Reality-Based Community
My WOTY + 2024 Reflections
I’ve been relishing in the beautifully slow pace of this holiday break with my family. My kids’ last day of school was December 20th, and we hit the (snowy-scary) road the same day for a special trip to Stowe with my Charleston-based sister and her family before returning home on Christmas Eve. We’ve been wonderfully home-bound ever since!
While I didn’t make a public recap post, looking through hundreds of 2024 pictures and video for my private post made one thing clear: my most favorite moments were in community. From starting the year at Boston’s Civic Summit and my first visit to the White House with fellow survivors, to hosting 4 retreats, it was so good to gather for conversation (often over good food!) and unique experiences.
More of this in 2025, please.
It also brought to mind the must-watch Heather Cox Richardson’s final Facebook Live of 2024 where she implored us to return the world to a reality-based community. For me this means more IRL gatherings, authenticity, honesty and reciprocity.
Considering this, coming off of 2024’s WOTY, “Forward,” a literal movement I had to embody as I continued recovering from a major physical set back at the end of 2023, the word that landed on my heart a couple months ago was:
FORTIFY
Weeks after selecting my 2025 WOTY, it dawned on me that I’m also turning forty-five this year, so the similar sound of the word seemed especially fitting!
I selected this word as a reminder to lean into the things that build me up:
Community - this year marks the 5th anniversary of my Cape Cod Refresh retreats, and I’m excited to introduce more women to it as well as partner with more women-owned businesses (you can still contribute here to sponsor attendees - thank you to everyone who generously has so far!)
Physical activity - once I got the all clear in October 2024 to intensify my workouts, I literally jumped right in; my family has does an annual Gym Rats fitness challenge that we did last year (and I’m excited to track again this year)
Prioritizing and optimizing my overall health - I recently started working with a functional practitioner and it’s giving me a great path forward into the 2nd half of my life
Education - finding gaps in my knowledge and filling them in #KnowBetterDoBetter
I’m grateful for each of you who have joined me here. Community is built on communication and dialog, so my hope for this space in 2025 is less lurking and more engaging. Plus, the data shows it’s good for you!
Do you have a WOTY? If so, whats yours?
Fortify sounds very similar to what's been coming up for me, which is: Anchor. Anchoring of self through connection to spirit, nature, and community. Anchoring into care and action personally and collectively. xoxo
Love being in community with you, sister!