As another calendar year turns, I find myself reflecting on the past 12 months. This year brought the precious gift of two grandbabies, moments of joy I will always cherish. Yet, it was also a year heavy laden with hard things: cancer, brain surgery, daily radiation treatments, three funerals, and financial strain. It’s been a lot to carry, and I know I’m not alone in feeling the weight of this past year.

In challenging seasons like this, I’ve found encouragement in looking back. My journals have been a source of comfort, reminding me of the positive messages and truths I’ve gathered along the way.

This year, I took a different approach. I revisited my columns and blog posts, selecting one meaningful message from each month to carry forward into the new year. Here are the first six: The Crucible of Winter–I can feel the intensity and discomfort of these slower months, while being open to the creation of something new. In the stillness, I find a deeper connection with myself and my Creator bringing new awareness. And, hope burns hot.

Be Open to Wild-Grown Love–I have been fortunate to be part of many families over my lifetime….What I love about love is that it includes everyone. When I experience these wild-grown families, I experience the beauty of what it means to live loved.

Did anyone notice I was gone?–Recently, I sat in a room with my fellow humans. They each carried their own concerns. Graduation coming, empty nest looming, relationship dissolving, farm lost, adult children longed for, young children being raised, friendships sought, illness fought, and new hope needed. Until we walked into that room, did anyone notice? We, humans, need each other. We do matter. So, we hold on together through the darkness of the struggle until the light comes.

Building something new requires that life get messy for a while–It's okay! I’ll be brave to keep doing something new. I am willing to grapple with the temporary chaos in exchange for long-term improvement. In life’s inevitable upheavals and transformations, I’ll set my mind to see past the mess and envision the reward awaiting me.

Breaking free from the monsters of busyness, stress, and productivity-I find myself holding on tightly to a merry-go-round that is spinning too quickly.

It’s as if someone is pushing it faster and harder, and I don’t know how to jump off without crashing.

I know there is more to life than constantly striving and achieving, but I’ve become a stress junkie who has overdosed on productivity and busyness. Perhaps true fulfillment lies in finding balance between achieving and simply being, and I wonder, what would happen if I embraced moments of rest and reflections as valuable as moments of productivity?

To read Roxanne’s Reflections or revisit any of the blogs from 2024, visit roxannesreflections.com