It’s a new day, a new dawn, and I’m feeling good ….

I grew up with the New Years tradition of eating pork, cabbage and black eye peas on NY day and I still do it, because …. it’s tradition!

The saying goes: Pork, because a pig buries his snout into the ground and moves forward—in the same direction you want to head in the new year.

Cabbage, can symbolize long life, health and can also represent money.

Black eye peas, resemble money/ coins and can bring prosperity and good luck.

This dish has been my go to for the last 5 years. I can prep it the day before then simply pop it into the oven on New Years Day and it’ll be ready in 45 mins.

To this, I add a side of black eye peas and a side salad and call it a day!

But, New Years is also a time to reflect and dream. I love the idea of taking time to look back over the past year, what were my highs, what were my lows, what did I learn? But also to dream. I like to sit and pray about what God is whispering to me about where I need to focus, where He want’s to grow me and what I might have to let go of to move into those dreams and goals.

I started using this wheel after I finished my training with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in 2015. It’s a play on the one they gave us. I love it because it breaks your life and health into segments. The closer to the center, the better you feel in that particular area. Those that are furthest from the center are areas that may need more attention this year. Mine changes from year to year, as I think it should. We ebb and flow in different directions, depending on how that year has gone. From there, I like to work forward. I will take the 3 areas that need more focus for me to grow and set specific goals in those areas for me to work towards. For example, if an area to focus on is finances, I may set a goal to come up with a budget, tithe 10% and save 10%. Or if I want to get more focused at the gym to build more muscle, which is a personal goal of mine this year, I will set a goal to find a weight training program that works for me, set a goal to do it at least 3 times a week and to get at least 100 grams of protein a day.

I also like to write these goals down on a few 3x5 index cards and I place them where I can see them several times a day. One in my prayer journal, one in my car, one in the bathroom where I get dressed each day. This ensures I see those goals several times a day and that helps to keep me focused on what the game plan is. I also visualize what I will feel like/look like when I get to the goal. I believe that’s a big part of making that goal happen. The Bible says, “As a man thinker, so is he” Proverbs 23:7

Wherever you find yourself as this year closes out and new one dawns - I wish you love, peace and prosperity as we move into the NEW!