Once again I’m taking my cue from Maxabella, and instead of loftily living by a long list of freshly made (but in reality impossible) resolutions in 2014, I am instead going to give myself one word to keep my self on track with. And in 2014, that word is courage.

I need courage to believe in myself, and courage to properly pursue the career I have always wanted. Courage to push myself when I want to give up or give in. Courage to know that when I doubt myself, I am still capable of succeeding, as long as I don’t let the demons of self doubt win.

Courage will no doubt be required in spades to see my son safely off to his first day of Prep, in a school we’ve only stepped foot into twice. Courage to believe our big change last year will not ruin the start to his (long) schooling life ahead. Courage that even though we’ve tried to put avenues in place for him to make friends before this mammoth life event, he might feel lonely and lost on that first day. Courage to stop my heart from being ripped out of my chest if he begs us not to go.

Courage will also help me stop trying to live the life others expect me to. Courage to propel me forward into not being afraid to put myself first sometimes and courage to lead me away from unnecessary guilt for doing just that. Courage to know it is okay to just be me.

May courage in 2014 make me the best I can be in every facet of my life – wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, sister-in-law, cousin and friend. May courage lift me up when my instinct is to curl up in a ball and cloister myself away from it all, and may courage be the force behind me, the motivating coach from the sidelines, cheering me on as I approach my many personal and work goals for 2014.

In 2014, I welcome you into my world courage; you’ve been sorely missed for far too long.

Image from here