The holidays are at last in the rearview mirror, so now we get to unwrap a fresh, brand new year. Though 2025 hasn’t been without its bumps, to put it mildly, we can still reflect on its moments of beauty. Doing so is a wonderful way to say farewell – be it fond or otherwise – and then embrace the new year ahead. For some, a laundry list of ‘resolutions’ is the traditional new year kick-off, but how about instead using this first day of 2024 as a time to slowly shift mind and body out of the frantic holiday whirlwind and into a calmer state of being. Whether it’s a soothing walk in the woods, unwinding in a steamy sauna, meditating by a sun-filled window, or just curling up under the covers with a good book, easing gently into the new year is a great way to begin it. Think of this low-key first day as your gift to yourself after weeks of more activity than you probably wanted (fun as it may have been).
During this brief quiet time, I also encourage you to take a few moments to give yourself the gift of inspiration for the year ahead. Here are a few words of uplift from nine beacons of wisdom. These are people who’ve made their way through extraordinary difficulties to find strength, wisdom, love and compassion – and can shed light on our own paths as we make our way through the days to come.
I’ll let the masters below speak for themselves, but in the meantime, my wish is that your 2024 is filled with love, hope and peace – and the opportunity to share those gifts every day.
CONNECTING WITH YOUR HUMANITY
“It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul.”
― Desmond Tutu
SPREADING KINDNESS
“We must never forget the power of kindness and the impact it can have on someone’s life.”
― Rosalynn Carter
TEACHING LOVE
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. They must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
― Nelson Mandela
KEEP EVOLVING
“Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution.”
— Maya Angelou
FUELING HOPE
“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.”
― Barack Obama
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
“It is important to have determination, optimism and patience. If you lack patience, even when you face some small obstacle, you lose courage. There is a Tibetan saying, “Even if you have failed at something nine times, you have still given it effort nine times.” I think that’s important. Use your brain to analyze the situation. Do not rush through it, but think. Once you decide what to do about that obstacle, then there’s a possibility that you will achieve your goal.”
― Dalai Lama
REFRAMING ADVERSITY
“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.”
― Michelle Obama
CHOOSING CHANGE
“The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices. God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to work together for peace. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can make these changes and we must remember that there are many ways to accomplish our goals, together.”
― Jimmy Carter