Elena 
A few years ago, I was involved in a community concert with a lot of moving parts! I performed several solos, a piece with a choir, and even some solo percussion pieces with Mr. Pete (and we aren’t even percussionists, but they needed someone to do it, and so we did!).
But past performance isn’t always indicative of future opportunities. Just a few years later, I was only asked to perform one solo with the same group for a late-evening performance. I waited and waited for my turn to play, keeping myself and my instrument warmed up and focused on the music before me. But when the time came for me to stand up and perform, the time was gone!! There was no more time, the time was up, and we literally ran out of time! I ended up leaving, stunned, without blowing even one note.
That event was to be the story of 2024.
“Past performance is no guarantee of future results.”
A few things happened that knocked me down. A regular long-paying tenant of ours just quit paying rent, stressing our finances, especially when a huge tree limb fell and had to be removed to the tune of $700. A musical group I played with for over 20 years no longer required my services, leaving me sitting on the sidelines on Sunday. And a group that I was part of the leadership team essentially asked me to step down.
All of these things were difficult and devastating in their way. All of them required action and stepping out of my comfort zone. They also required me to take a look at my priorities. I am a creature that enjoys the status quo. Rocking the boat isn’t in my nature, but if I have to I will.
But good things came from them as well. We retained our tenant by patiently waiting until he was caught up on the rent after getting new employment. Sitting in the pews without playing music was actually kind of nice. I enjoyed sitting with my family and singing the congregational hymns and being able to concentrate on the beautiful lyrics. I also looked at myself in my leadership roles in all the groups I am in and really considered my contributions in the past and what I want to do going forward.
And yet these things seem insignificant in light of one big event that happened in 2024. A friend of mine experienced the sudden unexpected accidental death of a child. It was heartbreaking, sad, and shocking. It jolted me into remembering the things that are truly important in life. And yes, that’s a lesson I already learned again and again – but this certainly reiterated it for me.
2025 is going to be the year I step out while looking in. It’s the year I cling to a deeper study, understanding and practice of my faith, praying for wisdom and courage, while cutting out unnecessary distractions.
So these aren’t so much resolutions as revelations and action plans for 2025
- I am going to learn to be uncomfortable. That may mean speaking up when it’s hard, or getting up earlier to get a full workout in, or practicing my flute even if I don’t have a performance on the horizon. It’s also going to mean sticking up for myself – which isn’t easy for me all the time because I tend to be a people-pleaser.
- I’m not going to rest on my laurels, but I’m not going to bury them either. I have played that Bach Sonata, I have experience teaching homeschool science, history, etc., I raised and taught 6 children! Pointing those things out isn’t bragging, it’s stating the factual.
- The most important things in life are family and friends and living deeply in our Catholic Faith. If something distracts from that, I’m going to start questioning if it’s worth it. And chance are, it won’t be. So many times events outside of our home have distracted us even from celebrating the liturgical year! What if those celebrations were first and nonnegotiable? I wonder.
- And nothing is possible without a deeper clinging to God’s word, devotionals and the sacraments. I made it to confession four times last year. Most of those were after the accident. Luckily, the Bible in a Year and the new Rosary in a Year are going to make that easier to incorporate into my schedule.
So what are your plans for a healthier happier, more fulfilling 2025?