I love the New Year. I always have. For as long as I can remember, I’d sit in my bedroom the week between Christmas and New Year’s growing up, dreaming and praying what the next year could be, felt pens, sketchbooks, and collage material in hand, of course. The possibility of a fresh start, a healthier, more whole version of myself sparkled and shined in my mind. I could feel the promise and potential well up inside my chest. This was going to be my year! I determined on so many December 31sts.

The dreaming was fun. Inspiring. Empowering. 

The doing? Not so much. At least, not always. 

It’s not nearly as fun to press into that health goal to eat less sugar when you’re celebrating birthdays and weddings in August and reaching for ice cream because, hey, it’s summer. It’s a lot less sexy to save money in September when you see the pair of jeans that are just right, when you find concert tickets “on sale” (I’m sorry, but with the fees and taxes, there is no such thing *sigh*), and when you get invitations to go try fabulous new restaurants with your friends. Sticking with our goals for 365 days is hard. 

But they’re meant to be challenging. If they weren’t, would it feel as good to accomplish them? If we didn’t have to make intentional choices and sacrifices, would the fruit of the follow-through taste as sweet? Probably not. When it comes to goals and dreams, I’m right there with you in the tension of desire and daily demands.

Plus, I think it’s totally realistic that our goals will shift by the time summer and fall roll around. Heck, maybe as we start taking steps toward a goal we realize it isn’t right for us by mid-February. This is okay. This is human. We are allowed to evolve and change. If we weren’t changing, especially as Christians being conformed more and more to the image of Jesus throughout our lifetimes, I’d be concerned. So let’s give ourselves permission to shift or set aside specific dreams as we learn, grow, and live, amen?

So where does that leave us today, at the beginning of October 2024? What do we make of these last three months before the annual dreaming, roadmapping, and planning is upon us? 

I think we start dreaming now. I think we take 30 minutes to think and pray about what we really want these last 90 days to look like. I think we invite the Holy Spirit to give us fresh vision and open our eyes to the possibility of what He’s growing in us and what He might want us to focus on as we close out the year. 

And then, once we’ve dreamed and processed and given this some real thought, I’d challenge us to lean in. To choose action today over waiting (and wasting) these next three months. Our lives, habits, goals, and dreams are built one decision, one small step, at a time. Building up our endurance for the next 90 days will allow us to start the new year froma healthier, more whole version of ourselves. Living Wildly Well now will help us avoid striving or trying to reach a “better” version of ourselves in the next year. Instead, we can believe that we are already there–nurturing this one life God has given us. These days matter, and they can make a difference–in our health, our marriages and families, our callings, our creativity, our mental health, and our connectedness to God. We don’t have to wait until January 1 to feel more grounded or live the life we actually feel called to. 

So let’s do this together–let’s finish this year strong! These are the questions I’m asking myself, and I’d love for you to join me. Let me know in the comments what you’re working toward/focusing on/excited about in these last few months of 2024! 

• What areas in your life need tending to? Body, mind, soul, creativity, relationships, finances, etc.?
• Are there goals that still feel right for you from the beginning of the year? Or do you need to adjust (or completely abandon) any of them? 
• How do you want to feel as you finish this year and begin the next? 
• What would make this last quarter exceptional?
• Where do you see God growing you?