December 22, 2023

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It takes 365 days for the earth to complete its celestial journey around the sun. As this journey creates our seasons and the ebb and flow of our weather changes, it also creates the ever-changing backdrop needed to pursue our own personal journey.

As a way of reviewing the year and preparing myself for 2024, I recently revisited a few of my favorite videos and podcasts. In one particular Ted Talk that I've watched dozens of times—something new surfaced:

"The absence of disease is not health."

My inner skeptic asked, "really? Isn't it, though?". But the more I ruminated, the more it resonated. As it turns out, the absence of one thing is only half the equation; its opposite won't automatically emerge without further effort. The absence of hate doesn't automatically create love: apathy is often the residue left in its wake. The lack of sadness doesn't guarantee joy. The lack of debt surely isn't wealth, nor is the absence of hunger the same as satisfaction. This aha moment, broke open a deeper understanding about the complexity of my emotional well-being.

In 2023, I tackled some personal demons—I faced grief head-on, challenged my negative self-talk, and set some much-needed boundaries. It was liberating—sure, but a fairy god-mother didn't wave her wand, and I suddenly had a new dress or mindset. Yes, I had located the tools I needed to dig myself out of a hole; but when I finished, I was left with a pile of dirt that was all too eager to slide back into the space I'd just dug out.

Looking forward to next year, I have a new focus. I'm going to rebuild my foundation. I'm going to shift my mindset by consciously filling my empty spaces with people, places and things that lift me up and push me towards genuine well-being. Simply put, I'll embrace joy. I will keep reading books about happiness and a healthy mindset, but I will also start practicing them.

Here's to stepping into 2024 with a mindset that goes beyond the absence of everything that holds us back—let's actively craft a lifestyle that nourishes our souls. Our next rotation around the sun is about growth, joy, and a deeper understanding of what true health and happiness means to us.

See you in the new year!

~Bee 🐝