I Had A Great Year

but was it really great?

This month, I’ve found myself caught up in a wave of gratitude. Every quiet moment of reflection has been filled with thoughts of 2024 and how much I’ve grown. In one of those moments, I even called it my “best year yet.”

But as the words left my lips, a question lingered in my mind: Was it really my best year?

Or have I simply numbed myself to the rollercoaster of challenges, the highs and lows, and the unexpected twists that shaped my year? Maybe I’m just relieved it’s all over and thankful I made it through in one piece.

These thoughts hit me especially hard when I saw my friend’s post about her dad passing away. My heart sank as the reality hit me: while 2024 gave me so much, it also took deeply from others. For her, it wasn’t just a year of change—it became a year of grief, one she’ll carry for a long time.

It made me think about the duality of life.

Gratitude isn’t just about celebrating the wins; sometimes, it’s about surviving the losses. I often say that gratitude is being thankful to God that we overcame—that the storms we faced didn’t drown us and that the wounds we carried have slowly started to heal, or at least are on the way to healing.

So yes, I am grateful for 2024. But the journey wasn’t smooth, nor was it easy.

This year, I had moments of pride and accomplishment. I finally lost the weight I’d been wanting to shed for so long, and it set off a ripple effect. That one goal sparked a stronger grip on other areas of my life. I found a solid rhythm in my career, one that felt fulfilling. I traveled more than I expected—some trips for work, others purely for leisure. I spent time with people who fill my life with love and laughter. I met new faces, experienced new things, and had some genuinely joyful moments.

But life isn’t all highlights. This year also tested me.

My business, something I’ve poured so much into, had to take an unplanned pause. I was robbed—twice. The first time, they got away with my phone and bag. The second time, I managed to escape with my things intact, but the fear and anxiety lingered. I had to dip into my savings twice, a reality that’s never easy. At the start of the year, I made the tough decision to leave a job that no longer served me, trading stability for the hope of something better.

Yet somehow, the good still outweighed the bad.

And here’s the thing: the bad times, as much as they hurt, have a way of birthing gratitude too. They force us to pause, reflect, and appreciate what we’ve overcome. They remind us that even in darkness, there’s a flicker of light—be it in the form of a lesson learned, a bond strengthened, or simply the resilience to keep going.

As I look back on 2024, I see a year that was far from perfect but filled with growth. It wasn’t always great, but it was meaningful. And I’m grateful for that.

If this year has been heavy for you—if the bad outweighed the good—I hope 2025 is gentler. I pray it brings you the kind of joy that warms your heart and the kind of peace that soothes your soul.

Here’s to the hope of brighter days ahead. And here’s to you—making it through another year, stronger than you realize.

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6 days till Christmas

The next time you her from me will be on Christmas day, isn’t hat exciting! A little Christmas letter.

Until then, have a holly jolly holiday season.

All my love,

Morah