2025: Another Year, Another Set of Lists
I'm coming into 2025 dragging my feet, trying to savor all that I enjoyed in 2024. But also looking forward to everything I have planned for the New Year.
If I were to put a label on the last few years, 2023 would have been my “year of adventure” and 2024 would be “the year I did too much”. Don’t get me wrong, this year has been wonderful in so many ways but in the same vein I am rolling into the end of the year absolutely dragging. I have consistently burned the candle at both ends for too long and quite frankly it has made the year go by in the blink of an eye. I feel like in trying to recover from post-trail depression I’ve been moving so fast that I haven’t quite been able to savor all the great things I’ve done this year as much as I deserve to. And there are also things that I have wanted to accomplish that got thrown to the side because I’d over promised and over committed myself.
As I start to marinate on what I want 2025 to look like and how I want to feel in the New Year, a constant theme keeps coming to mind. I want to slow back down, I want to savor the moments, and I want to stop biting off more than I can chew just because I think I have to do ALL the things.
If you remember from last year, I don’t just like to write goals, I find writing intentions AND goals is a healthier practice for myself. And that is because of the difference between the two. Goals are “a destination or specific achievement” while intentions are meant “to be lived each day, independent of achieving a goal”. Intentions are more about your relationships with yourself and others and I believe that by focusing on those instead of goals, I can achieve more of the goals I set for myself.
Usually I do a breakdown of specific intentions and goals for each pocket of my life, but this year for my sanity, because of the intentions I want to strive for, and for a certain forthcoming adventure, I want to focus much more on intention with a short overall section for goals.
Before we completely dive into my intentions of 2025, I want to touch on the highlights (note that I said highlights, because there were definitely some lows 😅) of 2024. I want to reiterate that although I am coming into the end of the year burnt out, I am also exhilarated with how many amazing experiences I was able to enjoy this year (I just wish I gave myself more time and grace to really absorb them).
In 2024…
I got my sea legs on my first AND second ever cruise vacation. One with Royal Caribbean and one with Disney Cruise Line. They were both pretty phenomenal, but we know how I love that Disney Magic.
My passport finally has stamps in it! I can now say I’ve been to Italy, Greece, Germany, & France. I am already chomping at the bit to plan more trips in these countries - it never feels like I’m there long enough to immerse myself.
I experienced the magic of the German (and one in France) Christmas markets. The enchantment of Christmas that you could feel in these markets was like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
My sister and I ran more magical miles at our second RunDisney Wine & Dine Weekend and our 4th RunDisney race weekend.
I experienced a new National Park off my bucket list. New River Gorge National Park was everything I dreamed it would be and I hope to go experience more of the wonderful activities offered at the park in the future.
Barbie and I went on adventures to Crowders and Hanging Rock State Park as well as a few other NC State Parks that were new to Barbie. It’s always wonderful to explore the beautiful state parks NC has to offer.
And I enjoyed many, many treats in wonderful places.
& now without further ado…
2025 Life Intentions
To spend more time in the moment with my people
Prioritizing movement and outside time even more (it makes such a difference for me)
Focusing on my art practices again and other creative endeavors that bring me joy
Emphasizing new experiences over things
Traveling new places
Less screen time, more book time (this was really big for me in 2024 and although I’m still a screen addict, I spent a lot less time on screens and more on books this year. I am super proud of that)
Some goals that I hope these intentions lead too
[this first one I can’t quite share publicly yet - but it’s happening and I’m excited]
Finding a job with more freedom to travel
To spend more time in the moment with my people (this is both an intention and a goal because I want it to be a constant practice)
Simplifying organization at home and decluttering what no longer serves me
More reading, it’s been such a great switch to pick up a book at night instead of my phone
2025 Adventure Intentions
Visit more (new-to-me) national parks
Van adventures with my mom
Small Town Adventures
A few I hope to re-explore or visit in 2025:
Sylva, NC - Cashiers, NC - Waynesville, NC - Mountain City, TN - Hickory, NC - Greensboro, NC - Winston-Salem, NC - just to name a few
Hike new-to-me trails
Explore NC State Parks I’ve never wandered through
Doughton Recreation Area (I have done this one before but it ended with trip to the hospital (unavoidable and unrelated to the hike) and I need a redo)
I wasn’t able to make this one happen in 2024 (Hurricane Helene) so I’m adding it back on as a specific goal for 2025
Winter International Trip or a Christmas Disney Trip (I’m not sure I’ll be able to squeeze this in with what I already have planned, but I can dream)
2025 Art Intentions
I really let my art fall to the wayside in 2024, and I have so many projects I want to make happen. So even though 2025 is already planning to be full of adventure, I really want to make art a priority too.
