“Nourish” – My word for 2025
I cried in Hawaii a few weeks ago. The warm morning sun was softly embracing the landscape of the stunning Hana-Maui Resort as I sat in the meditation room, listening to my instructor speak gently to our class.
I wasn’t sad at all. I was quite surprised by how my emotions overcame me and brought me to tears. The wetness of my eyelashes touching my skin brought me to awareness from a place of total relaxation. I realized that I was totally happy in that moment. I opened my eyes enough to peek and see if anyone else was looking around. In that glimpse, I saw the sunrise had cast pink across the clouds and I thought to myself, “I love everything right now. I truly feel one with nature and God.”
I am not one who meditates often. I simply took the class because it was included in the resort fees and I had nothing else to do. Wi-fi was limited so I couldn’t scroll. I couldn’t hike much more due to a semi-sprained ankle I had inflicted upon myself a few days before. In reality, I was forced to relax-not something I take seriously or do easily. I thrive on action and have a go-go-go mentality. But, as the new year approaches, I think of all the resolutions I could make (that are probably repeats of previous years), and in that moment, I decide that I am going to focus on one thing: Nourishing my soul.
If I say I am going to lose weight, get in shape, save more money, drink green smoothies every day, read more books, etc, etc….I am going to fail. I will get overwhelmed with lists and daily goals and get discouraged when I “mess up” even once. Then by the end of the the first month of the year, I will give up. Therefore, I am choosing to simply “nourish my soul” in 2025. I think that encompasses many facets.
That moment in Hana, was so peaceful. I want more of that. The only other time I remember feeling that sense of calmness in 2024 was when I was in Italy looking at the Dolomite mountains; a view I had been dreaming about for a few years. Life can be chaotic. I truly admire people that seek inner peace daily. It is much healthier for our hearts!
There are so many things that we, as humans, can do to accomplish this. You may choose to listen to certain music everyday or maybe you have daily morning routine. I know I do. I drink my tea, pray, check my email and text messages and go from there. If there are no cancelled flights or emergencies for clients that are traveling, I tend to scroll for 30-60 mins. I think that has to go. It is a time waster and while many videos make me laugh or warm my heart, I do need to set better boundaries for this.
Instead, I think my plan will be to do ONE thing each week that truly nourishes my soul. Not daily. That is too much pressure. Maybe it is spending time with a friend talking (not texting), going outside for walk and listening to nature (not murder podcasts), lying with my head on my husband’s lap and just listening to him tell me a story (with the TV off). Just one thing. One hour. That is all. I feel like if I can do this, I will really look forward to that one moment all week, because it is not the norm. It is not going to the gym for exercise, it is not talking to a client about travel plans, it is not making a grocery list with husband. It is simply being. No distractions.
So yes, my friends, I think that will be my plan for 2025. And because I am a serious type A personality, I am already thinking, “I should write out what I am going to do for all 52 weeks of the year, right now!” But, I am NOT going to do that. That defeats the entire purpose. Instead, I am going to enjoy the rest of the evening not doing, but being.
Do you have a word you try to live by each year?
