15 Things I Learned in 2023

Although I am aware that we can start fresh at any moment of any day, there is just something about the New Year that is good for my soul. I love taking the time to think back on the previous year and reflect on everything God has done and what He graciously allowed (or didn’t allow). And you know what else? I’ve actually rested these last two weeks of December. I still had to work—tending clients and maintaining transactions and organizing upcoming listings—but I only did what was absolutely necessary because a) this year wore me out and b) you’ll read below how I’m slowly learning to prioritize rest.

One of the things I’ve learned to love and appreciate about Instagram is the ability to go through and read posts throughout the year and be reminded of where and how my heart was and what it went through.

Below is a combination of captions I’ve shared along with pictures/videos on social media as I felt led plus a few additional thoughts I’ve had and lessons I’ve learned that I chose to hold tightly until now:

1. Boundaries matter and they are needed! It’s important to pay attention to how you feel around others and/or in particular situations. If something doesn’t sit right, it probably isn’t. It’s absolutely okay to draw a line and protect your heart from people/situations that bring out the worst in you. Sometimes it takes running ourselves ragged to realize life can and needs to look a little different. It takes getting to the end of ourselves to realizes boundaries need to be set and respected, both by ourselves and others.

2. Nobody else’s definition of success matters but your own.

3. It’s okay to change your mind and redefine your goals/ambitions. It doesn’t make you a failure. You simply redirected your path to make it more fitting to what your soul needs and that’s okay.

4. Just because a situation is comfortable and familiar doesn’t mean it’s right for you. There comes a time when we need to let go and move on for our overall well-being.

5. Our character shows up when things don’t go our way…it’s the whole “every good tree produces good fruit” thang the Bible talks about. I think the truest part about us is revealed when we don’t get what we want or when our expectations aren’t met. How we respond to those situations sheds light on what’s inside us—inside our hearts. Hard moments-moments of tension—are not the cause. They are merely opportunities to show both ourselves and others who we really are.

6. I’m reminded that folks have hard journeys. We all have struggles that perhaps others don’t know about (although y’all often know about mine because I’m an open book on my Instagram story 🤣). I really hope to see others in their hard places as I think about all of those who have been there for us in our hard place! I’m also reminded that my husband, my little “family”, and my home are all my first priority. That is who I am called to tend to before anything else. We may not have kids, but we have each other and we have a life we are building in the name of Jesus. That will always be my upmost concern.

7. We shouldn’t feel guilty if our daily life isn’t similar to others. There is “work” in the technical term and there is “work” that applies to the home. I only do what absolutely has to be done on Fridays. Then I take the day OFF! Even during the week, I’m an early bird, so I work as quickly as possible because I want to be able to play at my house and be with my husband and animals. I used to feel guilty for it, but now I just feel grateful to God that I’m able to organize my daily schedule in a way that enables me to do a job a love while still prioritizing what’s MOST important (family, friends, housework, etc.).

8. REST IS IMPORTANT! IT FILLS US BACK UP! There is something about rest—true rest—that rejuvenates our hearts and helps us refocus on what’s most important. It gives us space to relax and get away from the hurriedness of life. Rest doesn’t have to mean going on an expensive vacation either! Sometimes it looks like just protecting our days and our time—our Sundays, our weekends, our evenings. There are always exceptions, of course! I’m starting to feel less guilty for saying no to things that are taking away from the people and places and projects that keep me sane. I’m starting to feel less guilty for standing my ground and arranging my life in a way that allows my soul to get filled back up…because I don’t think I can truly love others and be the woman God created me to be if I’m running on empty.

9. You have the freedom to make decisions that are best for your mental, emotional, and physical health. I am reminded that just because we are gifted at something, that doesn’t mean we have to make money doing it. It can simply be a gift we offer others as we’re able to. I used to work TWO FULL-TIME JOBS (graphic design/consultant and real estate agent). I was drained. I do think it was necessary for a little while because I was single at the time and working towards buying my house. Then I got married and it was no longer feasible or needed. Graphic design is something I really enjoyed, but I love real estate more. Letting go of graphic design (what paid my bills for four years) allowed me to go full force in real estate and it’s been a game changer!

10. God never promised us an easy life, but He did promise us Himself. He sees us in our current state and doesn’t leave the room. Perhaps He doesn’t make it all go away (He has our souls best interest in mind), but I do think He sits down beside us and shows His love to us in ways our hearts specifically need.

11. I don’t have to do business the way others do business and neither do you. Like I’ve said numerous times before, work isn’t everything. I think the way the world goes ‘round puts pressure on us to be workaholics or to do business in a way that doesn’t vibe with the way we’re created. The truth is, God is bigger than the way I do business. He’s bigger than my marketing. He’s bigger than the current state of the real estate market. I have seen His grace sprinkled throughout 2023. I’ve experienced such peace this year just simply navigating the day-to-day without trying to control things in order to get a specific outcome or be in a certain position. God has given us—perhaps not what we want or what we think we want—but what we need! I want to just keep trusting Him to do that.

12. I think God cares a great deal about how we are WITH others—in their pain, their suffering, their differences, their experiences. Are we able to stand beside them and not leave the room? Are we able to hold differing opinions and not go anywhere? Jesus stood with and beside. He sat down and shared meals and moved TOWARDS those whose stories were hard and less common. I wonder what it would look like for us to do the same?

13. HOME is where our hearts are most shaped—by spouses, by kids, by gardens and house chores. I feel God in those places. He pulls me back to Himself as I do my best to mow in straight lines. I see the gentleness in my husband’s hands and heart as he tends to his garden. Of course He loves us. Of course He is working all things out for our good and His glory—not to bring us relief here on this earth but to prepare us for our true and actual home…to make us more like Jesus and to continue drawing us nearer and nearer to Him!

14. I am reminded that life is NOT about our happiness here on earth (although I also absolutely believe in the sincerity of our freewill and that we are allowed to make choices that feel very right and true…and I have recently made one of those choices), but is, instead, about drawing us nearer to God and shaping us into the likeness of Christ. It looks different, I think, but I do believe at the end of the day, God is about our hearts. He is all about bringing us in close to Him—in tight quarters.

15. It is in the presence of those we love most, friends and family alike, moments graced and gifted by God, that we’ll always be able to cling to. It is the simplicity and authenticity of time together that is irreplaceable.

There are other things, I’m sure, but these are the lessons I actually took the time to put into writing and felt led to share with others in 2023. My hope is that your soul resonated with at least one of these 15 lessons I learned in 2023 and that you find yourself encouraged!

Whatever lies ahead in 2024, I hope to fight every single day to flourish and create something beautiful with my life beside a husband I adore and pets I love! I hope to remain open to what God may have for me/us and to continuously remind myself that He is at work in my heart and soul.

Happy New Year!

P.S. — As a fun side note, the featured image on this blog post is one of the many sunset photos I took this past year from our backyard. A lot of what I’ve shared on social media (and now this blog post) were thoughts and realizations God kindly brought to my attention while sitting in the back right corner of our home around a bonfire watching the sunset. Sunsets are the truest and most sincere picture to me of God’s glory and I’m excited to start finding more ways to incorporate the pictures I take into my blog and website!