2024 can go away now – bring on 2025!

If you feel like me – and I know A LOT of you do – the 2020’s have not been kind to us. I’m not going to lie – 2024 was particularly hard for me. I have a personal rule that whenever I start to think negatively, I need to find the upside no matter how small it may be and as quickly as possible.

Instantly, my paradigm shifts from self-pity/self-doubt/self-frustration to self-empowerment/self-pride/self-reward.

Briefly, here is a summary of the 2024 suck-fest (just the highlights):

• I turned 50. No, the number didn’t bother me – the slew of health screens/updates they recommend at this age did though! (Big middle finger to the shingles vaccine combo) Upside? Healthy results!
• I lost my job. The business atmosphere was not friendly to the amazing startup I joined in 2023. Naturally, that hurts and it would be easy to fall into the “should have/could have” mentality. Upside? I took an immediate inventory of what I want and don’t want in my next steps and the clarity was liberating. Also, I’ll be starting a new role on January 13th and I can’t wait to announce!
• My only maternal uncle and Godfather passed on Sunday. We worked so hard to bring him home after his health incident on a cruise last month, but his poor heart just couldn’t recover. Upside? He and his partner of many years married in the hospital just 2 days before he passed and now my aunt is official!
• My dishwasher might have bit the dust yesterday . Upside? Everyone has pitched in to help with the mountain of dishes we seem to create daily, and we have a renewed appreciation for functional cleansing technology.

It’s easier said than done in many cases, but I firmly believe that when I consciously choose to seek the positive in the most negative situations, I’m more than likely to come out ahead.

Cheers to 2025 changing the tide of the 2020’s, and may the new year bring peace, love, prosperity, and positive change to you and your loved ones!