I had two experiences in 2024 that serve as guideposts for me this year.
In July, I took my preteen and their bestie to Hershey Park Amusement Park. I drove 2 hours each ways and spent 8 hours at the park. We got full of the junkiest vegan food out there and stood in line for more hours than my feet care to recall – all for less than 2 minutes on several roller coasters. These kids love the thrill. On each ride, we all got in the prescribed seat, buckled up tightly, held on to the bar in front of us and took off with anticipation and screaming. At the end of this, I vowed to splurge on a FastPass next time and that there would be a lot of time before “the next time.” The happy kids were worth it though.
In November, I went on a cycling trip in Jamaica. I had hoped to train for it all summer, but I had a knee injury in May and instead spent the summer with a mixture of pain and physical therapy. I had not built my endurance up as I had hoped, so I adjusted my riding group to what I thought I could accomplish. There are few words for the happiness I found with sunshine, sea air, cycling and the resort that came with the trip. But I forgot about how hilly Jamaica is. Some of those uphills had me for breakfast, but the reward was always coming down hill. For a few moments, I got to rest my legs and let the wind carry me with speed – all on just 2 thin tires. I returned with a sense of accomplishment and excitement to train more and go again sometime in the future.
One time, I had to buckle up, hold on tight and brace for what was ahead.
Another time, I had to relax and let the wind carry me freely.
I’m taking these two principles into the new year. It’s hard to know the effects of the changing political climate in the United States, but for progressives like myself and many others, it will be bumpy. I’ll have to steady myself in my values and community and strategize ways to manage the oppressions that await us. But I also plan to live my personal life with greater ease: with the right blend of discipline and rest, and a lot of trust in the movement of Spirit and positive energy of loved ones.
I hope to thrive in 2025. In part because it rhymes, but also because I’m full of an unusual level of personal optimism. But I’m not naïve about our future and the ways that systems and powers steeped in individualism and apathy will affect us all.
I am glad that we get to make this year’s journey together and I hope you too can find that balance of life on a rollercoaster and also coasting downhill.
Happy New Year, friends.
Dr. Monica
