Bringing Real and Raw right into the New Year:
" And so, another year comes to an end, and you made it. Whether the year was good or bad, you made it. You got through 100% of your bad days, and that's pretty incredible. So, if no one's told you yet, I'm so proud of you. You'll make it through once again."
5 days into 2025. I have humbled myself already with all the goals and plans I wanted to start January 1 and still have yet to accomplish. As most of you know, I am not one for resolutions because resolve means to fix, and we aren't broken.
2024 ran me into the ground. It was hard to reflect on the year. Don't get me wrong I have some very cherished moments and am so very grateful for them. It pushed me into places I did not want to be, made me feel, heal, and quite frankly just try to survive. I am tired. When I say tired, I don't mean just physically. It's emotionally, mentally, spiritually as well. I withdrew from everything. I protected what little I had left of myself and just quietly kept moving.
I received a text from a friend checking in a couple weeks ago, the kind of friend that sees right past the fake mask and asks how are you really doing. I was honest and just said I'm not. In which the reply was "I figured your absence was just survival. If you need a chat I'm always here." Hit. The. Nail. On. The. Head.
I tell you this, because it brings me to my word of 2025: Tenacity or Tenacious-the quality or fact of being determined; persisting in existence
The ability to stay persistent and determined can be the bridge between where you are and where you want to be. The journey won't just be about sheer grit alone; it’s also about being graceful with yourself as you grow. While tenacity seems like a powerful word, it’s important to remember that persistence isn’t about perfection. Growth, by its very nature, can be messy and uneven. I will be reminding myself that setbacks will happen, detours can be beautiful, and it's okay to rest.
This is where my self-compassion comes in. I struggle with feeling like I am never doing enough. This is a constant battle in my head that I want to get better with. Instead of berating myself for not being where I think I “should” be, I can choose to acknowledge my effort and embrace the journey. Grace doesn’t diminish determination.
Challenges are inevitable when striving for meaningful growth. I want to be able see these obstacles not as failures but as opportunities to learn and adapt. Each stumble teaching something new, whether it’s patience, resilience, or a new approach to goals. Tenacity is what keeps you moving upward, step by step, even when the path is steep. Grace is what lets you pause to admire the view, catch your breath, and appreciate how far you’ve come.
Full circle-5 days into 2025 and it is ok if you haven't started on that goal, or if you needed more rest from the holidays. It's ok if you are looking for strength and not sure where it will come from. Most importantly it's ok to not be ok. Those blank pages in your book are there for a reason. They are there to give you a little extra room to write for the days where your goals are met, memories are made, determination wins, and reminders of how incredibly loved you are. Those pages can be left blank for the important people in your life to remind you of your value and how loved you are.
Here is to being Tenacious, making changes, being kind, giving grace, and spreading love in 2025!
Alysia