And with that our 2022 season comes to a close. This past year has been incredible for our team and we hope for you as well. Last year during our annual reflections and intentions blog post we said 2022 was going to be a BIG year, and we were serious! This past year brought so many wonderful opportunities for our company to grow. From new product launches & expanding our team, to community events & moving to our new building, 2022 has been a year to remember!
After such an extraordinary year we want to take some time to reflect on the many blessings we have been given and focus on our goals for this upcoming year. So we're sitting down with our lovely store manager and social media director Bethany Fisher, to reflect on what she's learned about herself this year.
Hi, Bethany! In just a few words how would you describe your journey with Urban Southern from January to now?
Motivating, exciting, and stretching to name a few. This year was such a momentous season of growth for the company and in turn for me as well.
With Urban Southern taking steps out of it's normal genre by adding a vendor marketplace to our storefront and expanding our local marketing campaigns, it forced me to also move out of what I had grown comfortable with and expand my skills to fit what was needed.
What is something you accomplished this year that you’re proud of?
Honestly, surviving the whole moving experience and company expansion. Moving an established business while trying to remain semi-open is no joke, and adding a new business venture on top of that is a lot. (the same time of the Urban Southern move I personally was in the process of moving to a new home as well)
The vendor marketplace undertaking was something that our team had zero experience in; leaving me feeling a little overwhelmed with where to even begin. But through lots of research, late nights, coffee and lots of hard work we were able to create something truly beautiful and in the end, something that I'm so proud of.
If you could go back and do one thing differently in 2022, what would it be?
I would focus less on people pleasing and more on standing up for myself. I have a bad habit of continually trying to make everyone around me happy and doing anything I can to calm a situation & avoid conflict, even if it means my emotional and mental health takes a hit.
If I could go back I'd try and focus more on finding my voice and speaking the truth, despite what other people think of me.
What was something you did or tried for the first time in 2022?
I attended a masquerade ball for the first time this year. I rarely get the opportunity to get dressed up and go to a black tie event, so that was so fun!
What is something that happened in 2022 that you never expected?
This year one of my best friends adopted twins and I got to be an honorary aunt! The adoption was the most wonderful surprise and I cannot imagine my life without them. So I guess what I never expected this year, was getting the opportunity to love those two little boys so much. Or that it's even possible to love someone so much!
What is your favorite memory from this year?
I'd have to say my favorite memory from this year was the day of my cousins wedding. I'm an only child, but I was so blessed to have the opportunity to grow up living next door to my aunt, so I'm super close to my cousins. They are more like my siblings.
This summer one of them got married and the wedding day was so much fun, it felt like my little sister got married.
2023 Intentions
What is something you want to do or try for the first time in 2023?
I'd love to check off a few more places off my travel bucket list. I love road tripping and getting to explore new parts of the country, so I want to make it a priority to travel more and experience the places that have been on my wishlist for awhile.
What is something you want to do less of in 2023?
Doubting myself. Going into 2023 I want to start having more confidence in every aspect of my life, and truly believing that I am capable of doing the hard things. Both in my private life and in my work life. I want to fully embrace that I am good enough and that in certain areas where I might be lacking, God will fill those voids and give me what I need to succeed.
What is something you’d like to get better at in 2023?
I'd love to improve my marketing skills. This past year I've taken over more responsibilities in our marketing department and it's been a real learning curve. So this upcoming year I'd love to get better at growing those skills and finding new ways to improve our social platforms and online awareness.
Alright friends, now it's your turn to reflect on your own journey this year and where you want to go in the new one! For easy copy & pasting, here are the questions we used:
Your 2022 Reflections
- In just a few words, how would you describe your journey from January to now?
- What is something you accomplished this year that you’re proud of?
- What is the most important thing you learned about yourself this year?
- If you could do one thing differently about 2022, what would it be?
- What was something you did or tried for the first time in 2022?
- What is something that happened in 2022 that you never expected?
- What is your favorite memory from this year?
Your 2023 Goals
- What is something you want to do or try for the first time in 2023?
- What is something you want to do less of in 2023?
- What is something you’d like to get better at in 2023?
Do you have a special tradition for welcoming a new year? Tell us about it in the comments!