The start of a new year always feels a little quieter than we expect it to.
The celebrations fade, the calendars turn, and suddenly we are left with ourselves and the question that seems to appear every January. What do I want this year to be?
I have been asking people lately how they feel about New Year’s resolutions, and the answers have been thoughtful, honest, and all over the place. Some people love them. They thrive on a fresh list and a clean slate. Others admit they feel pressure, guilt, or even dread when resolutions come up. More often than not, someone will pause and say they are not doing resolutions at all this year. They are choosing intentions instead.
That word has come up again and again. Intentions feel softer. Kinder. Less about perfection and more about direction. Instead of asking ourselves to change everything overnight, intentions ask how we want to show up. How we want to feel. What we want to carry with us as the year unfolds.
This year, my intention did not come from a list I made on January 1st. It arrived unexpectedly, wrapped in love, from one of my best friends.
She sent me a Little Words Project bracelet with a single word on it. UNAFRAID.
As soon as I opened it, I felt it settle in my heart. Not because I already feel brave, but because I know this year is bringing big changes. Yes, even bigger than last year. The kind of changes that stretch you and ask you to trust yourself in ways you have not had to before.
My friend knows me well. She knows I feel deeply. I think carefully. And sometimes I let fear speak before faith. That bracelet was not just a gift. It was a reminder. A quiet way of saying that I do not have to have everything figured out to move forward.
Being unafraid does not mean I will not feel nervous. It does not mean there will not be moments of doubt. It simply means I am choosing not to let fear be the loudest voice guiding my decisions.
I have been wearing that bracelet every day. I slip it on in the morning as I pour my coffee, and it feels like a small but steady promise to myself. On the hard days, it grounds me. On the exciting days, it reminds me that growth almost always comes with a little fear attached.
That is what I am learning about intentions. They do not have to be loud or complicated. Sometimes they are one word. Sometimes, they are something you return to again and again when life feels uncertain.
At The View Cafe and Gifts, we love pieces that hold meaning beyond what you see at first glance. Journals that invite reflection. Planners that help you make space for what matters. Jewelry that carries a word you need to hear on repeat. These are not about fixing ourselves. They are about supporting the intentions we set as we grow.
As we step into this year together, I am choosing to walk forward unafraid. Not fearless. Just willing. Willing to trust the process, to embrace change, and to believe that I am capable of what is ahead.
Whether you are someone who loves resolutions, someone who prefers intentions, or someone who is still figuring it out, I hope you give yourself grace this year. Maybe all you need is one word. One reminder. One small thing that helps you feel steady as you begin.
Here is to a year of becoming, believing, and choosing to be unafraid.
🤍 Sammi
