BIG GIRL TIME

It’s strange sitting down to hash this out because for so much of this year I was simply trying to get through it. Looking back now, I can confidently say that 24 was the hardest year of my life so far, but somehow it was also one of the most rewarding. It was a year filled with blessings and disappointments, growth and growing pains, joy and heartbreak. More than anything, it was a year that challenged me to keep going when I wasn’t sure I wanted to. It challenged me to find the one consistent force in this world, God.

At 24, I experienced some of the lowest moments I’ve had in a long time. I went through a breakup that completely changed what I thought my future would look like. I spent much of the year in a job that I knew I was no longer fulfilled in, trying to navigate the tension between gratitude for what I had and frustration with where I was, all while experiencing rejection after rejection. I lost friendships that were unequal in commitment. There always seemed to be another bill to pay, another responsibility to handle, another problem to solve. Adulthood felt heavier than ever before, and there were many moments where I questioned whether I was moving forward at all. So many of my friends moving into aspects of life I wanted so bad while it seeming I was moving further away from it.

What people don’t always talk about is how exhausting it can be to keep showing up with a smile when life isn’t going the way you hoped it would. There were days when I felt discouraged and defeated. Days when I wondered if all of my hard work was actually leading somewhere. Days when I questioned my own abilities and whether I was capable of creating the life I envisioned for myself. If I’m being honest, there were moments when I wanted to give up on everything. That it would have been a better world if I was not polluting it with my problems.

Yet despite all of those challenges, 24 was also the year that reminded me of how much life can change in a relatively short amount of time. While there were things falling apart, there were also beautiful things coming together. I became a Maid of Honor, something that felt incredibly special and meaningful. I completed my master’s degree, a goal that required years of dedication and sacrifice. I committed myself to traveling once every month throughout 2025 and actually followed through on it. What started as a personal challenge became one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

This was also the year I traveled to Europe (trust pictures coming soon), something younger versions of myself could only dream about. Standing in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the World felt surreal. There are still moments where I look back at the photos and can’t believe I was actually there. The little girl who spent hours looking through travel vlogs and watching travel documentaries, would have never imagined that one day she would be creating those memories herself.

Beyond the travel, 24 was the year I began taking my dreams more seriously. For years I talked about content creation, writing, and building something of my own. This year I finally started treating those dreams like real possibilities instead of distant fantasies. I launched projects, published content, pursued opportunities, and even began securing brand partnerships. They may seem like small wins to some people, but to me they represented proof that the life I want is not completely out of reach.

More than anything, 24 strengthened my faith. There were many moments where I didn’t understand what God was doing. There were prayers that seemed unanswered and doors that seemed firmly closed and I mean firmly. Yet as I look back now, I can see His hand throughout the entire year. I can see where He protected me, where He redirected me, and where He carried me through situations that felt impossible in the moment. Even when I couldn’t see the full picture, He was still working. But all in all, even when I am at my lowest of lows, and I can not imagine getting back up, I don’t see how I could, even when I turn my face away from God, he scoops my broken, heartbroken self into his arms and he holds me. God has so much compassion. He feels our hurt and pain. I am a testament to the fact that, there was no one I felt safe to turn to with all of my emotions, but God took them all. I could go on forever about this.

If there is one person I want to thank as I leave 24 behind, it’s myself. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for continuing to get up every morning and try again. Thank you for continuing to pray, continue to dream, continue to hope, and continue to work toward the life you wanted even when it felt easier to quit. Thank you for choosing faith over fear more times than anyone else will ever know. Thank you for trusting in God even though you didnt know how. I can happily say it all works out.

As I step into 25, I don’t have everything figured out. I still have goals I haven’t reached, prayers I’m waiting on, and dreams I’m actively building. But, I feel excited about what’s ahead. If 24 taught me anything, it’s that difficult seasons do not last forever and that growth often happens some random day and we realize woah I actually feel a little better, hm I haven’t had that thought in a while, hmm I made it through the morning without crying, I got a good nights sleep last night.

So thank you, 24. Thank you for every lesson, every challenge, every blessing, every tear, every memory, and every victory. You were messy, complicated, exhausting, and beautiful all at once. And despite how difficult you were, I wouldn’t trade the woman you helped me become.

Here’s to 25 and all that it has to offer. Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY CUTIEEEEE!