On our home automation system there is “Refresh Navigator” option for when the system gets stuck or reacts too slowly. This is a sort of reboot that just gets the system back on track when its lagging.

I was thinking about how close we are to a new year- exactly 4 days away- and I thought of a few areas of my own life that need a reboot or refreshing.

I guess all of us have grown weary and perhaps a bit stale in various areas of our lives.

Is your work dreary and requiring way too much effort for the simplest of tasks?

Is your marriage a real drag and a cause of constant exhaustion just thinking of new ways to communicate?

What about your relationships with friends, family or even colleagues? Sometimes these just require too much preparation and gearing up that we avoid them as much as we can.

Then there is also the area of faith and what is needed to keep that strong and growing daily.

What about your self care routines like diet and exercise?

I know for me this time of year is especially hard when it comes to discipline with all the Christmas leftovers lying around on kitchen counters because the fridge and pantry are already full. Every time I walk into the kitchen I am confronted with either Greek delicacies or a beautiful carrot cake baked for me by a dear friend. Then there’s also the delicious Portuguese Pasteis de Nata given to me by another dear friend who joined us for Christmas dinner as well as the platter of sweets given to us by yet another couple ….There is no way that discipline has a snowballs’ chance in hell with all of this temptation!

I’m realising more and more that I want to go into 2023 with a healthy mind, a healthy body, a productive mindset, a stronger than ever marriage and a faith that is rock solid. In short, I am needing to push the Refresh Navigator or Reboot button before the systems crash completely and a lot more effort is needed to rebuild these areas of my life from the ground up.

Take the time to make the small changes that are necessary now to avoid the big overhauls later. Start 2023 on a good footing and a strong foundation.

Look at the compartments of your life that are perhaps built on shaky, untrustworthy foundations and make the changes that need to be made before they collapse. Take the time and put in the effort now that will prevent the potential disaster that could be around the corner if you just watch things slide downhill because its just too much effort to do anything. Seriously- DO IT NOW! Small changes can make huge differences in situations that are so very less than ideal.

I’m off to follow my own advice now with a pen and paper in hand. On Sunday I plan to welcome in a new year with new beginnings and new hope in my home, my life, my health, my marriage,my relationships and mostly my faith.

Happy 2023!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.

Jeremiah 31:25

 God, my shepherd!
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.

Psalm 23:1-3