Welcoming 2024

Welcome 2024. Wow. Can you believe it? Kudos for all of us for making it to 2024. The year 2023 was a complete dumpster fire and probably one of the worst years on record. I suffered a tremendous loss, which I am still figuring out how to live day to day. I only cry 1-2 times per week now, so time is healing my wounds. There have been other losses in my life this year and I’ve also had to deal with some very toxic situations and people. The good news is that I continue to learn, every day, every year. I continue to grow as a person and I continue to try to be the best person that I can be.

I wanted to share some valuable lessons that I learned in 2023, in hopes that your 2024 will be the best yet!

Here is what I learned in 2023:

1.     Embracing Resilience in the Face of Adversity: When life hands you challenges, resilience is the key to bouncing back stronger. Life rarely unfolds according to our plans, so instead of dwelling on what didn’t go right or what didn’t happen, turn adversity into opportunity and make it a learning moment to grow.

2.     Prioritize Self Care and Well-Being: By incorporating small but meaningful self-care habits into a daily routine, your mental, emotional, and physical health will profoundly improve. Self-care serves as a powerful foundation for person growth and allows you to flourish in all aspects of life.

3.     Embracing Change and Embracing the Unknown: Change is the only constant in life, and it became exceptionally evident in 2023. Whether it was career transitions, unexpected life events, or the rapidly evolving world, I learned to embrace change rather than shy away from it. Embracing change opened up new opportunities for personal and professional growth, expanded my perspective, and enabled me to step out of my comfort zone.

4.     Cultivating Gratitude and Finding Joy in Everyday Moments: In a year filled with challenges, it became more important than ever to cultivate gratitude and find joy in the simple pleasures of life. Focusing on the present moment and appreciating the things we often take for granted proved to be a powerful antidote to negativity and stress. By practicing gratitude regularly, I discovered that even amidst turmoil, there is always something to be thankful for.

5.     The power of connection and the power of loss: 2023 reminded me just how the power of connection is found in human nature. Being there for people that are struggling, sharing in the joys and wins, giving small tokens of appreciation and love.

6.     Not staying silent when there is something that needs to be said: Saying the words, “I love you” or “I appreciate everything you do” or telling someone what an action did to hurt, help, or comfort you. There is no guarantee for tomorrow. Say what you want to say in the present moment because you may not get another chance. Don’t wait because you are too scared or uncomfortable. Great things come from those moments. All you need is 20 seconds of unremarkable courage and great things will happen.