Happy New Year to Me
I recently heard someone refer to their birthday as their New Year.
They treat it just like we do the calendar New Year—by reflecting, planning, dreaming, and setting intentions for the next year of life.
I thought this was marvelous.
Fresh Starts Aren’t Just for January
The first day of the week, month, or quarter always feels like a natural time to begin again.
But in recent years, I’ve stopped waiting for the perfect Monday, the first of the month, or the new year to make a change.
Now, when inspiration strikes, I begin that day.
I tell myself:
Today is the day I…
There’s no better time to start becoming the best version of yourself than now.
Time keeps ticking.
Opportunities may disappear—whether limited by you, someone else, or the unfolding magic of the universe.
What I do know is this:
One week from now, I can either be a week into my goal—or still waiting for some supernatural event to magically change my mindset, habits, and behavior.
Spoiler: That event never comes.
I’ve been guilty of waiting.
I’ve reminisced about days when writing felt effortless, when losing weight was easy, when exercise was just part of life.
But looking back, there was always a deeper reason behind those easeful times.
Purpose Over Perfection
I wrote Wholly Sober in thirty days—after years of sitting on the idea.
I remember lying on the couch thinking, What if I died today? What if what I wanted to share with the world died with me?
That was a crystal-clear moment. A truth that moved me.
Losing weight has always been easier when I focused on feeling my best while chasing a passion—not when I was obsessed with getting skinny.
When I’m lit up by purpose, I naturally choose foods that fuel my body and limit sugar because I need energy and clarity to follow my dreams.
Exercise isn’t about shrinking—it’s about feeling strong, staying mobile, and playing with my dogs.
It doesn’t need to be the first of anything.
It’s about deciding who you are and what you want to feel, experience, and become through the choices you make today.
Breaking Free from the Expected
When I stopped drinking in 2003, I stepped into a whole new world of expectations.
There’s a traditional recovery framework you’re “supposed” to follow.
At first, it was comforting—
Go to meetings.
Work with a sponsor.
Avoid alcohol.
Build a “sober” community.
Speak the language—one day at a time, keep coming back, you’re powerless, your disease is in the parking lot doing push-ups waiting to take you down.
It gave me structure, but eventually, it became another cage.
I was trapped by an identity I was expected to wear forever.
Life was already figured out for me.
Set it and forget it.
I get the appeal.
It’s safe, predictable, and for many, it works.
But I could feel my rebellion brewing.
For me, staying meant settling.
It meant living a life already outlined by someone else’s ideals.
And honestly?
If I was going to rebel, drinking would have at least given me something to do differently.
I wonder how many people “relapse” because they feel trapped—but have never paused to reflect with a clear, unprogrammed mind.
A New Path: Forward, Not Against
When I stopped going to meetings and counting the days since my last drink, I wasn’t moving away from alcohol—I was moving toward a vision.
I wanted to restart my career.
I wanted a happy, healthy home.
I wanted to take risks for my personal growth, not numb myself to merely tolerate life.
There was no master plan.
It wasn’t the first of anything.
It was just a day I decided I wanted something different.
And I knew I had the power to change my situation.
I kept taking the next natural step.
Sometimes I landed in places I never could have imagined.
Becoming the Best Version of Me
Today, I am living the best version of myself.
It took risks, uncertainty, and mistakes to get here.
I embrace all my darkness—because it makes my light brighter.
Today is the second day of my 58th year on this planet.
I’m not 100% sure where I’ll land by the time 59 rolls around.
But I know this: I will live with intention, with love, and with meaning.
I will never again live according to someone else’s ideals—no matter how popular or commonly accepted they may be.
So, Happy New Year to me.
A time to reflect.
A time to dream.
A time to shine my light.
With Fire and Love,
Teresa
About Teresa Rodden
Teresa Rodden is a coach, author, and guide for women in their prime who are ready to stop numbing, start feeling, and live with purpose. Through her signature message, Love Yourself Back to Light, Teresa helps women reconnect with their truth, rewrite limiting narratives, and remember their brilliance. Whether through her writing, coaching programs, or live workshops, she invites women to embrace curiosity, courage, and the power of their own story.
Connect with Teresa on Instagram @i_am_teresarodden or learn more at TeresaRodden.com.
