Wrapping up another year, as time seems to fly so much faster the older I get. Not sure if it’s kids and watching them grow and change right in front of your eyes….a busy life and not taking enough time to be “bored”. You spend days as a child waiting for your birthday to come and I spend days wishing time would pause.
2024 was a big year for me, I ventured into my first year of having TWO kids and got through the postpartum stage. Going from 1-2 is a journey in its-self. After about 4 months in of having my daughter, we found our rhythm of being a family of four. Figuring out how to be a mother to two, giving them both what they need at both different stages of their lives. That first year is full of ups and downs but I realized how beautiful it is doing it the second time around. You get nostalgic for things that happened the first time around. You realize how fast each phase goes and when you are in the trenches you know there is light. Watching my kids laugh and play with each other makes me choke up every time. The bond they’ll have forever is just so beautiful to watch flourish. When you have one child you are born again, forever changed as this new person. When you have two you feel wiser and much stronger as a woman.
In 2024 I figured out what I selfishly needed. I wanted to get my body back fast this time, get back to work even faster to start a new chapter of my life, not just a new year. I took so much time deep in the fertility depths for years and years…. I was just excited to get back to ME. (wrote about it here)
I went through a BIG journey with work. After a shocking turn, I grabbed my career by the horns and took it on my self. It was scary, a lot of hard work, a lot of perseverance and a lot of believing in myself. I took a lot of risks, I went through an insane amount of emotions , greif and change. I’m really proud of my self that I didn’t give up. I think when you loose so much, you fear-less. I have that motto my mother always said to me “what’s the worst that can happen?” It goes through my head daily. I’ve gone through the worst - so just give it a try. They say NO and…well….you just move on. It all works out in some way.
I know that everyone takes January to focus on health. This year I think I am going to tap into the health craze. Could be the daily spritz i’ve been having in Australia but I feel ready for change. My mind, my body, my bad back I have been ignoring for years. Go on more long walks, listen to more podcasts that help educate my self. I want to fill my brain with more knowledge. Do more weights, stretch more, tap into my female health that isn’t part of the fertility spectrum. (get those skin and breast checks)
Do all of the beauty things because feeling good…feels good. Actually, stick to routines. I have arrived at the age where the word “longevity” means more to me. I want to live longer to be with my kids, I want the energy and stamina to run after them AND their children.. I want to pay attention to those things happening in my body I push to the side cause so many other little bodies need me right now.
More traveling, more doing nothing for a moment, more cooking, more fashion! More calling my family members just to check in. More lunches for no reason with my girlfriends, more time alone with my husband. More complimenting strangers because making someone feel good, feels great. More giving my time to others in need, less rushing, more sleep, more following through. Hey, even more Substacking, cause I really love doing it. More saving money and buying less of what I don’t need. Reading more, listening more, talking more. Speak UP! Trying new restaurants, continuing to care less what others think. Removing what and who doesn’t make me feel good in my life. Saying NO more, but also saying YES more. More “you can sleep when your dead” mentality but in a later 30’s kind of way.
Let go of perfection, write more letters to my kids, be more open minded. Put my self in more uncomfortable situations, jump in the ocean even when it’s cold. Showing up for my self and acknowledging people for things they are doing well. Give women support, because we all are going through our own personal shit. The list can go on and on but I will say I’m excited for 2025 and I hope you are too.
Heading home this week from a long, wonderful break and I am ready to jump back in it. Lots more articles to come, thanks for your patience during the holidays X Cyd
Beautiful, Cyd! Could you share what camera you used for the film photos? I think you posted most of them to instagram, but I see one here too! They’re amazing!