My daughters and I, smiling on a magical bluebird powder day at Alta last week! 😎❄️

Ready to ring the bell on 2021 and welcome in the new, I use this time to reflect on the past year and all the experiences and people who have graced my life with love, light, and a few rough lessons.

As a tradition, at the end of every year, I choose a word to represent what I intend and hope to foster over the next 12 months.  2021 was Faith.

In 2022 my word is Honor.

Honor by definition means to regard with great respect or to fulfill or keep an agreement.

Here are a few things I plan to honor:

1- I will honor my ancestry, who and where I came from, and how they defined who I am today.✨

I recently became intrigued with my family tree and started learning more about the history of my extended families. Through talking with relatives and online research I discovered fascinating stories and facts about my ancestors who settled here in Utah during the 1800s.

Who knew I came from a Scottish-born, whiskey-drinking, South African emigrant great, great grandfather who converted to Mormonism while abroad and came over on a boat with his pregnant wife as one of the first early settlers in Layton?!   My entire lineage of grandfathers on my dad’s side were the first doctors and surgeons to come to Montana and even some of their wives were in medicine.   And I have nearly 10 or more relatives with the name Elizabeth (my middle name) and many Isabellas (my daughter’s name).

Reading their stories of hardship during wars, tragic losses of children, and living during times when families had all hands on deck, reminds me my ancestors had true grit.  They were smart and industrious.  They were survivors. They didn’t complain about their problems and challenges, they just lived and tried to overcome them.  Yet many often suffered greatly, physically and emotionally, and their grief and pain were passed down along the family lines.

I carry the strength, wisdom, and grit of my ancestors – and I also carry their generational pain.

As I get older, and especially after moving back to Utah last year, I am learning to honor my roots.  I know everyone in my immediate and extended family have likely done their best, based on their circumstances, knowledge, and social influences. I am learning to give people a break, ask questions, and seek to understand before I criticize or judge behavior.

Many of my personality traits are deeply rooted in my DNA.  I don’t even recognize them until I take a good hard look at myself: my strengths and my character flaws. I will honor my complexity and seek more personal growth and a new perspective in 2022 as I learn about my lineage.

2- I will honor the agreements and boundaries I have in my personal relationships and activities.✨

After years of being a people-pleaser, I am getting pretty darn good now at identifying what, where and who inspires me to be my best self.  What raises my energy vibration,  who and what can deplete me, and those influencers supporting my internal moral code.  I also know which social media and news sources will bring me information my soul needs, and what I should avoid bringing into my head on a daily basis.

Getting clear on my vision and who I truly am has been the best thing I have done for myself in years.  It has resulted in some difficult parting of ways, and less  socializing at times, but it has also opened so many magical doors to people and experiences and reminds me life brings you what you put out into the world.

Honoring the importance of your sacred space and your unique needs is key, and allow others to have theirs also.

Remember, you bring more joy to others when you are grounded in peace and authenticity, and honor yourself.

Honoring you and wishing peace and magic in 2022,

Amie