Lessons Learned from 2024: Growth, Resilience, and Showing up
As the year wraps up, I’ve been reflecting on everything 2024 threw my way. It was a year of change, challenge, and leveling up—but most importantly, it was a year of showing up.
Showing up for my family. Showing up for my work. Showing up for my health. Showing up for myself.
If you’d told me a year ago that I’d quit a long-time job, start a new role, launch Saronge, flip a house, travel to Spain and Belize, and take on the role of band booster president—all while dealing with a surprise melanoma diagnosis—I would’ve laughed and said, “Sure, sounds exhausting.” But here we are.
2024 didn’t just stretch me—it taught me what I’m capable of when I stop waiting, trust my gut, and take action.
Here’s what I learned (and why I think it might help you, too).
Trip to Grand Canyon with the family. I love riding bikes.
1. It’s Okay to Hit Reset
Quitting my job this year felt terrifying and amazing—like jumping off a cliff and landing in a pile of feathers. After years of feeling undervalued, drained, and floored by the toxic culture, I knew I couldn’t stay.
Walking away wasn’t easy (there’s never a “good time” to do it), but here’s the thing:
if a door slams in your face, it’s time to stop knocking and find a new one.
Fast forward to now, and my new role is a total 180. I’m constantly taken aback by how kind everyone is. People say thank you. They cheer each other on. Honestly, it’s wild how much of a difference that makes.
Sometimes, hitting reset isn’t about running away—it’s about making room for something better. That’s exactly what I found when I started fresh and launched Saronge.
2. Advocating for Yourself Is Non-Negotiable
This one hit home—literally. Earlier this year, I noticed a mole on my skin that had changed. My primary doctor brushed it off, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. I pushed for a referral to a dermatologist, and guess what? Stage 1 Melanoma.
Because I trusted my gut, it was caught early, treated with surgery, and now I’m fine. But that moment was a reminder: whether it’s in the doctor’s office, at work, or anywhere else, you are your best advocate. Don’t back down. Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline.
3. The Power of Priorities
Being a parent this year wasn’t about finding balance (what even is that?)—it was about showing up when it counted. From organizing band trips to setting up equipment on game nights to cheering from the sidelines, I leaned into being present.
It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t always graceful. But it mattered. Sometimes, it’s not about having hours to spare—it’s about making the ones that do count.
4. Dreams Can’t Wait
This was also the year I stopped saying, “Someday.”
For 15 years, I dreamed of visiting Spain. This year, we finally went - all of us - as a family. I celebrated my 50th birthday in Belize. I launched Saronge—a business I’d been sitting on for way too long—with my best friend, Kim. Oh, and I flipped a house.
With the help of an incredible friend, I bought and renovated a 1940s home—a project that reminded me that the opportunities we dream about don’t always come wrapped in a perfect bow. They show up messy, overwhelming, and maybe a little scary. Do them anyway.
5. You Can’t Do It All, but You Can Do What Matters
I’ll be real—I didn’t nail everything this year. There were days I felt pulled in 15 directions and wondered if I was doing too much. But here’s what I figured out: you don’t have to do it all. You just have to do what matters.
For me, that meant saying no to the things that didn’t align with my values and doubling down on the things that did—my family, my health, and the community I want to build through Saronge.
6. Change Takes Courage
Looking back, every big move I made this year—quitting my job, starting a new one, launching a business, flipping a house, being band booster president, traveling to dream destinations, and even advocating for my health—came down to one thing: COURAGE.
Courage isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being scared and doing it anyway. And every time I stepped into the unknown, I found something new about myself and what I’m capable of.
This was also the year I stopped saying, “Someday.”
For 15 years, I dreamed of visiting Spain.
Looking Ahead to 2025
If 2024 taught me anything, it’s that life’s too short to play small. Whether it’s being the parent your kids need, building a dream business, or finally taking that trip you’ve been putting off, there’s no perfect time to start. The time is now.
In 2025, I’m taking everything I’ve learned and building an even stronger Saronge—one that empowers women to show up, speak up, and dream big. And at home, I’ll keep showing up for the people who matter most—my family and the community that inspires me every day.
So, what’s your “someday” move? What are you waiting for? Here’s to courage, growth, and showing up in 2025.
