Have You Unwrapped 2024 Yet?

Seasons Greetings,

2024 is nearly over - can you believe it?
Have you unwrapped it?

Looking back, 2024 has been a transformative year for me. One of resilience, growth, and unexpected lessons. Surviving a house fire shook me to the core. Completely altering not just my year but the entire trajectory of my life. Yet through the ashes came clarity  and an evolving sense of dharma (my purpose in this life).

Here I am. Grateful, stronger, and more determined than ever.

Your Year in Reflection

What about you? What stories does your 2024 tell?
As we prepare for 2025, I invite you to pause and reflect:

• What has 2024 taught you about yourself? 
• What moments, even the tough ones, helped you grow? 
• What attachments might you let go of to create space for deeper fulfilment? 
• Did you do what you need to do to get where you want to be in 2025?

 Why Bother?

“We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.” John Dewey

Reflection isn’t about looking back. It’s about understanding what worked, what didn’t, and how to carry the good stuff forward.

Need some help?

Debrief with loved ones. Look at your diary (paper or electronic), social media posts, emails, text messages. Walk around your home. Even scroll through your camera roll. You might even choose five photos that define your 2024 story. Or words/sentances.

For me, five defining words came as part of unwrapping 2024:

1. Fire (no surprises there)
2. Insurance (a reality I couldn’t escape.
3. Salvaging Contents 
4. Vinegar & Bicarbonate Soda (unexpected lifesavers during the cleanup)
5. Sandy (the greatest gift of 2024. Our family’s joyful Spoodle puppy. My 5 year old daughter's wish).

Even my top song: All in All by Shania Twain, resonated. A reminder to keep rising through life’s storms. All in all there's nothing new. I'm still myself, but I've changed. Things I always thought were strange. Aren't that strange at alll'. 

Plus Harry Styles ' As it was'. The song is about embracing change and former self 

Recognising Samskaras: Rewriting Old Stories

As I reflected, I noticed repetitive thought patterns creeping in. Especially during tough moments:

•  “Did I just survive my second fire? Is this a nightmare I’ll wake up from?”
•  “What’s going to happen next?” (this was during the acute phase. Especially at night when I was hyper vigilant.
•  “Why me?”

These are what yoga philosophy calls samskaras. Mental impressions or thought grooves formed by past experiences. Left unchecked, samskaras can trigger automatic reactions, making us feel stuck. In yoga, we work on transforming these patterns through awareness. Compassion, and new actions.

Reframing my samskaras helped me break free from the emotional weight they carried. I chose to see 2024 as an opportunity for growth. The fire being a yogic metaphor of encouraging me to burn what no longer served me. In alignment with the yogic principle of aparigraha(non-attachment).

Setting Intentions for 2025

Yoga teaches us that the world is our best teacher. Life’s challenges often hold the most valuable lessons. 
As you envision 2025, let go of rigid resolutions. Instead, set mindful intentions rooted in personal growth, health, and purpose. Celebrate every small step toward your goals. Knowing that life’s magic unfolds in the process. Not the destination.

If you’re ready to explore how yoga can support your journey. I’d love to guide you through one of my programs next year.
Here’s to letting the fire of transformation burn away what no longer serves you. My main lesson of 2024. Then step into 2025 with clarity, strength, and gratitude. Most of all, enjoy the rest of 2024.

Feel free to reply to this email. I’d love to hear about your 2024 reflections or answer any questions about my upcoming programs. Let’s rise together in 2025! 

Happy holidays

Liz