{goals} 2024 reflection – 6 things that energised me this year

I felt like doing a fun reflection here today as it’s the last #write24in2024 of the year. Big, gold star to me for completion of this project!

Also, all the serious questions feel a bit too personal for the blog but are perfect for my bullet journal.

I will therefore share 6 things that energised me in 2024.

1. holidays/ vacations

A strange thing about me (or maybe not so strange) is that while I love going on holidays, I really don’t like planning them at all. This is probably why we go back to the same places every year because I know I can rely on a home away from home and I know I will truly recharge.

For other types of holidays, I really like people to say “pay this for that” and I do my EFT and pack a bag.

This year, we spent a week straddling 2023 and 2024 in Clarens, much as we’re doing now between 2024 and 2025, and 8 days in Ballito. I hoped to do a week in Ireland for my 50th but that was not to be; in fact, I was visiting many medical professionals that week.

2. true connection

I started saying people and while that’s a part of it, something that truly energises me is true connection.

A good phone call, tea and a chat, a video call with a friend and so on. I have fewer friends since the pandemic and while I’m not thrilled about it, it is what it is.

There were a few gatherings this year that I kind of dreaded going to and on reflection, I realised it’s because they feel too superficial. I now have another thing happening to me where it feels like I am/ the cancer is the elephant in the room. There were two friend gatherings in November where I felt like everyone was consciously avoiding/ ignoring the topic, and honestly I don’t quite know what to do, if anything. Thoughts?

3. getting things done

This might be boring to many of you, but I am really very energised by getting things done. When I look back at my monthly goals lists and I see projects like “got plumbing sorted outside side gate”, it is very energising to me. I mean, I hate the phoning and emailing and hounding people, but when a project is complete, YES! Also, I now have a list of people who are easy to do business with (RotoRooter – Jhb peeps).

Also, don’t minimise the natural high of an organised drawer or cupboard too. Outer order, inner calm. And there’s a very special high that comes with decluttering – woohoo! See decluttering projects here.

4. reading

I just finished book 132 of the year. There is nothing quite like getting stuck into a book and not caring about food, my phone, the internet, instagram or anything but what is going on in the book. I love when I’m driving to work and I simply have to sit in the car in the basement to finish the last 5 minutes of an audiobook. I am still to tally up and do my full 2024 reading analysis for the year but it feels like it’s been a good year of reading for me.

5. exercise

I’ve always known that exercise in a group setting (which is how I exercise) energises me, but an unexpected benefit is that exercise also helps to reduce fatigue when you’re going through radiation treatment. My oncologists said, “move as much as you feel comfortable” and I said, “Zumba?” and they said, “sounds perfect”. And it was. It’s like how regular exercise makes you less tired. Worked for me. Also, the energy of a class full of women and the odd man dancing makes me very, very happy.

6. work 

This year work also energised me. When a lot of your life is out of control, there is something to be said for being able to do things and control things that you are good at. A friend said to me, “there’s no way I’d be working through all of this but… you are an extrovert, might be good for you”. Exactly that – I loved going into the office and leaving at 2:45 daily to make my appointment time. I had time to work, time to interact with my work friends, clients, team and other colleagues, and time to go get my body sorted out.

Over to you!

What energised you in 2024?