Lessons 2023 Offered Me

By Joanna Barrett, LMHC

1. I cannot change the past but I can learn lessons from it.
2. Grief is a life-long process, and I have to show up for it.  
3. Taking care of myself is a priority if I want to support anyone else.
4. My personal and professional lives intersect with heart-centered authenticity.
5. The aging process is an incredible gift and a challenging existential reality. 
6. Social media posts are the highlight reels of someone’s life. It’s not worth it to judge or compare my journey to someone else’s.  
7. Everything and everyone is interconnected and intertwined.  
8. Mothering a puppy has brought greater awareness to my levels of patience and frustration, as well as unconditional love.  
9. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart.  
10. Having great mentors and supportive peers is incredibly helpful and also imperative for learning and growth.
11. I don’t know what I don’t know. 
12. I love to learn.
13. I can bring my vision to life and make it a reality.  It may not be easy, but it’s worth it. 
14. Working with the inner parts of myself, (instead of against them), is the key to softening inward.
15. Yoga is the steady presence in my life that soothes my soul. I can always turn to my mat space when I need to.
16. Visits from long-distance family and friends warm my heart and create memories to last a lifetime.  
17. Handwritten love letters go a long way toward reciprocal love.  
18. Many things in life ebb and flow and attachment to an outcome is the thief of joy.
19. Gratitude is the magical alchemy that brings more and more positive things to my life. 
20. I clarified my value system and explored possibilities without wavering from who I am.
21. Brave decisions move the needle forward.
22. Joy, celebration, and love are all intertwined. 
23. Relationships with my loved ones fill my soul.

To 2023, with deep gratitude from my heart — thank you!