career goals! I have a lot of ideals and inspiration brewing in my mind that I want to bring to Devon Jade. From essential oils, coaching, and meditations, I have so much content I want to share! Also, if you have any input or suggestions, I’m all ears!
Never stop taking care of ME. This intention is really important and sacred to me. As I get closer and closer to becoming a new mom I want to make sure I am still carving out time to take care of me. I can’t be a good mom if I don’t take care of myself first!
Are you someone who sets intentions for the New Year? I’d love to hear some of yours! Comment below or share them with me on Instagram!
Before I end this post, I thought it would be fun to also share some of my favorite (and not so favorite) moments of 2018.
Ringing in the New Year and getting a New Year’s kiss from my (at the time) almost hubby! We have celebrated the last three New Years together and each one just gets better and better! However, this year he is working so you can find me kissing my dogs and loving on my baby bump!
My birthday is in January so celebrating that is always a blast. This last year Mark took me to a shooting range where I shot my first gun. It was traumatic, I cried, and will never go back.
On March 16, 2018 we got married!!! As you know, Mark and I ditched our original wedding plans and got married in Chicago instead (our absolute favorite city). We had a few friends there and kept it extremely intimate. It was hands down the best day of the year and we had SO much fun. If I could, I would do it over and over and over again. To read more about it check out my blog post, Why My Husband and I Cancelled Our Wedding.
The end of April and month of May were an emotional time for us. Mid-April we found out I was pregnant only to lose the baby a week and a half later. I would say this was the beginning of the emotional roller coaster we were on. Heading into May Mark lost a colleague. His mom was also getting surgery and my grandmother had a bad fall which caused her to now live in an assisted living program. Despite all of the hardship, the end of the month got sweeter when we started creating out dream backyard and found out I was pregnant (again)!!!
Immediately after that, in June, I had another pregnancy scare. I thought I was having another miscarriage only to find out I actually had a hemorrhage in my uterus. However, we got our first glimpse at our little baby peanut!
July was a big month for us and definitely a high. We announced we were pregnant, Mark got promoted, we got a puppy, and bought a car!!!
We then got to meet our best friend’s beautiful baby girl and witness her mom adopt her! This was so special to be a part of and I am so happy for them!
September was yet again another exciting month. It was Mark’s birthday, I was at the half way point of my pregnancy and we found out our little peanut was a BOY! I wrote blog posts sharing my 20-week update, I’m Halfway Through My Pregnancy! A 20 Week Update and Baby Devine’s Big Gender Reveal! if you want to check those out!
October and November were crazy months as we drove home to the East Coast for three weeks and then came home and celebrated Thanksgiving. While we were home I got to witness my childhood BFF find her dream wedding dress as well as stand beside my other friend as she married her best friend!
Rounding out the year with our first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs. and our last holiday just the two of us!
2018 was quite the year and I’m feeling so grateful looking back at all of the memories made. I am excited for this new year as our baby boy will be making his arrival sooner rather than later! 2019 you are looking pretty damn fine!
Share your thoughts with me! Comment below or head to my Instagram page (@iamdevonjade)!
XOXO,
D.J.
DevonJade 