Well, that’s a wrap on 2024 — which means it’s time for yet another yearly reflection.
As revealed in last year’s reflection, after a year-long sabbatical, 2024 was the Year of Work. Building on the ideas of the Theme System, this was less a concrete goal or resolution, and more of a commitment. 2024 would be my time to not only get back into my work, but enjoy it. (After all, the Year of Rest was entirely predicated on recovering from previous burnout.)
Inarguably, this was a year where the value of the Theme System truly shone through. Unlike resolutions, which are concrete and unforgiving, yearly themes are flexible and allow space for the unknown. They’re an ethos around which to center yourself, not a benchmark nor a line in the sand. Which, for 2024, really proved necessary.
Looking Back
I started the year off jumping back into work pretty much straight away. The largest and most fun project was a new website for a fav local bakery, Sift Gluten Free. This work took me through the first half of the year, right into summertime — when it was time to switch gears.
As I wrote about last year, this summer too was one of growing, tending, and harvesting our amazing and abundant garden. While I intentionally tried to pare back slightly from last year (knowing I was also balancing work with garden obligations), it was still quite a time commitment. Between that and house projects and our kiddo’s wild camp schedule, I allowed myself to ease up on work for a month or two while enjoying the limited glory of Minnesota summer. Once we got through the busy season, I’d be right back into work.
And then COVID hit.
In late July, I attended a summer camp with my kiddo, only to come back with a brief illness a few days later. It was quick and mild, and I actually tested negative for COVID. While I had only had my first COVID infection back in January, and it was a rough go then, this didn’t feel like that.
But then after about a week, my body began to freak out. Extreme and constant fatigue set in, my heart was frequently racing, faintness (as though I hadn’t eaten in days) was common. One morning, I tried to go for a run and legitimately thought my heart was going to explode.
These were all classic and obvious Long COVID symptoms. And a battery of tests and exams disproved other theories (like my initial thought that it could be Lyme disease, given the known exposure at that camp). It took months for me to feel “normal” again; for months, even my basic routine (walking the dog, getting the kid to school, doing dishes) left me exhausted and needing to rest for hours.
I share all this because talking about COVID is important — our collective abandonment of public health means it’s not going away, and while I’m incredibly informed on the disease, even I was taken by surprise at what I felt and went through. But also, because this illness defined the second half of my Year of Work. Given that I couldn’t operate at full capacity for months, I struggled with getting back into a routine that allowed for consistent and focused work. (It’s also why I haven’t written anything here in a while, sorry.)
Thankfully, my Long COVID has mostly subsided and I’m able to get back to where I was pre-infection. Which, in the past couple months, has meant working more. It’s also meant I can exercise again, have had energy to finish more house projects, and have even been getting excited about some upcoming side projects.
Leaping Forward
As I wrap up the year, though, it’s been a time to slow down, reflect on this past year, and explore what next year might bring. And that’s helped me narrow down my Yearly Theme for 2025 — the Year of Big Leaps.
2024, for me, was all about resetting; reentering; getting back into work, albeit in a totally new way. And while it clearly had its challenges, I’d say it was largely successful. But I’ve got some big plans for 2025, in all aspects of my life: work, home, family, community, side projects.
None of it will be easy, by any means. In fact, each will take a large commitment of dedication, determination, and energy. So these ambitions feel extremely daunting, in a way. But I’m choosing to frame them as big leaps — if I can just make the jump, the rest should come easy after that. Simple, right? 😅
I know it’s a vague projection of what’s ahead, but the time to talk about these leaps in more depth will come. For now, I’m going to enjoy this brief end-of-year respite with my loved ones, catch up on sleep, play a few games, finish a book, and prepare for the busy (and surely turbulent) year ahead.
So for now, stay sharp, stay healthy, and stay rad.
Peace, 2024.
