Happy New Year! As many of you know, my word for 2024 was Untethered. The very first lesson I learned while focusing on my word of the year is that I was tethered to more things than I ever imagined—and the journey of becoming untethered was going to be challenging, even heart-wrenching at times.

Are you ready for the ride? I would say there were three major areas in which I realized I was tethered and that additional healing was needed: Family, Love, and Career. Whew… that’s my entire life—LOL.

FAMILY

I realized I was holding on to what was, rather than embracing what is. Marriage brings together two families, and divorce separates them. For the last 10+ years, I’ve worked hard to create a new reality that continued to honor the whole family that existed. It hasn’t been easy. Not everyone was on board. It felt uncomfortable for some. But in my mind, while my marriage didn’t work, my family was still intact. And for the most part, everyone embraced that.

What I came to understand this year, however, is that I was unconsciously tethered to recreating what was, because it was so precious to me, rather than fully embracing what is. What is is beautiful in its own right, but some of the rituals, vacations, and events we once did together simply don’t work anymore.

When we do come together, it’s still magical, and the relationships I’ve nurtured remain unwavering. But the landscape has changed—and that’s what I had to let go of. My heart was tormented, and I made many mistakes in the process of figuring this out. I had to own those mistakes, which wasn’t easy, but it was necessary for me to forgive myself and move forward.

I now find myself in a clear, untethered space where I continue to nurture the relationships that mean the world to me, without tying them to the past or what was… Talk about freedom and peace.

LOVE

In my last blog post, I wrote about my love journey in 2024. Loving someone and sharing your heart vulnerably, without being tethered to the outcome, is terrifying. What I learned is that my love is not conditional, and that makes it incredibly powerful. Though my heart needed time to heal (because, well, I’m human), loving someone untethered was a beautiful journey that I needed—and I have no regrets. A beautiful friendship remains.

This year, for Christmas, my ex-husband thanked me for loving and seeing him through it all. I didn’t realize how much I needed that acknowledgment, but damn, it felt good. From the day we separated until now, I promised myself I would love us both through the hard times, honor our family and kids—and that was not always easy. But being untethered from how your love is received, while giving it unconditionally, is truly a gift. I’m grateful to be able to share my heart in this way.

CAREER

What a journey of ups and downs 2024 has been. Being untethered to the outcome, but tethered to my purpose, is what got me through this year. The more I focused on my purpose—to help people live in their authentic truth and power—the more I was able to push through those incredibly difficult days.

So much opportunity opened up for me this year, especially with a new contract with the CaPP Institute. This allows me to do the work I love—supporting new coaches on their journey. It feels like a full-circle moment, because this is where my own coaching journey began.

I also survived a workforce reduction. I mourned the change in culture, the loss of my team, and the loss of colleagues I loved and respected. I was fortunate to continue my journey, but again, I had to untether myself from what was and embrace the changing climate, while remaining focused on my purpose. I get to do the work I was called to do every day, and that is truly a gift.

I continue to stay grounded in what is, untethered to the ever-changing world we live in.

Wrapping Up

These are the three major highlights of my untethered journey, but there were so many whispers and growth moments I couldn’t possibly count. The biggest lesson, though, is that there is no final landing for an untethered soul. It’s a culmination of life—lifing—and how you choose to experience it. And I’m totally okay with that!

As I prepare for 2025, two words come to mind: Open and Grace. I want to remain open to all that the universe has to offer, but I also want to remember to extend grace to myself and others along the way. LIFE ain’t easy, and being open and having grace with myself and others feels like the perfect way to enter this new year.

I’d love to hear about your 2024 journey and what your 2025 word is for the year. Leave me a comment or send me an email—I read and respond to them all!