To me, doing that meant that I had clarity in my life, ensuring that I could clearly see the woman looking back at me.

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With today being the first Monday in the year, it’s only natural that I must ask the obligatory question: which superstitions did you and your family uphold?

Not taking out the trash?
No dirty clothes?
Eating black eyed peas?
Kissing a loved one at midnight?
Praying in the new year?

For this writing I did a bit of research and I was surprised to learn that the smorgasbord of superstitions that we rush to honor on NYE and New Year’s Day in our attempts to channel “good luck” versus “bad luck” have a variety of origin stories, some dating as far back as the Mesopotamian era. However, I should not have been surprised as we are a country with diverse origins and backgrounds so it makes sense that when we gather, we would bring all of those backgrounds and experiences together into one giant salad bowl of life. In fact, we are so ingrained in the thoughts and concepts that were passed down to us that if asked, we might not be able to answer how our supported superstition came to be.

But I wanted to do something different this year. This year I wanted to be intentional and know my why.

So, I cleaned all of the mirrors in my house.

I know that sounds super weird but I had a purpose. You see, the mirrors in my bathroom and bedroom are the tools that I use to see who I am on any given day. I am able to look at myself and make sure that the Michelle that I am presenting to the world is well-groomed and ready to see others. Yet on December 30th, I realized that it was impossible to ensure that I was presenting myself correctly if I could not clearly see the reflection looking back at me. Unbeknownst to me, my mirror had been dirty for so long that I could not clearly see who was looking back at me (literally and figuratively speaking). Until my mirror was cleaned, I would not know who the world was seeing when they saw me and, unfortunately, I think they saw a jagged version of M.E., the misrepresentation that is seen through the spots of dirt that reside on an unclean surface.

In cleaning my mirrors, I was literally able to end 2024 with a clear view of the woman staring back at me. And once I could see her clearly, I saw both beauty and imperfections.

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Beloved, for 2025 my goal is simple- to live a Balanced Life. I already know that in order to do that, I not only have to leave some people and things in 2024, but I also have to step away from a lot of the things that I piled onto my plate. At the writing of this post (January 1st), I already see that I have to resign from three positions that I love dearly and the thought of stepping away from them absolutely breaks my heart. (Check out my piece from this past Friday!) Yet the potential heartache of my resignation will hurt a lot less than remaining overcommitted, overextended, and overstimulated by remaining in those roles. But stepping down from roles is not the only thing that I must do. Now that I can see myself clearly, I have to say goodbye to relationships that no longer serve me while also making room for those that will grow me. I am recommitting myself to the creativity that has always existed within me and allowing God to move in magnificent ways in my life. I am FINALLY doing what my pastor/mentor recommended so long ago when he said that I have to find one cause and support it fully because that will afford me the opportunity to align everything else in my life with that goal. I am stepping away from “obligatory” actions and truly moving as led by God’s Holy Spirit, not man’s guilt. The M.E. that I can now clearly see is still not perfect but she is healing and that healing requires release, realignment, and recommitment.

Release the hurts, disappointments, and pains of the past.
Realign with God’s purpose for my life.
Recommit to and rededicate myself to M.E.

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For far too long I erroneously believed that I could pour into everyone else first and with whatever was left, I’d be able to sufficiently quench my own thirst. Except that line of thinking left me dehydrated and hanging on for dear life. I cannot live like that anymore. I won’t live like that anymore. There’s a reason why flight attendants tell us to securely place our own masks before we place someone’s mask- a dead person can’t help another. This is my year for M.E.

Sorry, not sorry.

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Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the strongest of them all?

The healed person looking in the mirror.
Let that person be you, Beloved.

Be blessed.