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I’m sitting in my little studio in LA, on a chair I found at a vintage market. I’ve picked up scrapbooking again—or maybe it’s more writing little notes in my sketchbook, adding photos or bits of memories I want to hold on to. I used to scrapbook a lot as a kid, and now, flipping through the pages of 2024, I’m remember how much I wished those months would just be over. Yet now, looking back, I find myself thinking: I wish I had sat with that version of myself more. I wish I had reminded myself more often, "This too shall pass," and "You will figure it out." Life is happening for you. The year taught me so much, especially the true meaning of faith. I learned that work ethic has the power to overcome fear, that stress and anxiety can paralyze your creativity and steal your present moment, and that morning walks can be the cure for almost everything. That moving to LA was one of the best decisions I’ve made for me, and living by the beach—something I’ve always dreamed of—was worth every risk. There’s true adventure in pursuing your wildest dreams, in taking chances on yourself. The older I get, the more I see the world for what it is—its politics, its cruelty. And here I am, worrying about a moment that will eventually pass. I’m not trying to diminish my feelings, or the heaviness of what I’ve been through - but when I think of the suffering others face, it becomes clear how lucky I am to even have a mountain to climb. To stand up and chase after my dreams.
“Dark times of uncertainty are there to push you in the right direction. The thing is, not everyone is willing to let go and be pushed.” A quote from Oprah that I wrote down in June 2024. It hit then, but makes so much sense now.
What I want for myself in the next 12 months feels more grounded than any year before while building CKD. I’m letting go of anything and anyone, any thought, any old belief that no longer serves me. It’s a time to create space for growth, for the things that align with who I am becoming, and for all that’s to come. Now, I’m saying thank you to every page of 2024. I’ll never forget this year, but like everything else, it’s time to let it go. What stays with me are the lessons—those are what I carry forward as I move on to what’s next. I’m keeping it light and positive. More dots are connecting, and I’ve been waiting over 8 years for this exact moment to arrive. Above all, coming back to the present and sitting with this new version of myself is my priority.