Well, here we are — at the doorstep of another year. Can you believe it? Another 12 months have flown by in what feels like the blink of an eye.

Some of us are probably scratching our heads, wondering where the time went, while others are ready to wave goodbye to 2024 with a mix of relief and hope. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, I’m thrilled this column is coming out just days before Jan. 1, 2025.

Now, I know New Year’s resolutions can be a polarizing topic. Some folks roll their eyes at the idea, thinking any day is a good day to make a promise to yourself. Some believe it to be a waste of time.

Others mark Jan. 1 as a hard reset, a chance to start fresh. Me? I’ve grown into a believer of the former and the latter. Weekly, daily, monthly, yearly — I’ll take any excuse to pause, reflect and make intentional changes.

But I wasn’t always like this. In my younger years, New Year’s Eve was simply an excuse to celebrate — no promises, no reflection, just a party to toast one more trip around the sun.

As I got older, that celebration turned into a moment of release, letting go of the struggles of the past year and hoping for better days ahead.

Then, a few years ago, I hit the pause button and truly reflected. Sure, I’d had my share of unforeseen and heartbreaking experiences, but I realized I was stuck in a cycle of only remembering the hard parts which seemed to grow more and more those last few months. I let the challenges take center stage in my mind, almost like a security blanket of self-pity.

And then one day, I caught myself. I heard the words I was saying — words that painted me as a brat, ungrateful to the core — and something clicked.

For the first time, I forced myself to argue back. What about this good thing? What about that victory? It wasn’t easy to admit, but I had overlooked so much joy and growth because I had been laser-focused on the losses, the pain.

And let’s be real, the good doesn’t always have to be monumental. Sometimes it’s as simple as the sun shining on your face or the flowers blooming in your favorite park.

Since then, I’ve embraced full reflection — the good, the bad and everything in between. I’ve learned to see the lessons in the tough moments and cherish the small wins. These last few years have been heavy for all of us, and while I don’t think we’re done processing everything, I also see so much resilience, grace and forward motion.

So, whether or not you’re the type to make resolutions,

I urge you to pause and reflect. What are you still processing? What lessons did you learn? And don’t forget to notice the good — even if it’s as small as mastering the soufflé (which I did this past weekend) or seeing progress in a long-shot idea.

As for me? My promises for 2025 are ambitious — galaxy-sized, even. But if I only make it to the clouds, that’s still higher than where I stand today. None of it, though, happens without that first step of reflection.

So here’s the deal: I know the struggles are real, but I promise you, shaking things up — taking a chance — can make all the difference.

This is from me to you: What’s one thing you’re letting go of from 2024? What’s one thing you’re taking with you into 2025? And what promise are you making to yourself to move forward?

I’d love to hear from you.

Happy New Year! Let’s make it count.

Mother, author, entrepreneur and founder of Dandelion-Inc, Lisa Resnick wants to hear your story. Share memories with her by emailing lisa@dandelion-inc.com.