HAPPY NEW YEAR: WELCOME 2025!

Soaring into 2025: Where will your next adventure take you?

It is the time of the year when everyone is excited and at the same time, no one knows what the future holds, whether it is fear, wishful thinking, or simply excitement. Every time a year becomes new, I take one minute to think about the good and the bad of the year just passed. What did I achieve? What did I learn? This helps to spur gratitude and a positive attitude towards the future.

We are all familiar with the routine of declaring New Year’s Resolutions, a tradition that has gained popularity across different cultures. While it is the beginning of a new year, people often feel fresh and are more willing to think about the past and the future they want to create. Some people can easily state their objectives with minimal effort, while others may find it challenging, which can make them feel insecure or pressured.

New Year’s resolutions are a way of life that helps people to express themselves and improve themselves. They provide a systematic approach to examining one’s life and deciding where changes or enhancements are necessary. However, the effectiveness of these resolutions varies from one individual to another, with some managing to keep their resolutions and achieve their goals while others may find it hard to maintain the momentum as the years go by.

If you are still unsure of what you want to resolve on this New Year, take your time and think about what you want to achieve in life. Setting personal goals or intentions for development is a powerful way to identify your purpose and direction in life. This could be learning something that you have always been interested in, for example, learning to play a musical instrument, mastering a new language, or engaging in a creative activity like painting or writing. All of these activities not only benefit you but also help you to grow as a person and feel accomplished.

Also, it is crucial to prioritize self-care in any resolution. In the modern world, it is rather easy to neglect one’s health in the pursuit of work, family, and social responsibilities. Making time in your daily schedule for self-care activities – physical exercise, mindfulness practices, or simply relaxation – will have a positive impact on your mental and emotional state.

You should also make time for your loved ones in the new year it is a great resolution that will make you happy and your relationships strong. In our busy lives it is easy to forget the importance of spending time with our loved ones. By making more time for them and spending quality time with them, having dinners or simply talking, you will create wonderful memories and strengthen your relationships.

In the end, the key to successful New Year’s resolutions lies in setting realistic and achievable goals that align with one’s values and desires. By focusing on personal growth, self-care, and meaningful relationships, anyone can embark on a journey of positive transformation that not only enhances their own life but also the lives of those around them.

Here are mine:

Practice Self-Reflection: I want to master the art of taking time each day to reflect on my thoughts, feelings, and actions. From the moment I wake up until the time I go to bed, I want to reflect on my thoughts. What am I feeling as I wake up? Why am I feeling this way? If it's a bad feeling or thought, how can I make it positive so my day will be positive? Same thing for when I go to bed. Self-awareness is a powerful tool for personal growth, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and make positive changes in your life. Consider journaling, meditation, or mindfulness practices to enhance your self-reflection skills. My family love to go on walks and hikes. That is the best time for me, I really hone in on my self-reflection.

Bouldering up a cliff on the B/O Canal Trail

Self-Love: I definitely want to learn to love me more. I doubt myself so many times that I start to believe those doubts. I have to learn to say to myself: 'You are pretty, you are enough, you are worthy, you are a good person, you do deserve this'. I have always compared myself to others, trying to do what they are doing or wear what they are wearing. I have even overdrawn on my bank accounts in my bid to prove myself and for what... nothing of value. I have to remind myself all the time that self-love is not about being perfect or a narcissist – it is about accepting yourself for who you are, with all your flaws, and treating yourself with the love and care you deserve. I have been hungry for people to like me that I have taken the love I should be giving to myself and have given it to others, and many of them have trampled on that love. And you ask what do I do next? Walk away, be free? No, I will continue to push myself to believe that I have to give up me for people to like me....New Year...that will be no more!

Moreover, I aim to investigate how faith can help a person through a tough time and how it can bring comfort to those who practice it. My mother was a very religious person. She was raised as a Baptist but enrolled my brother and me in a Catholic school. My brother and I were being raised as Catholics within the school, and my mother decided to follow and convert to Catholicism with us. Although I wasn’t happy about it, I went along with it. I never really understood what religion was all about until my mom passed away in 2020. But you might be surprised to learn that COVID-19 also helped me grow in my faith. Now, I don’t need to go to church to put my faith in God, to receive spiritual guidance, or to pray. However, as I began to develop my relationship with God, some changes became apparent. In the new year, I hope to continue working on my faith and my relationship with God. I am beginning to see what my mother saw, and I want to continue on this path.

Practice Self-Care: Remember to prioritize self-care as part of your personal development journey. Take care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being by getting enough rest, eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and engaging in activities that bring you joy. This does not mean that you can't indulge a little. I am eating a slice of cake as I am typing this. But it's about moderations. So, I won't have cake the rest of the week lol. Self-care isn't selfish – it’s just essential for a healthy and balanced lifestyle. I personally have a love/hate relationship with the gym. I really hate to go, but I love it when I'm there.

Women's area of the gym all to myself

Stay Positive: A positive mindset is essential for personal development. Cultivate optimism, resilience, and gratitude to overcome challenges and setbacks along the way. Surround yourself with positive influences and affirmations that support your growth and reinforce your belief in your potential.

We take with us the challenges, lessons and memories of the year we are leaving behind as the clock strikes midnight and we step into 2025. The journey to this point may have been filled with victories and trials. Take a moment to reflect on all that 2024 taught you. What did you overcome? What did you learn about yourself? Recognizing the hurdles and celebrating your growth can provide a strong foundation as you enter this new chapter. The new year is not just a page on the calendar; it is an opportunity—a blank slate to create, dream, and grow.

Everyone has the power to unlock their full potential and live their best life. Integrating some of these personal development tips and tools into your daily routine can help you on a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth. Your potential is limitless – embrace it and strive for excellence in all areas of your life.

Let 2025 be a year of growth, discovery, and kindness—toward yourself and others. Whatever this year holds, know that every sunrise is an invitation to start anew. Together, let’s make it a year worth remembering.

Welcome, 2025! 🌟