Happy New Year! Happy New Me!?
Reflecting on the past year… wow, what a ride. I decided to ask for change. I said: “Bring it on, no matter what!”Words I’ll never say so recklessly again. I got the change I asked for—and had to pay the price. Ouch. How naïve of me.
Well, I learned my lesson. Actually, I learned many lessons last year, and I’m sure there are plenty more waiting for me this year.
So, how’s your 2025 starting out? Did you set any New Year’s resolutions?
I’ve heard some people say they don’t bother with resolutions anymore—they think it’s cliché, or they’ve tried before and feel it never works out. Fair enough; everyone has their reasons.
But me? I actually love New Year’s resolutions. This time of year feels incredibly powerful to me. There’s this big, buzzing energy around Christmas and New Year’s—a collective vibe of fresh starts and new beginnings. Sure, it’s “just” the start of a new calendar year, but I like to ride that wave of energy, letting it carry me into transformation and growth.
At the end of December, I always take time to reflect on the past year. What happened? How did I respond to life? How did I grow? What did I learn or experience? Did I hit any of the goals I set? And most importantly—what do I want now? These questions might seem simple, but they hold some seriously powerful answers.
Once I’ve done this deep dive into myself—embracing the joys and facing the painful lessons—I start dreaming and planning for the year ahead. And let me tell you, it’s got to be fun. Life’s too short to take everything so seriously. Society’s structures and rules already weigh us down with enough seriousness, so I like to make my life fun.
Usually, I’ll sit down with a friend and hold a little New Year’s ceremony. We pull oracle and tarot cards, journal, talk about our dreams, and set intentions for the fresh start ahead. One of the most important parts of this ritual? Saying thank you and goodbye to the past year—letting go of anything that no longer serves me.
I also write down my goals and the habits I want to integrate into my life three or four times in different journals and in different ways. It’s not just about getting organized; it’s a way to connect with my goals creatively and make them truly mine.
I spend time visualizing myself as the person I want to become. For example: the woman who plays her ukulele every day, practices yoga and meditation daily, spends more time with friends, and deepens her connections with others. Those are just a few of my goals—but even imagining myself already living this life feels amazing.
Here’s the thing: if you can feel it, you can be it. It’s all about getting into the right frequency. When you step into that feeling of “Yes, I can do this! I can grow and thrive,” the universe (or God, however you see it) will back you up. Trust yourself. Trust the process.
Now, every New Year, I kick things off with something kind of wild: a two-week fast. Yep, two weeks without food. Sounds crazy, right? And honestly, it kind of is. Let me be clear—I’m not recommending this for everyone, especially if you’re new to fasting or haven’t done your research.
In my next blog post, I’ll dive deeper into the power of fasting, how it’s transformed me, and how you can try a gentler fasting detox yourself—without jumping straight into one of the hardest challenges a modern, privileged European could face. (And yes, I say “privileged” intentionally, without judgment. It’s just important to acknowledge how fortunate we are to have such an abundance of food and water—a privilege that’s sadly harming our health and disconnecting us from what our bodies actually need.)
