Photo by cottonbro studio
This post idea is borrowed from an article in my favorite magazine Bella Grace. It’s so easy to drudge through the days on auto-pilot. I know I’m guilty at the end of each year thinking, where the heck did this year go? I turned 50 in 2024 and I’ll be honest, it hit me hard. My kids are grown now and I’m focusing on myself a bit more in this chapter. I want to live intentionally and continue to be grateful for all the blessings in my life.
Here’s 24 things I’m celebrating from 2024:
- Took my second cruise in January with good friends and Michael.
- Enjoyed another year with my fabulous book club-just started our 17th year together
- Destroyed my 2024 Goodreads challenge. I had set a goal of reading 48 books in 2024 and I ended up reading 66
- Nick completed another half-marathon
- My friends surprised me with a 50th birthday celebration
- Beat Nicholas in one game of bowling (don’t ask how many he’s won)
- 3 new babies on the Sanford side
- Experienced an eclipse in April with friends
- Celebrated my nephew Braden’s high school graduation
- Saw our little city band together in the aftermath of several large “wind events”. Great to see people working together towards a common goal instead of trying to tear each other down
- Visited Kentucky Horse Park with friends during a camping weekend
- Totaled my car in July. I know this doesn’t seem like something to celebrate but no one was seriously injured and that’s something to celebrate
- Bought a Nissan Murano to replace the Sonata
- Both boys were able to make our annual Holiday World trip. This hasn’t happened for a few years since they both have full-time jobs now. Much harder to coordinate vacation schedules
- Thanks to a great physical therapist, my knee that’s hurt for years is much better. Hoping she can work wonders on my shoulder this year, lol.
- Michael bought his first condo
- Discovered that a permanent empty-nest wasn’t too rough of an adjustment
- My nephew entered basic training for the Army
- Bought a fabulous chair for the reading nook I’m creating in my now empty second bedroom
- Visited Buc-ee’s for the first time (Verdict is still out if I really get the appeal, lol).
- Invited to a Momma Mia party to celebrate the birthday for my friends’ mother
- Japanese dinners to celebrate both boys birthdays this year. Michael turned 28 and Nicholas 26-I know, I don’t look old enough to have boys that age!!
- Paid off cruise #3 scheduled for February 2025
- Ended the year celebrating New Year’s eve with great friends. A tradition I look forward to each year.
Cruising into 2025
What did you get to celebrate this year? Anything exciting on the docket for 2025? I am looking forward to so many things. I can’t wait to see what my boys accomplish this year. I’ve got a cruise scheduled and hopefully can take a few road trips this year. Working on some private goals as well.
Planning to focus on the good in people instead of dwelling on negative people in 2025. So many people out there doing good and yet it’s easy to focus on those just stirring up trouble in the world. Challenging myself and others to create some good for people this year.
