Reflections of a New Year
In January of every year, I put a fresh calendar on the wall, put away my holiday decorations, dust and clean, and open my new weekly planner-naturally leading to contemplation of what I want my life to look like for the next year.
Last year, I made a goal of peace. Or at least, that’s what I shared. In reality, I had high expectations for my career. I knew it would take work, drive, and sacrifice. With lofty goals came heavy mental loads, and I found myself running into a few challenges I just was not able to overcome. While I’m miles behind where I’d hoped to be in 2025, I’m also miles closer towards those goals than when I started reaching for them in 2024.
I found new venues for my massage education classes, including one in my hometown!
I was able to fund some of the work I do for free for massage therapists by gaining a sponsor for the Facebook group I founded in 2022.
I continued my yarn Tuesdays event at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center.
I raised $365 in donations and tip money for the Doing it for David fundraiser for pediatric cancer research.
I obtained my certification in Manual Lymphatic Drainage, offering an entirely different type of bodywork.
I chose to end my relationship with Sage Continued Education, allowing me to grow my quality of teaching.
I purchased a hydraulic table with leg and back tilts.
I continually updated my existing practice, clientele, and courses.
I worked with my romantic partner towards redefining household responsibilities and our relationship became stronger because of it.
I started medication that has significantly improved a lifelong struggle with insomnia.
I discovered a lovely new spa.
I made a habit of making my own bread instead of purchasing it.
Started to attend (and even hosted my own) Thai massage get togethers, where a group of trained practitioners spend a few hours practicing on each other.
In 2025, I look towards remaining peaceful and continuing to work on my professional goals:
Posting at least twice a month on my blog
Increasing my online availability by listing my products online for purchase, and altering my CEs to an online version.
Planning my vacations and CEs in advance
Initiating free “self care” events.
One lesson that really stood out to me in 2024 was the importance of community. I have had a blog sitting in my drafts for months trying to encompass the feeling of this epiphany for me. Owning a business, especially one in which the clientele need peace, can be isolating. Between leaving a night-shift position and the isolation of covid, I found my social circle was limited mostly to my home. Without knowing it, I was seeking community in my reaching out to old coworkers and acquaintances, volunteering, going to networking meetings, and enrolling in college courses. I finally decided to set my career goals aside and sign up for an 8 week improv class. Being able to get out of my element, to be silly around a group of silly people, and let my hair down really helped to satisfy the social interaction I was craving. I’ve signed up for my third series of improv classes starting later this month.
So how would I encompass what I’m expecting for 2025? I feel like it’s much harder to grasp than it was in 2024. Here’s to it!
