2024: The Year That Tried (and Failed) to Break Us
We’re Still Standing!
For me personally, 2024 was the hardest year of my life. There were challenges in almost every area of my life that brought about situations where I was unsure what my next step would or should be. I have always kept most of my struggles close to my chest and have not been the most open person. My wife will tell you I am extremely private; you would have little clue that 2024 has been as tumultuous as it has for me, if you only saw my social media posts or interacted with the very public version of myself that I often allow you to see. I say all that to say that I am not extremely proud of this private nature of mine. This year has caused me to reach out to some friends for support, which is growth in a healthy direction for me.
The Loneliness Trap
Believing that we have to hold all our problems and concerns internally is a recipe for loneliness and isolation. Here I am, the guy who is working on a doctorate, and my project focuses on the loneliness epidemic in America, but yet I can fall into the same traps and potholes that everyone else does, especially because I have such a private nature. I know that people will still love me and that my closest friends will still be there if I unload my concerns, yet I often retract. I somehow believe that I will be seen as broken or unlovable if I show my own wounds. This is exactly what many people who are lonely feel. They feel that if they were open and authentic, people would shy further away from them, so instead of taking that risk, it is easier in the short term to fade back into isolation.
The good news for me is that I am doing better about seeking support. Honestly, the trouble of 2024 would have gotten the best of me if I had not reached out to some of the people I trust in my life. I can say, for the most part I am ready to leave 2024 behind and embark into 2025 with a deep breath, like jumping off the diving board into the deep end of the pool. I have high hopes for 2025; I imagine that many of you do as well.
Not All Is Lost
Even though I may be ready to leave some of my struggles and disappointments behind, I am also thankful that I will be taking some things with me. I am not leaving everything from 2024 at the threshold of 2025. This is what I will be taking with me.
My sense of compassion. I have known that I am a very compassionate person for many years, but this past year has given me opportunities to celebrate this trait even more. Perhaps most importantly I have learned to increase my compassion toward myself. I am working on judging myself less and keeping better boundaries in the way I respond to myself. I have often extended far more grace to those around me than I have been willing to extend to myself.
My sense of humor. I love the fact that I can find a moment to laugh or eventually find humor in my own trials. I absolutely love to laugh, it is good for my soul. I can find humor in everything from what I perceive my dog to be thinking to the latest headline in the newspaper. Yes, I am easily entertained!
My lived experience which has developed wisdom. The reality is that most of us would never want to relive some of our worst moments but many times the wisdom we take from these experiences are priceless. I hope to hold on to the wisdom I have gained this year. I am beginning to believe the wise words of that sage, Christopher Robin, I am indeed “braver than I believe, stronger than I seem, and smarter than I think.”
So, do I only have three things I am taking with me into 2025? Of course not, but then again I am too private to share the others! Hey I am a work in progress. Please share a few things with me that you are taking into 2025 that have been hard earned in 2024. Just place those in the comments, I would love to hear what it is that you are moving forward with.
I think I will close this year out with the classic by Sir. Elton. This is from his last performance in America which took place at Dodger’s Stadium. This one is for me and you, we are still standing!
So, I dont publish frequently enough to have compensation but I have decided to add this option, Buy Me a Coffee. This is a small way to contribute to some creative projects I have in mind. Feel free to contribute or ignore, you are loved either way :)
My friend, I have seen it on your face, seeing you when I have this year, I know you have had heavy things happen. But regardless, you have been so inspiring to me and so many. Look back, you will definitely see the grace of God in all of it. Thankful for you today and everyday!
Jules🩵
Thank you for your sharing. It helps others of us who are lonely as well:). God's mercies and grace are new every morning:)
I will be taking into 2025 the knowledge that God cares deeply about me...even when I do not understand circumstances.
Along with this is the fact that I do not have to understand WHY. I have spent way too much time trying to determine why things happen or why someone said or did something...sometimes the reason will never be known . But I can know my response which is to continue to trust God and praise Him in the middle of the storms.
And the third thing I will take with me is that it is okay to rest. Rheumatoid arthritis is a new thing I am dealing with. It has taught me it is ok to rest. It is ok if people cannot see on the outside what I deal with on the inside. It is ok to choose to push ahead , find joy, and then rest. It is ok not to be able to do everything I used to do...I can trust God for joy and strength.
2025 will be another year of learning and growing with plenty of time for resting and loving others :)