Dear Nicole

As I get ready to close out every year with the festivities of the holiday season, I like to take a moment to capture what I’ve learned during the year.  I keep a journal that I write in periodically and I like to review it at the year's end.  It helps to remind me of where I’ve been and keeps me focused on where I’m going.  Anything that’s important for me to remember, I try to write it down.  All of my important milestones, memories, mistakes, and moments, I try to find a place to put them in my journal. 

This year, I thought I’d write a letter to my past self to capture the things I wish I knew as I entered the new year.  I thought I'd share it with you in hopes that it will bless you.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Dear Nicole,

You’re looking good! But remember, staying healthy takes as much work as getting healthy. If you take any time off, it will be extremely difficult to get focused again and you will lose momentum.  Being healthy is vital to accomplishing everything you need to do in the upcoming year. You will need your strength, mental alertness and energy to do everything that is coming your way. Also, chances are that if you’re not disciplined in your health management, it is a symptom of deeper self-control issues that will mostly likely surface in other areas of your life as well.  So stay disciplined!

Make time to cater to and take especially good care of yourself.  You are as important as everyone else in your life but at times you allow yourself to slip down on your priority list.  It’s okay to have “me” time!  Make time for friends and other things that give you personal joy and fulfillment.  In addition to being physically healthy, your mental and emotional health is also vital to your ability to take care of everything and everyone in your life.  This means that as you strive to make time to care for everyone else, you must also prioritize and make time for yourself.  Actually, you must do this first and foremost.  You cannot give to others what you have not first given to yourself.  So, as you begin your holiday shopping this year, remember this (you will read this in a book later in the year): the best gift you can give the ones you love is a healthy and happy YOU. So take care of yourself physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally at all times!  There are times when it should be all about YOU!

Be thankful!  I know things are not the way you want them to be right now, but you must master the ability to be thankful and appreciate what’s right in front of you.  Despite what you may think, what you have right now is goooooood! So good! You’ll see! So learn to be content where you are and with what you have until God decides to change things.  Remember, there is a reason why you are who you are, where you are, and with whom you are.  Purpose. 

Make the most of every day!  Everyday God wakes you up is a new day to be a better you. Don’t waste time focusing on yesterday, all the mistakes you made, or what you didn’t get accomplished. Focus on today!  Set a new to-do list.  Give a fresh effort! Decide what you will do better every day!  Forget about yesterday and don’t worry about tomorrow. Instead, stay determined to make today count.  No matter what your yesterday looks like, ask yourself these questions everyday: What can I accomplish today? What can I do differently today? How can I respond differently today? How can I love the people in my life better today?  Today is full of endless opportunities and possibilities! Which one will you seize!?

You will make plenty of mistakes. It’s okay! Your weaknesses and flaws will need to be exposed to show you where you need to grow.  Do not fear!  You are still on the right track. Don’t spend too much time wallowing in your short-comings. Keep moving!  Keep growing! Don’t allow yourself to become ashamed or condemned because you’re not as far along as you’d like.  Even your mistakes will be used by God to help make you better.  Just make sure that you use your mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. Time spent worrying about the mistake you made or your weakness and flaws is time wasted!  Focus on learning, changing and growing! 

Remember to always look for purpose in every situation. There is a reason for everything.  No matter what you encounter this year, there is powerful purpose behind it.  There will be some tough challenges up ahead. A few of them will be extremely difficult and will test your commitment to everything.  Stay focused!  Look for and find the purpose.  The challenges are designed by God to make you better, stronger, wiser and bring you closer to Him.  If you cooperate with Him, you will have a much more intimate relationship with Him than ever before.  You will see your growth manifest like never before. And you will see your value and appreciation for the things He has given you grow by leaps and bounds.  Although it will be difficult when you first encounter them, these challenges will prove to be a catalyst for God’s calling in your life.  If you need to, it’s okay to get the help and advice of a trusted friend to help you navigate through it.  God has given you godly relationships to help in encouraging you, holding you accountable, and accomplishing your purpose.  So make sure you show appreciation for the people who love you and who choose to bear your burdens with you.  Make time for those friendships and be sure to always express your love for them. It encourages them and strengthens your relationship with them.    

Finally, you absolutely have been given one of the best lives to live on earth. You have a wonderful husband who loves and adores you. You have the best kids God could have given a mother, and they too love and adore you - even if the teenagers do act like you are the lamest person on the planet! You have a huge family who loves you.  You have some really great friends who love you and really really have your back.  And most importantly, you have been given an assignment and purpose by God Himself because He loves you so much more than you can ever imagine.  He purposely chose you.  It wasn’t by accident. It wasn’t because no one else wanted the job. He chose YOU because He wanted you to do it and He knew you could.  He knows you won’t quit this year no matter how hard it gets.  He knows that you’ll stay faithful even when you want to quit.  He knows you will give even when you feel like you have nothing left.  He also knows you will cry many tears this year.  He knows you will feel lonely at times this year.  He knows you will question if He is paying attention. Yes, He knows.  But He knows He can trust you to stay faithful because He knows He chose you and equipped you to endure it.  Don’t let Him down. 

Honestly, I can’t think of a better life to live than one in which you are extremely and unconditionally loved, adored and chosen.  You are a blessed woman.  You’re the chosen one. Remember that.

Until next year! Me!