Happy New Year to all of you! While I acknowledge that this post is arriving a bit later in January, I took a much-needed break and am thrilled to be back. The start of a year is often filled with the typical January chatter. It’s a time for restarts and reevaluations, where we commonly set goals related to exercise, nutrition, and personal growth.

Today, I want to delve into a different conversation—a reflective journey that’s not constrained to just January but applicable for the whole year. Here are a few questions to ponder as we set intentions for not just now but for the future.

Understanding New Beginnings

Starting fresh can be exciting! I’ve recognized every January that I’m right there with everyone else, wanting to reset my eating habits and workout routine. This period of inspiration can be beneficial, but I also ask myself what about the rest of our health that goes beyond food and fitness?

Looking beyond the conventional, it’s important to introduce questions that invite us to consider every facet of our health and wellness.

Questions for a New Year:

• What does an ideal morning look like?
• What are surefire self-care tactics?
• What is a movement contingency plan?
• What does a mental health meal look like?
• What Scripture or truth can anchor you when diet culture voices get loud
• What foods feel both nourishing and satisfying to you right now
• What does white space look like to you and when can you fit it in
• What physical signals from your body do you tend to ignore, and how can you begin to honor them?

And because I won’t ask you to do anything I won’t do, I share my answers to each of these in this two-parter podcast series.

Conclusion

These questions are not only for the beginning of the year; they’re a guide for ongoing personal reflection and adaptation. Life is unpredictable, and having a framework for personal growth ensures we can navigate the highs and lows with grace.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and answers to these questions. Share your reflections with me on Instagram where I’ll prompt these discussions, aiming to engage more with this wonderful community.

Thanks for reflecting with me—here’s to a mindful start to 2025 and beyond!

Pt 1 Links

The food, nutrition and grace your mental health needs with Ruth Opiyo

Pt 2 Links

The Art of Gentle Meal Prep: Creating Space for Sabbath with Kathi Lipp 

Sabbath Soup Cookbook