Three Things I Learned in 2024

As this year comes to an end, I can't help but reflect on the amazing ride it has been. I've accomplished many things and learned so much through some dramatic seasons of change in my life. I graduated from nursing school, competed on the Miss Utah stage, moved halfway across the state, and started my big girl job as a registered nurse on a cardiovascular unit. These are just a few key moments that shaped my year and had the greatest impact on me. Today, I want to share with you some takeaways from some of those big moments and other events during 2024. These learning moments are not things I have perfected but things I want to continue to work on in 2025 and things I invite you to reflect on as we all enter a new year together.

Feeling and Acknowledging Fear is Okay

Having the courage to speak up this year seemed to be a trend for me. There were many times I felt nervous, and I had to learn to acknowledge my fears and speak up to ask for support. As I prepared for Miss Utah in June, I felt a lot of nerves because I had high goals I wanted to achieve and knew the competition was going to be tough. I kept telling myself, my friends, and my family that I didn't feel nervous because I thought that if I said it enough times, I would believe it. I didn't acknowledge my nerves before arriving to check in at Miss Utah week, and it was a downfall for me. Because I didn't talk about my fears leading up to the competition, I didn't know how to face them. I wasn't prepared. Yes, I had done everything physically to prepare for the competition, like dance rehearsals, walking practice, and mock interviews, but I hadn't prepared enough emotionally and mentally beforehand. For me, I learned that I need to talk about my fears. Acknowledging that you are nervous and getting the help you need is okay; it's healthy.

Change is Hard, Staying in the Same Place is Harder

Twenty-twenty-four was full of some major life changes. I graduated from nursing school, moved halfway across the state, and started my first big girl job as a Registered Nurse. Change is amazing; it provides opportunities for growth and brings on new adventures. Change can also be really hard. There can be anxiety created by the unknowns and having to learn a lot of new things. I was so excited to finally graduate from nursing school and start my career but also terrified. The change to a job with a lot more responsibility in my hands was so hard, and the knowledge I was learning was so overwhelming. I had also just moved away from my biggest support system, my family, and the big move happened only two weeks after competing at Miss Utah. I was drained, but I stuck it out. I pushed through my job orientation and gave myself time and grace. With a lot of patience, things slowly started to feel lighter. Reflecting back, that dramatic life change brought on a lot of unwanted emotions and imposter syndrome that made me feel like I wasn't doing good enough, but every minute of it was absolutely worth it. I'm now learning to thrive in the change and pressure, and growing in my new chapter of life. I am so grateful for the change. Even though staying in the same place might have felt easier and a heck of a lot more comfortable than the change at the time, staying there would have been harder in the end. So go for that big change that you are feeling scared of, even though it might feel intimidating and like the wrong decision at first.

Sustainability

Something I have always struggled with is sustainable health and habits. I tend to go through patterns and waves of over-focusing or under-focusing on my physical well-being. I grew up as a competitive dancer when I would go to dance every day after school and be there for 3-6 hours. I was burning so many calories that I could eat whatever I wanted and not see the effects of it. Since ending my time in competitive dance at the age of 15, my health has been extremely difficult to find peace with. I've gone through periods of extreme weight gain and loss and a whole lot of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. This last year I committed to myself to be consistent and throw out my all-or-nothing mindset. Even when I didn't have a perfect day or week of eating and exercising, I still made an effort to create healthy habits. I promised myself to find a sustainable lifestyle that I could maintain lifelong, and I did. I'm so proud of myself for learning that this year. It's something I have been wanting to learn for so long and something I'm still continuing to work on. I know that by ridding myself of the all-or-nothing mindset, I have created a sustainable lifestyle.

It's a Wrap

Twenty twenty-four was full of ups and downs, lots of laughs, tears, joy, and trials, and most of all, changes and learning. I can't help but feel full of gratitude for every moment this year, even the difficult ones, because I know they have shaped me and prepared me for the next chapter. I hope as this year comes to a close, we can all reflect on the moments of 2024 that made an impact on us and what we have learned. Cheers to 2025!