“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional”.
– Roger Crawford
As I reflect on 2024, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for such an incredible year of travel and new opportunities. For years, I felt stifled and trapped—partly due to circumstances beyond my control, but mostly because of my own mindset. I was weighed down by limiting beliefs, fear of letting go of other people’s expectations, and an inability to fully embrace a life that felt truly authentic to me.
As someone who is easily inspired and influenced by new ideas, this trait has been both a blessing and a challenge. While it fills me with curiosity and enthusiasm, it also makes it hard to discern what I truly want and like. I love so many things—experiencing newness, finding joy in beautiful and even unconventional moments, and seeking beauty where others might not see it. I am captivated by new feelings, thoughts, ideas, and emotions.
But in a world that constantly pushes us to define ourselves by rigid categories, to niche down, and even monetize every skill, I’ve often felt overwhelmed. Figuring out who I am and what I truly want has been daunting. While I’m still on this journey of self-discovery, 2024 provided some much-needed clarity. It revealed parts of myself I hadn’t fully understood—what brings me joy, where my passions lie, and hints of my greater purpose in life.
For 2025, I want to dive deeper into my passions. I want to explore the things I love without overthinking what they mean or worrying if they’re a waste of time. If something brings me joy, that’s reason enough to pursue it. That lesson is, perhaps, the most important takeaway from this past year.
Highlights of 2024
This past year was a whirlwind. I traveled to 11 countries across 17 trips, earned a big promotion, made incredible new friends, and experienced countless “firsts.” Perhaps most importantly, 2024 was the first year in which I’ve truly felt well—mentally, emotionally, and physically—enough to fully live my life.
Still, there has been an internal struggle—a lingering “calling.” It’s a feeling that I’m meant to do something, but I’m not quite sure what. I’ve tried to focus on the journey, living in the present rather than obsessing over the destination. Yet, I can’t shake the sense that I could be doing more—traveling more, creating more. Admittedly, this drive has left me ending the year feeling burned out, having tried to do too much, too quickly, and still feeling like it wasn’t enough.
Perspective on the Past
Whenever I start to feel like I’m falling short, I remind myself of how far I’ve come. Ten years ago, I was at rock bottom—struggling through university, in debt, working a job I hated, and dealing with a challenging diagnosis of celiac disease. On top of that, I was preparing for major surgeries while on medication that was making me even more unwell and trying to navigate the chaos of my life while battling poor mental health.
The 23-year-old version of me would never have imagined the life I’m living now. I’m a homeowner, I have incredible friendships, I’ve mostly recovered from chronic illness, my mental health is stable, and I’ve worked my way up the career ladder in an industry I love. Reflecting on this, I realize how huge my progress has been. Yet, I often find myself asking: why doesn’t it feel like enough?
Goals for 2025
I know I’m someone who thrives on ambition and growth. But in 2025, I want to find a balance. I want to learn how to sit back and enjoy what I’ve built, rather than constantly chasing the next goal. Traveling extensively this year has been a step toward this, but I’ve often been so focused on what I could create or achieve from these experiences that I’ve forgotten to simply savor the moments. I firmly believe goals are important but taking time to appreciate the journey rather than the end goal is something I need to improve.
In 2025, I hope to take more time to reflect. To pause. To be present. I want to fully embrace the joy and gratitude that life offers, without the pressure to always be doing more. I want to do more things for me like crafting, cooking and reading.
2024 has been transformative. It has shown me not only the beauty of the world but also the beauty of progress, resilience, and gratitude. As I step into 2025, I do so with a heart full of gratitude, a mind set on growth, and ready to explore whatever lies ahead while taking time to appreciate the journey along the way.
Wishing you a new year full of good health, happiness, joy and peace. If you want to follow my journey into 2025 and beyond then hit subscribe for weekly diary updates.
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