2024 : A Year of Courage In Review<\/p>\n
My theme for 2024 was \u2018A Year of Courage.\u2019\u00a0 It followed themes of Forgiveness, Intention, Healing, Introspection, and The Ten Years of Tragedy. \u00a0As I watch the cold First and foremost, I had the courage to be optimistic.\u00a0 The USA continues to prove itself to be a broken, exploitative country wherein the rich avoid consequences while wielding fear and anger to manipulate otherwise well-meaning people to do their bidding.\u00a0 I continued to put good faith efforts with people to hold on to hope, and while I\u2019m disappointed (but not surprised) the chosen path is pain over progress, I do not regret believing in a coalition of the rational to step up when it counted to resist the far white and their misled allies.\u00a0 It was a reminder people do not always act rationally; the leopards will not go hungry for some time.<\/p>\n I had the courage to advocate.\u00a0 I succeeded much better this year at striking a balance between understanding when something needed to sort itself out and when I needed to act.\u00a0\u00a0 I also succeeded much better this year at not tolerating harmful situations just because I didn\u2019t want to \u2018rock the boat.\u2019\u00a0 I spoke up to those needing to hear what needed to be said at a much higher rate this year, but I also did so without being excessive or piling on.\u00a0 I delivered my message, answered any questions, and stepped back.<\/p>\n I had the courage to be authentic.\u00a0 I spent a fair amount of time teaching this year, and not once did I become frustrated because someone didn\u2019t \u2018get it.\u2019\u00a0 I intrinsically understand everyone\u2019s journey is unique, and as such, some people grasp things immediately, and others take longer.\u00a0 My optimism this year was not a mask to hide some deeper issue, it was genuine.\u00a0 I did well limiting how broad of a brush I used when speaking and never took nuance for granted.\u00a0 While I didn\u2019t publish as much as I would have liked, the quality of my work didn\u2019t drop off like in previous years;\u00a0 my (in progress) book continues to show promise.\u00a0 I never compromised my principles.<\/p>\n It is easy to be angry and overwhelmed by the endless negativity pouring out from the world.\u00a0 It is easy to be discouraged, knowing it\u2019s only going to get worse before it gets better.\u00a0\u00a0 It is easy to lose yourself as one often has to go out of one\u2019s way to find the good when the war profiteers try to keep you surrounded by the bad.\u00a0 However,\u00a0 as I turn the music up and the news off, I am reminded I am not alone, and neither are you.\u00a0 I dared to be courageous, and we will need more of it in the coming times.<\/p>\n It isn\u2019t over yet, and I think I will make 2025: The Year of Focus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 2024 : A Year of Courage In Review My theme for 2024 was \u2018A Year of Courage.\u2019\u00a0 It followed themes of Forgiveness, Intention, Healing, Introspection, and The Ten Years of Tragedy. \u00a0As I watch the cold November December rain, I take a moment to reflect on how this year\u2019s theme went;\u00a0 did I do well […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[338],"tags":[332],"class_list":["post-28986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-considered-thoughts","tag-332"],"yoast_head":"\nN<\/del>ovember<\/span> December rain, I take a moment to reflect on how this year\u2019s theme went;\u00a0 did I do well with being courageous?\u00a0 I immediately want to say \u2018no.\u2019\u00a0 After understanding my immediate \u2018no\u2019 is more a reflection of frustration, I let the waters calm, and I peer beyond the surface ripples and distorted reflections to see a better answer \u2013 yes.<\/p>\n