A Year of Lessons
As I sit here reflecting on 2024, I feel like I’ve lived a hundred lives in just 12 months. Each day has been a lesson, a challenge, a gift. Life stretched me, broke me open, and gently put me back together, piece by piece. The person I was at the start of the year feels like a distant memory, and in her place stands someone wiser, more tender, and filled with a quiet strength I never knew I possessed.
I Learned How to Love After Heartbreaks
Heartbreak can feel like an ending, but it’s also an invitation—to heal, to grow, and to love again. Love isn’t the absence of pain; it’s the courage to let someone in even when you’re afraid. This year, I discovered that my heart is strong enough to carry the scars and still stay open. Love has taught me resilience. It’s taught me that I can mourn what’s lost while still believing in what’s possible.
Soulmates Are Real
But here’s the twist: soulmates aren’t always the people we walk into the sunset with. They’re the ones who teach us the hardest lessons, hold mirrors up to our souls, and force us to grow. Sometimes they stay; sometimes they don’t. But the bond remains. Soulmates are proof that our lives are interwoven with others in ways that transcend time and space. They’re not always meant to stay forever—they’re meant to leave a forever mark.
God Is Found in People
This year, I stopped looking for God in buildings. I found Him in the strangers who showed me kindness when I didn’t deserve it, in the friends who held me when I couldn’t hold myself, and in the people who stood by me without expecting anything in return. God isn’t confined to walls or rituals. God is in the laughter of a child, the touch of a hand, and the quiet moments of connection that remind us we’re never truly alone.
Prayer Works in All Its Forms
I prayed in tears, in whispers, and in the silence of my own heart. I prayed while driving, while folding laundry, and while sitting in hospital rooms. I learned that prayer isn’t about asking for something; it’s about surrendering, about connecting with something greater than myself. It doesn’t matter how you pray. What matters is that you do.
Meditation Brings Peace to My Soul
When the world felt too loud, I found peace in the quiet. Meditation became my sanctuary. It’s where I learned to breathe again, to let go, and to simply *be*. In the stillness, I discovered parts of myself I’d been too busy to notice.
Family Is Everything
This year reminded me that family is our anchor. They’re the ones who fight beside us when life feels unbearable, who love us through the mess, and who remind us where we come from. Watching Ava’s journey reminded me of the strength that runs through our veins, the bond that holds us together even when life tries to pull us apart.
Never Doubt the Strength of the Human Spirit
I’ve seen it firsthand through Ava. Her strength, her will to fight, and her ability to find light even in the darkest moments have left me in awe. The human spirit is unbreakable. We are more resilient than we ever imagine.
Strangers Cheer the Loudest
I’ve learned that the loudest cheers often come from people who don’t know you. It’s a strange and beautiful thing—the way strangers rally behind you when your own circle stays quiet. It’s a reminder that the world is filled with unexpected kindness.
Love Exists
After everything, I still believe in love. Love isn’t just in the grand gestures; it’s in the small, quiet moments. It’s in forgiveness, in understanding, and in showing up even when it’s hard. Love exists. It’s real. And it’s worth every ounce of effort.
2024 was a year that cracked me open, poured wisdom into my soul, and reminded me of what truly matters. I’ve cried more than I care to admit, but I’ve also laughed harder, loved deeper, and grown in ways I never thought possible.
As I step into the new year, I carry these lessons with me like treasures. Life is hard, yes—but it’s also breathtakingly beautiful. And for that, I’m grateful.
