“Goodbye to You”

“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. That meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and bad habits — anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.” ~Kim McMillen

January is the month for making major changes. This year, for instance, I’m meeting the Dry January challenge and limiting sugar in my diet. Today’s quote speaks to that idea, reminding us that we need to leave behind anything that threatens to “keeps us small” as we try to move forward.

As you work on your own goals, think about these questions: How do I spend my free time? What makes me feel productive? What do I deeply value and where can I find more of it? What stresses me out and how can I avoid that? Who lifts me up and validates who I am? Who (or what) is holding me back or keeping me small?

This process is harder than saying no to fudge brownies and pinot noir. Just to keep it fun, I dug out an old anthem to inspire my own efforts — the 1980s Scandal hit, “Goodbye to You.” Featuring Patty Smyth as the lead vocalist, it’s the perfect break-up song to belt out in the kitchen, whether you’re dumping Hostess Ding Dongs in the trash, deactivating your Facebook account, or walking away from anyone or anything that keeps you small. ~CL

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