The year 2024 brought countless lessons my way. The first thing I discovered was how certain foods affect my body. After embarking on a raw vegan diet in September of 2023 to reverse my supposed lupus, I spent the latter part of 2024 being less strict about food, especially around the holidays when I indulged in foods such as sugar, white flour and gluten. To my dismay (I was secretly hoping I could eat whatever I wanted and still feel great ) I noticed they definitely have a negative impact on how I feel. Most notably, the overall body soreness, joint pain and brain fog that tends to worsen after eating them — especially sugar.
I’m still trying to convince myself it’s only coincidence as I polish off the Christmas cookies and ziti, but the evidence is pretty clear. Now I have to decide if sacrifices, such as cutting out sugar and being more mindful of what I eat are worth it. Of course, the answer is yes. The challenge is, as always, breaking the bad habits I’ve fallen back into.
Last January, I nervously bought a gym membership, well aware that my track record for sticking with things was unimpressive. But I did it! I consistently hit the gym several times a week throughout the entire year. The most important lesson I learned was that building muscle takes time and patience, but it’s absolutely possible if we are consistent. I’m proud of myself for sticking with it. Every time I add a plate or increase my reps I’m thrilled by the evidence of my increased strength. Once in a while I’ll even sneak a flex in the mirror to check out the muscle mass I’ve built. It makes me so happy to know I’m doing something that’s so beneficial and that it’s working. I can’t wait to continue building upon my foundation and targeting more muscles (especially core and legs) in 2025.
Overcoming my fear of the gym, (especially on tour when we’d roll into a strange gym at 6AM to work out before hitting the road again) was a huge win. At first, I felt uncomfortable and was worried that people would judge me. I knew it was irrational, but those thoughts haunted me each morning as I walked across the parking lot. But each time I entered the gym I conquered that fear and as a result grew more confident and less concerned about other people’s opinions.
It didn’t take long for me to appreciate the shared experience of working out with people from all over the East Coast and Midwest. It was so cool to see how it didn’t matter that we were only passing through. The goal of improving our fitness connected us, regardless of age, race, gender, ability, or culture. By the end of the tour the anxiety disappeared. It was replaced with excitement and appreciation of the fact that I get to be there in the first place.
Overall it was a consistent year for running. My running club experiences were priceless because at least 2 or 3 days a week I had other people to motivate me. That inspiration carried over into my solo days and before I knew it I was running 6 to 7 days a week. I left the mind games at home. I simply got dressed, stepped outside and ran. After a few weeks, I was shocked to realize that I actually enjoyed running at the crack of dawn with other people. I never thought I’d enjoy the social aspect of running again, but this year taught me to step outside my comfort zone. There I found people who I love spending time with, keep me out of my head and inspire me to keep going. Now I find myself creating opportunities to run with others, and I’m looking forward to more in the future.
Being unable to run for a few weeks while we were on the road this summer due to foot issues crushed me because exploring new places on foot is something that I look forward to every year. The pain haunted me for much of the summer, but that ultimately led to new ways of taking care of myself — foam rolling, trigger point therapy, journaling and praying, trusting God, and learning to let go of the stress that accumulated in my body which ultimately turned into pain.
The constant pain and emotional roller coaster taught me to appreciate my body and mind more. As the pain slowly faded, I made a commitment to be more grateful and to savor every moment that was pain-free. I also learned to shift my focus from the suffering and the fear of pain, to everything around me that inspires awe. I still have a lot of work to do in this area, but I’m hopeful that all I’ve learned will help me step into the new year with a healthier mindset that I’m committed to keep improving.
A few years ago I stopped making resolutions once I realized I made the same ones year after year. But I can’t deny the attraction of dreaming about new possibilities and the excitement of a brand new year. It’s a great time to think about lessons that were presented to me and ways I can apply them moving forward. I’m learning to let go of behaviors and thought patterns that no longer serve me. Shifting my focus onto things that align with my goals is a much better use of my energy. A vow to completely overhaul my life on January first never worked for me. Instead, focusing on small, realistic steps I can take each day is less overwhelming and easier to follow.
Ultimately I want to ask myself these questions:
Did I make a difference in anyone’s life today? Would my kids be proud of me? Did I listen to and follow God‘s plan for me today? What can I do more of or less of tomorrow?
I know I won’t always be happy with my answers if I’m completely honest, but I’m hopeful they will guide me to make better choices moving forward.
What’s your main goal for 2025? WHY is it important to you? What’s the first step you will take to move towards that goal?
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