Words
It’s been a long time since I’ve written here. Over a year. I think in many ways blogs are ‘over’. I’ll admit I don’t even read them anymore. But I miss writing and one of my goals for 2025 was to start writing again so for now, I find myself back here to write again.. Not sure if this is where I’ll stay.
2024 was a tough year. Tough in many of the ways you’d expect. Our city survived two hurricanes and we watched our neighborhood be devastated along with many of our friends. It was hard to watch. It was hard to survive without guilt. With that comes many questions. Even now as the fires have ravaged California there are more questions, devastation, heartbreak, loss. We went through personal loss in our family and friend groups. On a surfacy but personally challenging level I survived a hellacious renovation of our home where I felt like we got scammed by someone we paid to manage the project who ultimately didn’t, creating so much work and drama for me in the wake. It felt unfair.
So I finished 2024 feeling burnt out and trying to regroup and regain my perspective and gratitude at the end of a tough season. December had it’s usual busyness but I really did press in and spend more time in the word, doing an advent devotional, praying, and worshiping. I slowed down my scheduling. I took more walks. I spent more time in silence. I truly spent December regrouping and I set out to start January slower. A slow ramp up to what promises to be a good, full year.
We’re 2 weeks into a new year and I’m working on what I want 2025 to look like. I haven’t mapped it fully out yet but I’ve got a hodge-podge of notes. I always try to focus more on what I want it to look like than on what I don’t. What do I want more of not what I want less of. So here’s a few notes to share as I figure out how to put 2024 behind me and start 2025 off…
Get back to writing (see, I started something!)
Do hard work now for future peace in counseling (also doing this)
Add podcasts back to my routine
Get back to sending handwritten notes regularly
Work in more: bike rides, tipping in cash, errands with friends, peloton rides, subscribe to more magazines, and drink more water.
Again, I said I’m not focusing much on the negatives but I will share that on the ‘less’ side I am definitely working on less stuff. I feel like managing my stuff is causing me more stress so I’ve been decluttering for the past week. Slowly and thoughtfully (not wastefully). I’m also participating in ‘project pan’ which has helped me address some overconsumption issues especially in the makeup and skincare department in a fun way (thanks TikTok). So if you find that 2024 did a number on you and you’re slowly easing into 2025 with expectation and ramping up to make it great, you’re in good company. Let’s figure it out together.
Love,
B
