I’m taking a new stance when welcoming a new year

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is disorienting. I don’t quite know what day it is or what I’m supposed to do while packing away a holiday and bracing for the next year. It was quiet after Christmas last month, almost as if time stood still and the world became silent — in high contrast to a 2024 filled with relentless noise and the continuous need to adapt to changing circumstances.

While some years pass quietly and are barely noticed, like the peaceful buzz of a fan in the background, other years go out with a bang after dragging you through trials and tribulations. Still others serve as a stark reminder of all the miles we’ve traveled. I finished the year with worn soles in my shoes, aching in my bones, and scars that detail how much life I’ve lived with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

It was a year of healing from a hip replacement revision surgery, learning how to walk once again, doing physical therapy to strengthen my shoulders affected by avascular necrosis, and adjusting to the visual demands of a new job. Outside the realm of health, a divisive election and devastating hurricanes also humbled us and put life into perspective. I didn’t have a chance to steer 2024. Instead, the year wrote itself while serving as another reminder that I’m not in control.

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After reflecting on a year that dragged me along for the ride, I realize that with multiple sclerosis, I’m not afforded the opportunity to make sweeping New Year’s resolutions. Instead, each year, even each day, can be a different surprise. With every change comes the requirement that we change — to create ways to overcome challenges, adapt to symptoms, manage pain, and prioritize perspective when the days are difficult. Each day is a new start.

I’m choosing to forgo any resolutions for 2025. I’m going to focus on the progress and the small wins instead of punishing my body for its lack of capability, shaming myself for not being able to maintain rigid resolutions to complete tasks x, y, or z, or feeling guilty by setting goals that lead me to compare my circumstances with someone else’s story, health picture, or timeline.

Last year taught me to hold on while learning to loosen my grip, embrace the unexpected, and find beauty in resilience. Whether this year peacefully flies by, presents unforeseen twists and turns, or becomes another year focused on survival, I take comfort in knowing we’re still moving forward.

There’s a peculiar sense of freedom in releasing control. This year, in lieu of resolutions, I have a stance to welcome each day as a fresh start and save myself the heartache of placing expectations on what comes next.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.