Pondering The Year Ahead

It begins with care.

As I pondered what is ahead in 2025 and set the stage for a healthy year ahead, I first needed to look back at what I was thinking at the start of previous New Years. In doing this, I noticed some trends around the themes of connection and compassion. In both cases, beginning with the person in the mirror is important. Of course, this may feel a bit self-centered, because it is, but can you have true connection with others if you are not connected with your own feelings? Can you be truly compassionate for others if you do not learn to give yourself grace too?

Moving ahead to 2025, I will couple these words together into one that epitomizes both, caring. I like this word because it is both an emotion and an action. Caring is not just having concern and empathy for others. It is also about your actions to support the welfare of those you care about.

To be my best self, my goal is to do the following three things each day:

1. Exercise for at least 20 minutes (hopefully at the beginning of each day, even if it is just a walk).

2. Find a passage, quote, or article to reflect on and post daily. Appropriately enough today’s “begins with care.” (see below)

3. Show gratitude.