Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me At The Start Of 2024

If I could go back to the beginning of this year and sit down with January me, I’d have so much to say. I’d grab her by the shoulders, look her dead in the eye, and tell her: Baby girl, you’re going to face some of your toughest battles this year, you’re going to cry, you’re going to hurt and you’re about to learn way more than you bargained for but it’s all going to shape you into someone stronger.

When 2024 started, I was full of hope and big dreams (I still am). I had my resolutions all written out, my goals planned to the T. It was going to be my year. I just knew it but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of work that would go into making this a reality. I had an idea of what I wanted and a poor excuse for a game plan.

I’ve always struggled with consistency and procrastination across different areas of my life and I never got down to the root of the problem and solved it. Instead, I said, I’m going to be more consistent this year with no further details. Of course I was gonna fail at that,? mean what was I thinking? That I was magically going to undo years of procrastination and inconsistency without taking deliberate actions and steps? Very funny Winner.

By March, I was already feeling the weight of everything—work deadlines piling up, school demanding every ounce of focus I had left, and this gnawing feeling that I wasn’t doing enough. I hit a wall I didn’t even see coming. And if I’m being honest, I spent a good part of this year trying to climb over it.

What I wish someone had told me at the start of 2024 is this: It’s okay if things don’t go according to plan.

We get so caught up in wanting to control every detail, thinking if we just work hard enough or plan well enough, everything will fall into place. But sometimes, no matter how much you prepare, God and life have other ideas. That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it just means you’re human.

I wish someone had told me to give myself grace. I’ve been so hard on myself this year. Every time I missed a deadline or didn’t follow through on something, the guilt would hit like a truck. I’d replay my mistakes over and over, beating myself up for not being perfect. But here’s what I’ve learned: You can’t hate yourself into being better. Growth comes from love, not self-criticism.

I wish someone had told me that rest is not a reward—it’s a necessity. There were so many times I kept pushing myself, even when I knew I was running on empty. Why? Because I thought resting meant I wasn’t working hard enough, that I didn’t deserve it. But burnout doesn’t care about your hustle. It’ll come for you if you don’t slow down.

And finally, I wish someone had told me that it’s okay to not have it all figured out. There’s so much pressure to have the perfect career, the perfect plan, the perfect life, the perfect house. But perfection is a lie we tell ourselves to feel in control. The truth is, nobody has it all figured out. We’re all just doing our best with what we have, and that’s enough.

If I could go back to January me, I’d tell her to hold space for the messy parts of the year—the unexpected detours, the mistakes, the disappointments. I’d tell her that those moments aren’t setbacks; they’re lessons. They’re shaping her into someone wiser, more resilient, more grounded.

2024 wasn’t the year I planned, but it was the year I needed. It stripped me down to my core and forced me to rebuild, piece by piece. It forced me to be brutally honest with myself and you know what? I’m still standing. I’m still here. And that’s something worth celebrating.

So, if you’re reading this and you’re feeling like you haven’t lived up to the version of yourself you dreamed of at the start of the year, I want you to know that’s okay. Your worth isn’t tied to how well you stuck to a plan or how many goals you checked off.

You’re allowed to start over. You’re allowed to rest. You’re allowed to show up as you are, even if it’s not who you thought you’d be.

Here’s to finishing 2024 strong—not by being perfect, but by being present, giving yourself grace, and trusting that you’re exactly where you need to be.