Creating Your Best Year Yet: Intentions, Reflections, and Personal Growth

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Aging with Grace and Style in our own special way.

Can you believe that we're at the end of another year?

Time flies, doesn't it?

But before we close the book on 2024, let's pause.

Today we're reflecting on where we've been, celebrating what we've accomplished, and setting intentions for the incredible year ahead.

Are you ready to close this chapter with gratitude and step boldly into the next?

Then let's take a moment to honor our journ and get ready for 2025 with purpose and clarity.

Hey friend, who says aging has to mean slowing down?

Around here, we're all about embracing this chapter with grace, style and just the right touch of sass.

Welcome to the Aging with Grace and Style podcast.

I'm Valerie Hatcher, your guide to empowering tips, inspiring stories and a whole lot of laughs for women over 50.

So grab your favorite dr, turn up the volume and let's dive in.

Today's episode is a special one.

We're saying goodbye to 2024, taking a moment to reflect on our wins, the lessons learned, and setting ourselves up for a Great start to 2025.

I want this episode to feel like a cozy chat between friends where we celebrate how far we've come and we dream about where we're going.

So grab your coffee or your tea or whatever you prefer, settle in and let's dive into this year end reflection together.

As I reflect on this year, a few things stand out that I'm really proud of.

First is becoming a grandmother.

This milestone has given me a new perspective on life and legacy.

It's been a blessing to embrace this new and next chapter with love and gratitude.

Second would be consistency.

Whether it's showing up here on the podcast every week or creating content on social media, staying consistent has been a win for me even on days when I have felt stretched thin.

And trust me, there were those days and most recently stepping into the Director of Social Media Marketing and Communications role at my church.

That was a big leap for me.

So I've said this before that while I do social media for myself, that's totally different than being entrusted to build and lead a team to handle social for the church.

It just goes to show that you never know who is watching what you're doing in your quote unquote spare time.

Building, growing and developing teams is something that I've done and I've coached leaders on how to do it.

This position in it challenges me to continue to grow as a leader and to think strategically about how to connect with our community in meaningful ways.

This year has taught me a lot about boundaries.

Saying no isn't easy, but it's been essential for protecting my time and my energy.

I've also learned the importance of leaning on others.

Whether it's delegating tasks or asking for help when I'm overwhelmed, it's been a game changer.

And then finally, I've learned and am learning to embrace imperfection.

Not everything has to be perfect to be impactful.

Sometimes just showing up is enough.

So what about you?

What are you most proud of this year?

It could be something like starting a new hobby or setting a boundary, starting a new job, publishing a book, deepening a relationship, or simply showing resilience through a tough time.

Take a moment to reflect on what has made you feel accomplished this year.

And also, what lessons did 2024 teach you?

Now, let's talk about the year ahead.

I've given up on the idea of resolutions.

As a matter of fact, I did this long time ago.

You know, those lofty goals that that fade by February.

So instead I focus on intentions, those guiding principles that shape how I want to feel and to live throughout the year.

Intentions aren't about what you achieve, they're about how you show up.

For example, instead of saying I'm going to lose weight, your intention might be I'm going to treat my body with kindness and care.

Or instead of saying I'm going to save money, you might say I'm going to prioritize financial peace.

These shifts take the pressure off and allow room for grace.

So let's craft a few intentions right now.

Here's some questions to consider.

Grab your pen and your paper.

What do you want more of in 2025?

For example, is it more quality time with family, more energy from prioritizing your health, or more creativity in your daily life?

So for me, I want more intentional time with my family and more energy to pursue my passions.

Number two is what do you want less of?

Perhaps is less time spent on things that just totally drain you, or less clutter in your calendar or fewer negative self talk moments.

I want less over committing to things that don't align with my goal, less feeling like I need to be the one who does everything, and less holding the hands of others who are capable of doing things themselves.

And then number three, what's one area where you want to grow?

So maybe you want to explore a new hobby or deepen your spiritual practice or focus on developing stronger relationships.

For me, it's focusing on expanding this podcast and reaching more women who need and want this community.

Now.

This is just a start for me.

More of things are kind of on top of my mind right now, but by the end of the year, I will have been more strategic and thoughtful about my my plans and my intention.

So now take a moment, jot down your own intentions or just simply reflect on them mentally.

So intention actions are the why, but goals are the how.

So, for example, one of my intentions this year was to prioritize my health.

To turn that into action, I set a goal of working out three times a week and meal prepping on Sundays.

So having a clear goal made my intention feel more tangible and achievable.

So think about how you can align your intentions with specific actions that work for you.

For example, if your intention is to prioritize health, then your goal could be scheduling three 30 minute walks each week.

Or if your intention is to connect more with loved ones, your goal might be setting up monthly lunch dates or or calling a friend every Saturday.

The key is to keep it simple and doable.

Small wins build momentum and confidence.

So think about what small steps you can take this week to align with your 2025 intentions.

Life isn't linear.

Some weeks you'll feel unstoppable and others you'll feel stuck.

Both are okay.

The important thing is to keep moving forward, even if it's just one small step at a time.

Progress, not perfection, is the goal.

For instance, when I first started back on my fitness journey after my hip replacement surgery, I focused on simply moving my body a little more each day rather than pushing for big, immediate results.

That mindset, it helped me stay consistent and it ultimately helped me to achieve meaningful improvements over time.

Remember, every small action you take, build towards something bigger.

Give yourself permission to start small and celebrate each milestone along the way.

One of the biggest things about this podcast is the community that we're building together.

Remember, you're not alone in this journey.

There are thousands of women listening right now who are cheering you on.

So if you're comfortable, I'd love for you to share your intentions with me.

Deem DM me on social at I am Valerie Hatcher or leave me a voice message@pod.agingwithgracestyle.com let's inspire each other as we step into this new year.

Before we close, I just want to say thank you.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey.

Thank you for showing up for yourself.

And thank you for inspiring me to keep showing up.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who might need some encouragement heading into 2025.

And don't forget again, connect with me on social media.

I'd love to hear your reflections and your intentions.

So here's to an incredible year ahead filled with grace, style and endless possibilities.

Until next time, be kind to yourself, stay fabulous and keep aging with grace, style and a touch of sass.

Happy New Year.

Thanks for hanging out with me today.

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Join me at pod.agingwithgraceinstyle.com for more tips, stories and a whole lot of connection.

Until next time, keep shining with grace, style and a touch of sass.