Typically, at the beginning of a new year, I am ready to go. The tree comes down before the 1st, I am rested from the holiday, have my plans in place and send the kids off to school confident in taking on a fresh, new year. For so many reasons (I know you know), this year is different. This year, I need a few more weeks to get ready for 2021.
I, along with many of you, avoid making New Year’s resolutions- in part, so I don’t break them. However, I have gotten on the bandwagon of choosing a word for the year. This year, my word is INTENTIONAL. 2020 happened to me. In 2021, I want to be intentional in how I spend my time, in my relationships with other and in self-care. There are so many ways that I spend my time that are life-giving to many and a lot of that comes through my work at ASA. Unfortunately, in so many ways, I was keeping my head above water in this pandemic (again, I know you know). I prioritized showing up for adoptive families in counseling, support groups and classes. That was the right prioritization! But, it has left me starting 2021 sorely behind in administration. So, Adoption Support Alliance is declaring January 2021 a reset! We are going to officially start our year in February ;) Counseling continues but please be patient with us as we wait until February to roll out the real calendar. We need it.
While we get ourselves together, we are not leaving you alone! We invite you to take advantage of a number of ways to connect with the adoption community here in Charlotte!
· If you haven’t already, please follow Adoption Support Alliance on Facebook or Instagram. We will be sharing ways that you too can be intentional as you start 2021. Also, find our Facebook group. It’s a great way to connect with other adoptive families, including adoptees, in the area, share resources, get questions answered and generally not feel alone.
· Want to go deeper? We would love for you to share your adoption story on our blog. Please email info@adoptionsupportalliance.org if you have a topic or story you’d like to share.
· Finally, join us in encouraging one another. I know there are strong relationships in the adoption community. You let one another in on struggles that those outside the adoption community don’t get. So, let’s be intentional about caring for one another in the midst of all the struggles. Share a way (better yet take a picture) you encouraged someone in this community or they encouraged you. On social media, look for #inthistogether so we can be uplifted by our community. This is a way we can be intentional all year about caring for one another.