Yesterday, I made some key moves that will preserve my little business for the long-term (YAY!) and allow me to be as successful as I want to be. Most importantly, it will also keep life and home calm, collected and quiet. After six weeks of some tricky navigating and dealing with more than a few unexpected surprises, I threaded a very difficult needle. High on my own success, it’s also time to recognize my lessons learned.
First up on the review? Honesty matters. Part of why all of the above worked was that I was painfully – and perhaps vulnerably – honest. Yet, I’ve said all along that I’m truly not clever enough to tell lies. I don’t have the memory for it. So, I end up forgetting about the lie and the truth comes out anyway. Therefore, telling the bald truth has been a bit of a lifestyle for me. But the lynchpin to my success the last few weeks was making a rather bold, but honest, request. Once granted, the path was clear. It reminds me that all we really want from others is just to hear the truth. Good to remember.
The second? Every once in a while, one should step out of their own comfort zone. No, we’re not going to like it. But getting too comfortable also means getting stale. And getting stale means that we allow ourselves to wither – be it personally or professionally – and we become less. There are times when my heart, mind and soul need to be less for just a little while and there will come a day when that need arises more often as I age. But now is not that time. In this instance, my comfort zone was a false friend and once I eschewed comfort for opportunity, I found a new, better place.
The final thing I learned? That while 2024 may have been “my year” – and let’s face it, it was fabulous – 2025 is not my enemy. Candidly, I had such an incredible year for 2024 that I was just expecting a huge letdown. Therefore, everything that happened got viewed through that lens. But if I step back and look at 2025 so far, it hasn’t been so bad either. In January, we finished our major project upstairs, leaving us with only small projects left inside. In February, I executed a series of moves that started in January and solidified my little business for at least a few years. In March? Well, we’re not headed to Antigua but we are headed to Florida, where I have the chance to see one of my besties along with hosting my sister. Yes, my hubby and I will be working as well, but there’s a day or two in there to build good memories. Enough said.
Now that we’re making that slow, arduous left-hand turn out of winter, these lessons learned are a great way to kick off the rest of the year – especially that last one. Yes, I needed to affirm for my own sense of well-being that honesty still mattered, and I certainly needed the operational and financial success of my little microbusiness. But recognizing that I don’t have to gird myself for a big letdown in 2025 just because last year was so good is a great lesson for my soul to learn. As much as I say that each day is a gift, I’m not sure I always live that way. Yet, I have the opportunity here – less than seven weeks into a new year – to celebrate both life and the year. In the end, it will be my approach to the year and life itself that makes the difference of whether it’s a good year or not.
So, bring it on, 2025! I’m sorry I was less than receptive. I think I finally had to admit that I was sorry to see 2024 go. But I’m grateful to meet you and I know we’re going to do fabulous things together!
The Yuppie Homesteader 