There was a moment when it became crystal clear that something had to change.

After returning from vacation, there should have been a sense of renewal—but instead, there was a tightness in my chest, a restless energy, I was pacing the floor while the world around me remained still. Tears came without warning, and in that quiet moment, reality hit me like a ton of bricks.

I was done, stick a fork in me, extra chewy, over cooked — well done!

That was the moment when I realized something had to change. Life couldn’t continue like this….

Imagine a river flowing steadily toward its destination. At first glance, it seems effortless, just water moving naturally along its course. But if you look closer, you’ll see something interesting—there are rocks in the way. Some small, some massive.

Now, the river doesn’t stop. It doesn’t turn back. It doesn’t waste energy fighting the rocks. Instead, it carves a path around them, over time shaping the landscape itself.

That’s what routines do for us. They create a flow, a rhythm, a sense of momentum. And when obstacles—stress, distractions, setbacks—get in the way, we don’t have to stop. We adjust. We navigate. And over time, we shape the life we want.

Recently, while teaching a class of seventh graders, I was reminded of a simple, fun way to make decisions: good ol’ rock-paper-scissors. (And for the Friends fans out there, you might even add “water balloon”—IYKYK!) The students were trying to decide who had to present in front of the class, and this lighthearted method helped them quickly settle the matter. While most of us won’t be using rock-paper-scissors for major life choices, it sparked a reflection on how often we face decisions and how those choices—big or small—shape our days and our lives.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Last year is officially in the books, but before we dive headfirst into this one, it’s important to reflect. Growth doesn’t happen automatically—it’s the result of intentionally learning from our experiences.

Ask yourself: