Taking time to celebrate 2024
Can you believe we are on the verge of closing out another year and stepping into a new one?
At the beginning of 2024, I decided instead of choosing a Word of the Year or setting a New Year’s Resolution, I would set small monthly goals in four areas that are important to me, namely 1) health and fitness, 2) joy, 3) learning and growth, 4) relationships. I have reported on my goal progress each month in the What’s Been on your Calendar (#WBOYC) link-up.
Now that we’ve come to the end of the year, I wanted to look at how those small achievements added up by putting them all together on one page and take a minute to celebrate before rushing into plans for 2025.
Health and fitness
- Completed the Yoga with Adriene Flow Journey.
- Completed the Orangetheory Fitness Transformation Challenge.
- Got my colonoscopy.
- Had my annual skin check with the dermatologist.
- Treated my Frozen Shoulder with physical therapy.
- Researched primary care physicians in my area, made a selection, and had an introductory appointment.
- In preparation for my initial appointment with a new primary care physician, tracked some important health vitals (e.g., blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen level) and lifestyle habits (e.g., food, physical activity, and sleep).
- Reduced the highly-processed foods in my diet by a) replacing my previous peanut butter with a more natural peanut butter; b) replacing flavored yogurt with plain greek yogurt; and c) replacing my nightly treat (usually a store-bought cookie or ice cream) with homemade treats.
- Had my routine blood work done.
- Had my annual mammogram.
- Researched recommendations for saturated and trans fats and tracked fats and produce consumption for a month.
- Increased the number of days in which I eat no more than 13 grams of saturated fat. (This is an ongoing effort.)
- Increased my average daily produce consumption. (This is an ongoing effort.)
- Quit purchasing canned Diet Coke. I continue to enjoy occasional fountain drinks as a treat.
- Researched the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen (regarding buying organic) and incorporated them into my grocery shopping.
- Began gently hold space for sleep, rather than trying to cajole or force it. (This is an ongoing effort.)
Joy
- Made preliminary plans with my husband for our next travel adventure.
- Experienced the joy of everyday experiences by being more present in the moment.
- Enjoyed several meals outdoors.
- Met friends from Canada and Mexico in Las Vegas.
- Got several massages.
- Found a new nail technician and got some nail art.
- Participated in 20 minutes of mindfulness activities each day, with at least 10 of those being formal meditation.
- Celebrated the beginning of autumn…my favorite season…by putting up a few decorations and enjoying a pumpkin treat.
- Reminded myself to be fully present for each of the fun activities on the calendar.
- Took a photo representing something for which I am grateful each day of October.
- Updated my Jolts of Joy list and created a Possibilities List…you know, sort of like a Bucket List, but with less pressure. Then incorporated at least one of these items each day.
Learning and growth
- Experienced something new close to home…tried cookies from Dirty Dough.
- Brushed up on my French by completing two lessons on Piece of French.
- Researched potential activities that would scare and excite me and chose one (health coaching course).
- Visited Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon, both places I’ve never visited before.
- Completed the mindbodygreen coaching course.
Relationships/connections
- Celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary with Larry.
- Donated blood several times.
- Performed weekly random acts of kindness during April.
- Took a road trip with our friends from British Columbia and then had them stay with us in our home.
- Had our daughter and granddaughters come stay with us and celebrated one granddaughter’s high school graduation while they were here.
- Had a daytime date with my husband.
- Donated old jigsaw puzzles.
- Talked to someone new at each Orangetheory Fitness class during September.
- Took a trip to San Antonio, Texas with one of my sisters.
- Sent two handwritten thank-you notes.
Thank you
I want to give a big thank you to all of you who have encouraged me throughout the year, shared your own accomplishments and setbacks, and in general created such a supportive atmosphere for all of us as we take life’s journey together.
Your turn
Now I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to and what you have planned for 2025!
- What is one accomplishment you are proud of this year?
- Do you have an intention, a resolution, or Word of the Year in mind for 2025?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love hearing from you.
Happy New Year!!!
Image by Oleksandr Pidvalnyi from Pixabay
Congratulations Christie! What a fantastic journey you’ve been on in 2024. Thank you for your company throughout the year – I’ve loved cheering you on and getting to know you a little better through your posts. Here’s to 2025!
