2019: A Year of Abundance

My words of the year, these last five years, tell a story. My story of surviving, of bravery, of strength, of rebuilding, and of — at last — thriving in the abundance that God has provided for me.

The other day I was digging through old emails and I stumbled on something that took me back to the most painful place I have ever known. In that moment, it was like I was back there, back in the place I believed I could never escape. As painful as it is, the beauty of it is that I can turn away now. I am no longer there. My life is different. There are some things that we will never, fully, be able to escape; but at least now I am able to turn away.

These last years I have fought my way out. In many ways, you have witnessed my climb, my clawing, and scratching, and blindly finding my way to the surface. And while the path never truly ends, because climbing is a lifetime endeavor, I can say with confidence that I am on the other side now. 2018 gave me one final shakeup, an absolute tidal wave hellbent on knocking me off the path, and it did. But my progress was not lost and in my final stretch of that hellish trial of a year, I stepped boldly into the most beautiful light that I have ever known. I made it to the other side of the river.

Now, the real magic begins. After years of learning how to survive, of learning how to be strong, of building the literal foundation on which I will live the rest of my life: I am here. This is the year that I will step into the abundance of Grace. I am ready for an abundance of joy, an abundance of success, an abundance of adventure, and an abundance of love. And all of it is flowing toward me in beautiful waves now.

I am going to work so hard and so smart this year. Last year, I learned why discipline is so important. Discipline is the strongest form of self-love. It is knowing when to ignore current pleasures for rewards bigger to come. And also knowing when to enjoy current pleasures in the deepest, purest way. Discipline is loving yourself enough to give yourself everything you’ve ever wanted.

This is the year that we reap and we sow and we explore and we love and we create and we soak in every last drop of the magic all the way through!

Happy New Year, my darling loves! I am so grateful that we are all here together and I am truly excited to see what magic 2019 has in store for us. I love you infinitely. ♥

Photographs in this post taken by Erin Witkoski