by Rachel Ryan Oliver
 At this time of year, many people (including moms) make goals and plans for the coming year. “I’m gonna lose 20 pounds!” “I’ll ride my bike to work every day.” “I’ll save money by making my coffee at home.” Some goals are great, while some may be a little unrealistic. But the concept of reevaluating oneself seems like a pretty good practice to me – whether on a yearly, monthly or even weekly basis.
So as I look back over this past year, I wonder over my accomplishments. Did I do what I hoped to in 2010? Did you? I made a major move. I bought a new-to-my-family couch. We adopted a puppy. But those things don’t really measure the year. How have I changed? Have I grown? I was talking to a friend yesterday about growing – about becoming the women we want to be. It seems obvious that to become that woman I aspire to, I need to move in that direction, creating a plan to get me there and making choices that align with that plan. I won’t wake up one morning having “arrived!” No, I tend to wake up right where I left off the night before, assuming I haven’t digressed in the night due to a poor response to someone waking me up. Who do you aspire to be? Are you moving towards becoming her?
In some ways, I feel like this past year has been one of discovering more weaknesses in me than strengths. I am more aware of what I currently can’t handle than what I can. 2010 has been a good year, but it has challenged me. But maybe that’s so in 2011 I can go beyond those weaknesses and reach new heights.
I am growing. The growth may only be measurable in centimeters and breaths, which seem pretty miniscule in the big picture. But even as I sit here writing, I’ve got my phone close by waiting for updates from a close friend who is in labor. I think it’s safe to say that moms get just how important each little centimeter can be (she’s at 4cm, by the way!).
Happy New Year!
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