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A New Year's Message & Our Top 5 Posts JANUARY 1, 2020 / ADINA BAILEY / 
Before wishing you a Happy New Year, I want to start with the story of how 2019 ended for me. December was moving along in its normal busy way, and I was starting to lose my joy a bit as my "to do" list kept growing. I headed out for a quick afternoon errand in early December, when I was involved in a minor car accident where I was hit from behind. Not much damage occurred to either vehicle, so I assumed I would be fine physically although it was quite a jolt. Two days later, my symptoms kicked in, and I was not feeling as good as my van looked after the accident.
 I kept pushing myself to work on my list thinking the symptoms would pass. They didn't and over time they got worse. After a week of trying to push through, I went to my doctor and was diagnosed with a concussion. Immediately, I was instructed to stop driving and using screens (phone, computer, and television). I slept A LOT, rested, cooked, and listened to audiobooks (I highly recommend Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro). Thankfully, I was fortunate and little by little my symptoms decreased and by Christmas day I almost felt like myself.
My husband was a trooper during this time and picked up where I left off. He completed the essential remaining "to do" items on my list. I called him my Big Elf since he's a few inches over 6 feet.
Okay, so why am I telling you this story? First, the several week break from screens convinced me further my daily life could use fewer interactions with them. At first it was hard to avoid my screen patterns, but in a few short days I liked not being tied to my phone and computer. This reminded me that our main goal with TakeThemAMeal.com and PerfectPotluck.com is to make meal coordination quick and efficient, so you can spend more time interacting with your loved ones, not your screens.
The second reason for sharing this story is that once I started feeling better, I felt MORE refreshed than prior to my accident. I was forced to slow down in the busy month of December (which I would not have done on my own) to care for myself. My list was never fully completed, but I was relaxed and rested.
I hope this personal reflection gives you a better understanding of how we want to inspire you through 2020. You've already shown you do an incredible job caring for your friends and family with meals. Paired with that, we want you to care for yourself too!
Maybe for you it's taking time to go outside for a walk or to catch up with a certain friend. Maybe it's reading a book that's been on your nightstand forever. It could be waking up 15 minutes early for prayer, meditation, and/or a cup of your favorite coffee or tea.
When you're invited to take a meal this year, we also want you to check in with yourself. Are you caring for yourself as well as you're caring for others?
Our top 5 blog posts of 2019 show how well you want to care for others:
We plan to expand our content in 2020 to encourage you to care for yourself this year while continuing to care for your family and friends.
May 2020 be your year for unplugging, true connection, and living in the moment as much as life allows. You're worth it!
Warmly,
Adina
*Instead of composing this post on my computer, I used pen & paper first, then typed the final draft. It was refreshing!
**Main Photo by Izabelle Acheson on Unsplash
Read other recent articles by Adina Bailey:
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Welcome! We're thrilled you stopped by. Our own joys and sorrows have taught us that a well-timed meal delivered by a friend is one of the best gifts imaginable. In this space, we share our favorite recipes to take to friends, meal-taking tips, and other ways to care for those who are dear to you. Helpful Posts
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