Focusing on my art practices again and other creative endeavors that bring me joy
Trying new creative endeavors just for the fun and joy of it
Like pottery, printmaking, linocut, etc.
Emphasizing painting in plein air more and dedicating more time to that practice of art
Bringing the ideas I’m most excited about in my head to life
Because they’ve been swirling around in my brain for too long 😅
2025 Creator Intentions & Goals
To create & show up more consistently on all my platforms
Biweekly YouTube Videos
Monthly to BiWeekly Substack posts
Instagram Posts a few times a week
Determine which platforms I feel most passionate about sharing on and focusing on those that bring the most joy, not those which I might go *viral*
Lately I’ve been really loving longer form content. I have so much more to say than some apps allow.
And with that prior intention, this one…To continue to write and share what I’m feeling passionate about, not just what will get me views, attention, or readership
Continue to explore and share the best TREATS, adventures, hidden gem food spots, cutest small towns, and adventure tips to help inspire others to get outside
2025 Ins & Outs
I really loved seeing everyone’s Ins & Outs lists last year so this year I’m doing short little versions for myself.
Life
In
More books
Touching grass
Movement
Self-Advocating
Bedtime at Hiker Midnight + Rising with the Sun
Baking homemade treats
Experiences
Meaningful connections & conversations
Out
Doom Scrolling
Rooms without windows
Letting people walk all over me
Overcommitting
Eating like a racoon in a dumpster
Collecting more s t u f f
Burnout
Small talk
Art
In
More art experiences
Trying new mediums
Plein air art
Art with meaning
Making time for art
Out
Putting creative time on the backburner
Product focused instead of creation focused
Buying more art supplies
Not letting my creative interests ebb & flow
Creator
In
Content that is fun to create
Showing up consistently
More writing
Conscious sharing
Sharing passions
MORE TREATS
Out
Burnout
Making content for views
Sharing on too many platforms
Sharing just to share something
Sticking to one niche
In certain ways celebrating the New Year and making these lists seems so trivial - it really is just another day. I don’t say this because I don’t think it’s beneficial to start fresh or to have goals for yourself. During the winter seasons as we end a year and start one anew, I can’t help but think about how we rush and how we over commit. We rush to finish up everything we wish to leave behind or have completed by the new year and we also simultaneously overextend ourselves to become the best version of ourselves as soon as the clock strikes midnight Dec. 31. What I myself often have to remind myself of (as I am almost always scrambling to finish something) is that although us humans tend to forget, we are as much a part of nature as any other creature. In winter we deserve to slow down too. It’s hard, it’s hard to slow down in a world that praises productivity and constant state of doing. But we all deserve the chance to rest and reset. And once you’ve rested and reset if you feel the call to make a list, a vision board, or simply ready yourself to make it thru 2025, I hope you start the year in the way you need most.
As I stated above, in 2025, I want to slow back down. I want to do less in order to do more and to feel more. To feel more like myself again and to have the time to soak in and be proud of the experiences I do get to have. And making this list of intentions and putting it out into the world is the start of cementing that intention for me.
Happy New Year & Happy Trails friends. I can’t wait to see what trails 2025 takes us down.