For most of us, 2020 and 2021 were less than kind. Many of us lost people that were close to us and the impact of the pandemic on our own physical and mental health was tremendous as well. It was a wake-up call to just how short and finite our time really is, and this is why I am making 2022 my 'Year of Yes!' Let me explain...

The World Doesn't Stop When We Lose Someone We Love

I lost a lot during the last year and a half of the pandemic. I had several family members and friends pass away but it was the loss in late November 2020 that had a profound impact on what would come next for me. When I lost my dad my whole world fell apart. I've talked before about my relationship with Dad and why losing him was so incredibly hard.

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I spent all of 2021 mourning my dad - well as much as I could anyway. My life has not allowed me a lot of room to actually express and process my grief because, well, the world doesn't stop turning just because the people that we love have died.

Life is Short and I Had Been Taking It For Granted

While trying to navigate through life to the best of my ability, I came to realize just how short life truly is and how many moments I have taken for granted because I thought I had more time.

I had lunch with my dad ten days before he died. Ten days. He called me up because he happened to be in Evansville and asked if I had time for lunch. I didn't but I didn't tell him that. I just made the time that day and I am so glad that I did because I had no idea it would be the last time I would see him.

Kat's Dad
Kat Mykals
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I Never Seemed to Find the Time

 

When we said goodbye after our meal, and I hugged him, he said, "Come see me some time." Of course, I told him that I would because I wanted to... I always wanted to. I just never seemed to find the time to make the drive. Ten days later, and with no real warning, he was gone.

Ten Days

In the days since losing Dad, I have found myself questioning everything. Life. Career. Relationships. Everything. Ten days - that was it. Ten days and he was gone. It really put into perspective for me just how finite and fragile our one life really is and I have made some big changes in my life because of it.

It got me thinking about the ways I spend my time, who I spend it with, and all of the things that I have always wanted to do but haven't. Ten days...

Kat in Boots
Ashley Sollars
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I Started to Reevaluate My Life

 

Have I been investing my time in places, people, and things that bring me joy or have I found myself in a place of stagnancy, sadness, and disrespect? Does this relationship bring me joy? Is it this person growing with me or are they keeping me from growing at all? Does this old habit bring me joy or is it toxic for my growth and the person I want to be?

I Began to Question Everything

These are all thoughts that I have had in the last year + since losing my dad and then I started thinking about all of the things that I have always wanted to do and the millions of reasons why I haven't done them... I didn't have time. I didn't have the extra money. I allowed someone else's opinion to prevent me from trying or doing it. And then I remembered ten days...

Kat & Elizabeth
Kat Mykals/TSM
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No More Excuses

There will always be a million excuses for why I can't do the things that I have always wanted to but the only thing really standing in my way is me. So for me, 2022 is going to be my Year of Yes.

The Year of Yes

The Year of Yes started a couple of weeks ago when my daughter and I decided we were going to go to a music festival together. We bought our tickets and booked an Airbnb near the outdoor venue and while by some people's standards I may be too old for festivals or to dress in cute festival wear, I am going to do just that because I never have before and I want to live that experience.

attachment-Kat Mykals
Kat Mykals/TSM
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The Year of Opportunity, Growth, and Friendship

My Year of Yes isn't just about music festivals though. It is also about taking chances, meeting new people, and making new friends. When an opportunity for a new experience presents itself, I want 2022 to be the year that I say yes - even if I don't think I have time, even if I don't think I can afford it, even if I think that someone else might scoff or laugh, even if I am scared to try because ten days...

Ten days. Life is short and there is a lot of it that I haven't lived yet. 2022 is my Year of Yes and I hope you'll make it yours too.

 

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