As I turn the corner into 2025, there are many huge milestones in the coming months. From my high school graduation to my first day of college, this will be a year of change and many bittersweet moments. I’m excited and hopeful to open this new chapter, so my one word resolution for this year is to be mindful.
Mindfulness is a skill I have struggled with throughout high school. It’s genuinely challenging to live in the moment between part-time jobs, lacrosse practices, school and quality time with the people I love. Becoming flooded with assignments and overwhelmed with hours committed to sports and work led me to a point where my days felt blended. Also, ironically, as a broadcast journalism student, I am constantly invested in learning the stories of others, yet I have not been paying attention to my own. As my responsibilities increased, my awareness of the world around me decreased. I constantly felt like my mind was racing with a never-ending to-do list, but 2025 is the time for me to slow down, taking life one step at a time. When you are engaged in every moment, big or small, you appreciate everything around you, improving your happiness and well-being.
What has drastically changed my ability to be present in every moment is journaling every night. Whether jumping into a Bible study, venting my emotions or creating a list of specific parts of my day that I am grateful for, taking the time to slow down and write out my thoughts allows me to think deeply about my experiences. This task doesn’t have to be as daunting as it may seem; simply looking up journal prompts can boost your imagination and drive you to reflect on your everyday life. I’ve also learned that being appreciative and mindful doesn’t just encompass happy things but also includes life’s challenges. Sometimes, being aware of hardships is even more important because when you recognize life’s imperfections, it becomes easier to work through them. Writing down my thoughts, going on drives and even listening to music have all been significant strategies to guide me in becoming mindful daily.
Embracing every moment of every day is truly game-changing, no matter how happy, sad, excited or frustrated you are. I firmly believe there can be good found in any situation, and mindfulness is the key to seeing it. Now, whether I’m throwing my cap in the air at graduation or simply watching a sunset, this year, I am driven to be fully mindful of every moment life brings my way.