Written by Angie Morgan

I am like many people out there. My 2021 personal goals aren’t that different than last year’s. My hope is that the concerts I wanted to attend will get rescheduled, the road races I had planned to run will happen, and the trips I had scheduled I can actually take.

On the surface, it can seem like my 2021 is just one big “Do-Over.” Sort of like a mulligan in golf. Yet, I don’t like the “Do-Over” metaphor, as it implies that my 2020 didn’t matter … it didn’t count.

My 2020, like yours, was a huge, massive year of challenge and change. I had the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and far too many expectations that weren’t fulfilled. While there are many experiences I hope I never have to go through again, I don’t want to forget or erase them. They’re part of my life; they matter because they made me wiser, more resilient, stronger, and they also made me value and appreciate the littlest things in life in ways I never could’ve imagined.

In many ways, I’m a better person because of these experiences.

Better to me means:

  • Using the knowledge I’ve gained to make better decisions about how I spend my time
  • Being clear on my valuesand making sure they’re represented in my life more fully
  • Building a stronger mind, body, soul connection – I appreciate more than ever how these three elements help me endure whatever life throws at me
  • Committing to being a better service-based leader – I miss engaging in my community in the ways I once did pre-COVID

My hope for you is that as you start this New Year you honor whatever journey has taken you to this point in time. Don’t gloss over your struggles; respect them for the lessons you learned from them and use the strength you’ve acquired to be better as a result.

Here’s to a better 2021 – may this New Year be the year where you continue your leadership development and, as you get better, others around you will be positively influenced by your example.

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