“I am both happy and sad at the same time, and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.”
– Stephen Chbosky
As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year filled with incredible highs and heart-wrenching lows—a true testament to the dualities of life.
This year was full of joy and adventure. We traveled to Japan, a dream come true, where Max amazed us with how well he handled long-haul flights. We also explored St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and several U.S. destinations like New York, Connecticut, Mississippi, Tennessee, and western Massachusetts, where we began our winter season adventure. Traveling the world with my family brought me so much happiness and filled my heart with gratitude.
But alongside the joy came deep loss. We said goodbye to Charles Hadley, my father-in-law, who quickly became a father figure to me after my own dad passed in 2019. His loss was devastating for the entire family, especially Matthew, who shared an incredible bond with his dad. Watching our family come to terms with his absence was heartbreaking. It reminded me of life’s fragility and the bittersweet reality of feeling immense joy and profound sadness all at once. Read my dedication to Charles Hadley.
On this final day of the year, I reflect on how short life is and the importance of holding close those we love while ensuring we live fully and meaningfully.
Lessons in Harmonizing
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned this year is the value of harmonizing, rather than balancing, different areas of my life. As a working mom, balancing everything felt impossible and left me feeling inadequate. I realized that trying to keep all the plates spinning at once wasn’t realistic for me.
Harmonizing, on the other hand, means accepting that not everything has to happen simultaneously. Some weekends are for self-care while Matthew and Max bond. Other weekends, I’m focused on work. Sometimes, it’s about family time, and other times, Matthew and I find a sitter for a much-needed date night. It’s not about perfect balance but about making thoughtful choices to align my time with my priorities.
Looking Ahead to 2025
In 2025, I’ll continue adapting to life’s changes. Max will start daycare, which will bring new routines like morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups. I also want to incorporate more dancing and Pilates, and get back into scuba diving. Instead of forcing a rigid schedule, I’ll take a flexible approach, setting achievable goals like dancing at least once a month and building from there.
I also want to blog more often. This year, perfectionism held me back—I felt every post needed to be perfect. In 2025, I’m letting that go. I’ll embrace “good enough” and experiment with shorter, reflective posts alongside longer ones. My goal is to inspire others by sharing my journey and lessons learned. If even one person feels encouraged to travel more or live a life more aligned with their values, then mission accomplished.
Finally, I’ll use this space to document my progress on big projects for the year, sharing the ups and downs of the process.
2024 taught me so much about embracing imperfection, living with intention, and adapting to life’s challenges.
10 Inspiring New Year Quotes to Start Your Year with Positivity
As we welcome the new year, it’s a perfect time to reflect, reset, and find inspiration. Here are 10 New Year quotes I love, filled with positivity and wisdom to help you start the year on the right note. I hope they resonate with you too!
- “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” — David Bowie
- “Celebrate endings—for they precede new beginnings.” — Jonathan Lockwood Huie
- “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein
- “Life is about change, sometimes it’s painful, sometimes it’s beautiful, but most of the time it’s both.” — Kristin Kreuk
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis
- “Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.” — Frank Scully
- “You can get excited about the future. The past won’t mind.” — Hillary DePiano
- “Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” — Helen Keller
- “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” — Paulo Coehlo
- “You are never too old to reinvent yourself.” — Steve Harvey
Here’s to a new year of growth, adventure, and harmony! Happy New Year!
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