Pushing Pause on the Pursuit of Happiness
For most of my life, I’ve been very good at chasing more—more goals, more plans, more accomplishments, more of whatever comes next. But lately, something feels different. I still have dreams (including one that’s somehow become an actual second draft of a book!), but I’m beginning to realize I don’t have to wait for those dreams to come true before I’m allowed to enjoy my life. Maybe I’m actually starting to understand this whole thriving thing!
Cashing in my Mulligan
2025.
Well… that was... a year.
Like so many of you, I’ve been reading the year-end recaps — the honesty, the exhaustion, the collective sigh of “2025 was hard.” I feel that deeply. I see so many people saying they’re ready to let the heavy stuff go and finally receive goodness, peace, and joy.
Same. Loud same. If I’m being honest, 2025 sucked ass. It was a total kick in the face kind of year. One of those years where just when you think you’ve hit rock bottom, the floor drops out again. And again. And again.
There were moments I truly didn’t know how much more I could take — physically, emotionally, spiritually. It felt relentless. Exhausting. Heavy. Painful. Some days, survival was the only goal. Some days, I questioned everything.
And yet…