Hello, 2025

In case you didn't get your fill of reflection posts on social media, here's another.

This photo was taken in Monterey Dunes over Labor Day Weekend, a much-needed reset after feeling worn down from pneumonia.

I have to admit I didn’t feel like writing today.

At the end of last year, I was excited to write a blog post reflecting on what I had learned in 2023 and stating my goals for 2024. I spent days working on the draft as if it were a formal assignment, ensuring it was done before New Year's Eve.

The only person expecting a blog post was me. The only critic was me. Still, it felt like something I needed to do. Writing helps me organize my thoughts. Sharing my goals with the world, i.e., my small subset of subscribers, establishes a sense of accountability.

One year flew by, and most of my goals saw little to no progress. I didn’t volunteer (for the second year in a row). I ended the year physically weaker than I started. I didn’t write much, which is incredibly disappointing. I love to write, but I started losing motivation. The more time that went by, the harder it was to begin.

Weeks ago, I tried to write again and gave myself the same New Year’s Eve reflection and goal-setting assignment. As you can tell by the date of this post, I didn’t get it done in time.

I was planning to ignore it completely. No one knew about the assignment besides me, and there would be no consequences for not doing it. So, what was the point?

Writing was the last thing I wanted to do today. The deadline had passed, I was disappointed, and my head hurt from drinking. I planned to go shopping and walk off my hangover. Then I read my friend Lauren Scott’s article, “It’s okay”.

Her post reminded me that it’s okay that I didn’t write much last year and that I hadn’t written a 2024 reflection post….yet. I mean, the deadline was arbitrary.

So, I forced myself to write. However, unlike last year, I decided this post didn’t need to be perfect, and I wasn’t going to make goals for 2025. It’s not like things ever go as expected.

Looking Back

In many ways, 2024 turned out much better than I thought possible.

There were many big, exciting moments. My boyfriend and I moved in together. I helped launch a new non-profit business, became a board member, spoke at a conference, and got promoted. I also traveled to five states and two countries.

It was a busy year, especially from April through November. In addition to the above, I took several local weekend trips, spent much time with my friends and family, formed closer relationships with people in my boyfriend’s circle, got serious about strength training, and entirely re-decorated our apartment.

With big ups come big downs. The most significant setback was pneumonia. I was extremely sick most of August and didn’t fully recover till December. For months, I struggled mentally and physically, pushing myself to show up at work and social gatherings, even when it was hard.

I was mad at pneumonia for making me weak. I was the strongest I’d ever been right before I got sick. Then, bam, months of 6 am wakeups, expensive workout classes, and macro counting meant nothing.

I was mad at pneumonia for making me stay home and cancel dozens of plans, including a vacation (I was scheduled to visit six states this year).

I was mad at pneumonia for affecting my performance at work. I like to be a high achiever, but I couldn’t do more than necessary for a while.

I hated slowing down. Then, finally, it hit me. I felt the burnout I was ignoring. I had been go-go-go all year; it was too much.

I was happy pneumonia made me stop, listen to my body, and reevaluate my social capacity. I was forced to add downtime to my calendar and be more conscious of my energy use. At first, this was hard, but now that I’ve recovered, I’ve gotten more comfortable saying no to plans, even when I can say yes.

Excessive time at home made me develop a stronger appreciation for my living situation, including how the interior looks and feels, who I live with, and proximity to family.

Most importantly, I became even more thankful for my health and empathetic toward others when they’re sick.

Pneumonia made me grateful that it was only pneumonia.

Looking Forward

As I said, I don’t want to create explicit goals for this year. Instead, I am going to set intentions.

I will have a slower year, with less travel and events and more time at home to reset and work on creative projects.

I will focus my energy on relationships worth strengthening, including the one with myself, and let go of people who drain me.

I will get back in shape and be stronger than ever.

I will improve my public speaking and continue empowering women in my industry.

I will put less pressure on myself, remain open-minded, and see what the year has for me.

I will write my 2025 reflection post before New Year’s Eve so I don’t make the same mistake of trying to be thoughtful while battling a hangover.