As the final days of 2024 wind down, I find myself sitting with a mix of emotions: pride, exhaustion, gratitude, and even a little disbelief. This year has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys I’ve ever walked. I’m sharing this reflection not just to process my own experiences but to encourage you to do the same. Reflecting on our wins, losses, and everything in between is how we grow—and let’s be real, it’s how we survive.

Here’s a look back at my year, the lessons I’ve learned, and why I believe taking time to reflect is so important.

Resilience Through Challenges

The year began with a literal step back. In February, I underwent Achilles surgery—not just a quick fix, but a major procedure involving a 50% sever of the tendon to remove a heel spur and fix a bunion. Recovery was slow. Painfully slow. Months longer than I expected, but, as my doctor kindly reminded me (with a knowing smirk), exactly what they’d told me to expect.

The hardest part wasn’t the physical healing—it was the forced stillness. For someone like me who thrives on action and productivity, being sidelined felt unbearable. But patience became my teacher, and I learned to appreciate small victories, like taking my first unassisted step. But I wrote and published a book in that time, so there’s that.

Later in the year, I faced another emotional challenge: saying goodbye to our first round of coffee shop employees who went off to college. Watching these incredible young people grow and move forward was both heartwarming and bittersweet. They taught me so much about leadership, connection, and the beauty of seeing someone blossom.

And then there was the flood. Our beloved ice cream shop suffered a catastrophic flood, coming right on the heels of replacing an $80,000 roof. Walking into the mess was heartbreaking. Water everywhere, machines destroyed, inventory gone. It was one of those moments where you have to stop and ask, “How do we keep going?” Yet, somehow, we did. Resilience kicked in because that’s what life demands.

Welcoming New Beginnings

This year also marked a deeply personal milestone: celebrating over three years of sobriety. While I don’t think about it a lot anymore, there isn’t a day that goes by that I am not thankful, and fully aware, that one decision changed the trajectory of the second chapter of my life.

This year wasn’t all challenges. There were moments of pure joy, like welcoming new members to our family—and by family, I mean our farm. We adopted Ralph and Sam, two alpacas with personalities as quirky as their names, and added three goats: Pancake, Billie, and Todd. These animals brought so much laughter and joy for me. Standing in the pasture just watching them be exactly who they are makes my life worth living right now.

On the financial front, I made some tough, pivotal decisions but saw incredible rewards. Selling two investment properties wasn’t easy, but it allowed us to pay off $150,000 in debt. That weight lifted is indescribable. Paired with my intention to “pay attention” to finances, I also raised my credit score by 150 points. Fun fact: check your credit score—I found out someone else was on mine. Fixing it was a game-changer.

Professional Highlights

Professionally, 2024 was a year of firsts. I graduated from the Mind Rebel Academy (coaching school), fulfilling a dream I’d held close for years. I reignited my love for writing with the start of a book and this very blog and #Actually I Can, the podcast where I’ve been sharing stories and insights that matter deeply to me.

I redesigned my website, participated as a coach at the Dream Camp, and launched the Female Founders Collective. I also took on a new challenge: planning our dream house build. While that project is still in its early stages, the process has taught me so much about vision, collaboration, and patience.

Oh, and courses! I bought more than 10 online courses this year, and while I haven’t finished all of them, the learning process has been incredibly fulfilling. Progress, not perfection, right?

The Importance of Reflection

So why am I sharing all of this? Because reflection matters. Our minds have a funny way of fixating on the big, dramatic moments—surgeries, floods, paying off debt. But what about the small wins? The moments of joy, the quiet progress, the daily choices that added up to something extraordinary?

Reflection isn’t just about looking back; it’s about noticing. Noticing the effort it took to keep going when things were hard. Noticing the lessons hidden in the struggles. Noticing how far we’ve come, even when it doesn’t feel like enough.

As you reflect on your own year, I encourage you to ask yourself:

• What am I most proud of?
• What surprised me?
• What small win brought me joy?
• What did I learn about myself?

Moving Forward

If 2024 has taught me anything, it’s that resilience is built in the everyday. It’s in the moments when we choose to show up, to try again, to keep going. And while life doesn’t always go according to plan, reflecting on the journey reveals just how much we’ve accomplished.

So, as we head into 2025, let’s take a moment to honor the year behind us. Let’s celebrate the wins, learn from the losses, and carry those lessons forward with grace.

Here’s to progress, gratitude, and growth—and to whatever comes next.

How was your 2024? What did you learn, overcome, or achieve? I’d love to hear your reflections in the comments below!