2025

New year, new me. Ugh, the pressure to start over because the calendar did is silly.  I’m here to encourage you just in case you already gave up on your resolutions.

2024 was a rough twelve months for me. Honestly, this year- time has flown by as it usually does so I want to allow myself a month to truly think about the past twelve and the future eleven. Reflect on what? Everything. My relationship with my family, friends, husband and myself. If there is one lesson, I’ve learned from 2024 it is to slow down. Stop and smell the roses because they will fade.

I’ve lost so much in the past two years. My brother and my mom. 2024 was a year acquainted with grief. The opposite of my expectations. As 2023 rolled out I was with my husband making plans, hopes we would be together by this time. In 2024 I’ve grieved not only major physical deaths but grieved things of my hopes and dreams. We all can understand that.

The immigration system has not been on my side when it comes to getting my husband here. It has been daunting and arduous. Receiving answers is lucky- but the answers are not in my favor. Confusion, pain, and tears have been with me every day. Being drained of hope; weary in this battle. Dealing with the loss of my mom, brother, and immigration is enough to make a person go mad.

2024 had a lot of challenging things but I had its good moments too. On January 4th of 2024 I got an awesome new nephew. He is literally sunshine. My sister and I finally got the family to beach together on a little vacation. One of my nephews got married and is expecting a child. Yes, he is old enough. It makes me feel old. I got promoted at work. I’ve had less migraines. Established the fact that I have the best friends a person could ever ask for. Dropping everything in their lives to make me feel loved. Whether that was a phone call, text, dinner, car ride, or flight to me. They are the best. I’ve also established that I have the best church. Meals, rides, flowers, money, prayers, hugs, tears and the list could go on. Whatever my family needed. We were taken care of. My affection for all of family has grown because I’ve realized how precious they are to me.

With all the good and the bad that has happened in the past twelve months, I need to reflect and grow. I need to lament and pray expectantly that God is good and does good. I need to find rest and feel renewed. I know I’m not the only one who feels it or needs it. So, if you find yourself burdened already this year. Just stop, take a month to reflect and prioritize. Life is too short to make it burdensome. Each day passes so quickly, be kind to yourself. Give yourself the month of January to think and reflect.