Not Starting From Zero

Entering the new year with faith, not fantasy

Growth doesn’t start from nothing.

A new year feels like a clean slate for most people. And in some ways, it is. I do look ahead with hope, wondering what God has in store for me and where new beginnings might take shape.

But if I’m honest, the year doesn’t start with everything wiped clean.

I carry with me the projects I didn’t finish. The tasks are still waiting. The situations that are never fully resolved. Pretending everything resets to zero doesn’t make it true. It just makes it easier to feel discouraged when reality shows up.

That’s why I don’t think of a new year as a blank slate. I think of it more like a child at the beginning of life.

A child doesn’t start finished. Each day brings a small challenge—learning to roll over, sit up, eat, and walk. Every new skill becomes a building block for the next. A foundation forms slowly, intentionally. If it’s solid, everything built later can stand.

That’s how I try to approach a new year.

I don’t look at all twelve months at once. That thinking overwhelms me, leaving me stuck. Instead, I take each day as an opportunity to build something new—or strengthen what’s already there.

Some things in life are giant leaps of faith. But most are small, faithful steps taken consistently, adding up over time.

What am I building toward—one day at a time?

One Dreams Writing — Faith-filled reflections for everyday life.