Thank you, Joanne! It’s been a good year. I too have enjoyed getting to know each other and root for each other. Here’s to more of that in 2025!
When you look back at all that, it’s certainly been a full and satisfying year. Let’s hope that 2025 brings even more fun and growth and joy x
Satisfying is a great description of 2024 for me, Leanne. And yes, I’m hoping for more of all of those things in 2025 for both of us! Happy New Year to you and yours!
I loved reading the recap of your year, congrats on all you’ve accomplished and enjoyed!
1. I accomplished paying down some debt and bringing my credit card utilization down from around 90% to 37% (still a work in progress), and I got my first unassisted pull-up this year (I can now do 2 in a row haha).
2. My mantra for 2025 is “reconnect, refocus, recommit and keep going”.
3. I love you!!
Ah, thank you daughter! Those are both impressive accomplishments. Congratulations! I love that mantra for you in 2025. And I love you most! (I know I skipped over “more.” 😉)
Congratulations, Christie! You’ve certainly ticked the boxes of your goals for 2024 and I’ve enjoyed watching your journey in 2024. If you are choosing a WOTY or a mantra for 2025 we would love you to join us for a one-off WOTY link up on 6th January (Brisbane time). Thank you for supporting #WBOYC? and I look forward to continuing our blogging friendship into 2025. I have been inspired by you and what you’ve achieved. Happy New Year! Sue L xx
Thank you for the kind words, Sue. I have also enjoyed our connection and blogging friendship and been inspired by you along the way. I am still considering how I want to approach my intention for 2025. If I choose a word or mantra, I will definitely link up with the WOTY. Either way, I’ll be visiting to see what everyone else is doing. Happy New Year!
Way to prioritize your health!! Very admirable. And to have your hard work and diligence pay off with such a great health score. Bravo!! I start the new year with a dental appointment. Yuck. Really dislike going but it is a necessary evil. Rotten teeth would probably be more distasteful!!
Will be anxious to see where you and Larry head out for your next trip and adventure. We are taking a second trip to Silver City, NM right after New Years because our kitty has to have hip surgery and the vet in that tiny town comes highly recommended (and is semi-affordable) for his issues. The Gila National Forest is there so I hope maybe we can do a short hike and I can try out my slowly healing broken foot on the trails.
Enjoyed seeing your adventures with the grands in 2024. Looking forward to what 2025 brings. Wishing you continued good health, much love and happiness.
Thanks Leslie. I’m with you on not liking to go to the dentist, but I do it anyway to keep those teeth and gums healthy. At least you are getting it over with early on. Good luck with kitty’s hip surgery, and I hope you get a hike in. I have New Mexico on my list of places to visit in the near future, as it’s not too far and I’ve never been. Happy New Year to you and yours!
Christie, I’ve loved following your progress during 2024. Your achievements show that setting small monthly goals and ticking them off, definitely leads to achieving those big goals. I’ve loved seeing you tick of your goals each month. You’ve inspired me to set mini goals in 2025. I’ve done that in the past and know it works, but some where along the line seemed to run off track. Happy New year to Year and see you in 2025.
Thanks Jen. The small-goal approach worked well for me in 2024. I’m leaning toward choosing a word or mantra for 2025, and I can see setting mini goals that tie into that intention. Here’s to a happy, healthy 2025!
Christie, Congratulations on your achievements! A celebration is a great way to close out 2024 before making plans for 2025. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Thank you Natalie. Happy New Year to you and yours as well. Here’s to a happy, healthy 2025!
Sounds like you did a great job with your goals and intentions!
Thank you Joanne!
Hi – I’ve been having a hard time looking back on 2024, without reliving the last 3 months. I know, there were 9 other months in there! Anyway, I enjoyed how you looked at the accomplishments by your focus areas….and maybe should do something similar.
My one “big accomplishment” I think in 2024 was a mindset shift on friendship. It started over the summer (recognizing my beliefs were really fantasies), but really hit home when things “hit the fan” and I saw who showed up for me…physically and emotionally. I am picking a WOTY for 2025, but also keeping my lifestyle vision focus (4 areas, like your’s). Happy New Year to you!
I imagine your life is divided between before and after the hurricanes right now, Pat, more than by the year. I do hope 2025 goes a little easier on you. I look forward to hearing your WOTY. I like supporting the annual intention with my four areas of focus. Take care and happy New Year to you too!