3 Wins, 2 Lessons, 1 Plan

Reflections on 2024. Goals for 2025.

From a glassy corner in my apartment, I often look out at the walkway leading to where I call home.

The path is flanked by trees on both sides, and in summer, when the leaves are at their most verdant and dense, the canopies envelop everything below in their lush embrace. Sidewalks, the inky black pitch of the pavement, and manicured front lawns fade into theory beneath the foliage. Only dormers and the shingled roofs of homes across the street peek through.

Nowadays, I can see it all.

The once-hidden entryway now stands fully revealed as gangly branches, the color of sand, blend seamlessly with pavers and scattered fallen leaves.

Winter is known for its bite, but I value the season of my birth for its sobering clarity - the inability to conceal what lies beneath. As the landscape reveals its truths, I am moved to do the same as I reflect on the past year and look forward to what lies ahead.

I’m glad to be back,

R.

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3 WINS

• Hanumanasana (Front Split)

  I started practicing yoga nearly five years ago, and since day one I’ve wanted to learn how to do a front split. Long story short, we here! And if I knew ballet would be the splitting tipping point, I would have picked up the hobby sooner.

• Read 13 Books by Women

  Halfway through the year I realized all my books up to that point were by women, so I made it a goal to continue that trend through December.

  10 of these titles were first-time reads, while Wild, All About Love, and The Long Game are ones I enjoy returning to.

I love a good memoir - Cargle’s was an easy and impactful read.

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde -Tia Williams (Novel)

The Way of Integrity -Martha Beck (Guidance & Strategy)

Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be - Dr. Becky Kennedy (Guidance & Strategy)

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body - Roxane Gay (Memoir)

The Princess of Thornwood Drive - Khalia Moreau (Fantasy)

PlayBoy - Constance Debre (Memoir)

Nightcrawling - Laila Mottley (Novel)

Power Moves - Sarah Jakes Roberts (Guidance & Strategy)

UnTrap Da Hood -

Jacquie Verbal

(Guidance & Strategy)

A Renaissance of Our Own - Rachel E. Cargle (Memoir)

The Long Game - Dorie Clark (Guidance & Strategy)

All About Love - bell hooks (Philosophy)

Wild - Cheryl Strayed (Memoir)

• Share my work with 500 subscribers

  I met this goal and then surpassed it by ending the year with over 1,000 subscribers to my words.

  Thank you to those who’ve tangibly supported my creativity by upgrading your subscription, adding a book to my shelf, or buying a coffee. Your generosity is a battery in my back.

2 LESSONS

• I started the year ready to earn a new certification. As the year progressed, it became very clear studying for the exam wouldn’t be the best use of my time based on my shifting priorities. The target had changed - I knew it. My support system knew it. And I, hard-headedly, chose to steamroll forward without any real plan to go from aspiration to accomplishment.

  My Lesson: Be willing to ride the waves of change. Otherwise, I might find myself out $143 for an exam I paid for but didn’t sit to take 😵‍💫.

Me to studying. (Summer, 2024)

• I’ll be fluency in Haitian Kreyol in the not-too-distant future. But this year, I didn’t dedicate enough time to practicing it consistently. Unsurprisingly, I got out of it what I put in—spoiler alert: not much.

  My Lesson: If it’s not scheduled, it doesn’t exist. If I do not plan for it, it won’t happen. Blocking off more time for daily practice will make holding conversations easier.

1 PLAN - 2025 GOALS

• Tangibly support my peace by:

  🚫 Exercising restraint -I get to stop overextending myself by volunteering to fix shit that has nothing to do with me

  🌛 Staying ready - I’m reminded a great day begins the night before. Preparing myself to ease into the upcoming day will keep me firm in my convictions.

  🪮 Connecting more - The best people in my life remind me how capable, loving, and worthy I am. When I find myself distancing, it’s often because I am fixated on the opposite. I get to do better about coming back to reality.

• Remove the word “just” from my vocab

  It’s one of those words thrown around as a diminisher. And nothing I do is ever without effort or deserves to be reduced in size or value. If I’m not speaking about justice, the word “just” won’t be in the mix.

• Perform at 15 open mics

  I both love and hate being the center of attention. By the end of this stretch, I imagine I’ll have a more neutral perspective on the spotlight and better public speaking skills.

One down, 14 to go.

• Expand my reach to 5000 subscribers.

  Writing is an exercise in discipline, vulnerability, and audacity. I’m here getting my reps in. Also, gifts are meant to be shared. And to me, one of the best feelings is reading something that resonates or puts exactly how you’ve been feeling into words.

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LET ME KNOW

Today’s my birthday :) What’s your favorite memory from 33?

What are you working on? Do we share any ambitions? Let’s create a win/win

Are you a fan of winter? In which ways do you conceal yourself?

Do you have any encouragement, support, feedback, or resources to move me along with my intentions?