2024 Wrapped… A Year Like No Other

This year was unlike anything I will ever experience again in my lifetime…

Photo: My desktop background for 2024 (disclaimer: photos are not my own).

2024 In Review

I’m seeing a lot of people celebrate what went well and how far they’ve come on social media. This is lovely to see!

But let’s tell the full story so we don’t mislead people. Social media doesn’t have to be a highlight reel. It just takes some vulnerability to stay real.

Here are some of the crazy highs and lows from my life this year. There are honestly so many but to name a few…

The HIGHS

January

Quit my job - it felt so weird. After 4.5 years of a stable 9-5 and being led by others I was now feeling totally liberated but also quite lost. I had a great team but I wasn’t growing and I wasn’t passionate about the work. I knew in my gut I had to make a change.

February

Flew to Bali solo for an intensive yoga teacher training and got certified after 1 month. It was my first solo travel experience and it was honestly life changing. I spent my free time exploring the island on the back of a scooter, having revelations about life, and speaking to interesting people from all over the world.

Started my social media accounts after 3 years of being off the grid. Putting myself out there is out of my comfort zone but I know the personal growth and connection that comes with it is worth it. No more hiding.

March

Crossed top-rope rock climbing at the most incredible oceanic cliff-side location in Thailand off the bucket list. Watching the sunset while scaling a rock-face is truly out of this world.

Landed my first yoga teaching job in Cambodia and taught there twice per day for several weeks in an eco-village community on a tiny island. Despite living in a hut the size of a mattress in high humidity, it was incredible. Cambodian people are some of the most humble and welcoming in the world. I was so grateful every day and couldn’t believe this was real life.

Completed 3 months of the year completely sober, and later adopting a low-alcohol lifestyle. Sometimes drinking while travelling was actually a cultural experience I didn't want to pass up. And I still look forward to a Baileys at Christmas. After many years of relying on alcohol, this is what balance now looks like to me.

April

Swam with bioluminescent plankton in the ocean at midnight with friends from all over the world.

Began travelling with my partner who also left their job. Solo travel was important to both of us to experience but being able to share it was such a blessing. We explored Indonesia and climbed the tallest most challenging mountain of my life. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but the sunrise view from the top of a volcano was unbelievable.

May

Drove an actual motorbike around the side of a cliff during a 3-day mountainous loop in Vietnam (I had a go and faced my fears but my partner did most of the driving).

Completed my first cliff jumping experience off a tall waterfall in the jungle. I was so scared but I did it anyway. This year taught me how brave I am.

Crossed free-solo bouldering off the bucket list while exploring Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, climbing 10 meters above sea level and then cliff jumping off it into the ocean below. One of the coolest and most liberating things I’ve ever done in my life.

June

Flew back to the UK for my best friend’s hen party and also managed to catch up with family and friends from all across the country.

July

Flew to Colombia solo again for my second yoga teaching job at a stunning resort in the mountains, teaching twice per day for several weeks to people from all around the world. I also managed to visit my friend who recently moved to Canada on my way there by getting creative with layovers.

Spent several weeks living and working with local Colombian people which forced me to rapidly improve my Spanish speaking skills. This cultural immersion vastly enriched my experience and changed the way I plan to travel in the future. I had been taking online Spanish classes in the months leading up to it and was so proud of myself when I realised one day I had actually managed to communicate humour in Spanish and made the locals laugh.

August

Attended a yoga retreat at Guatemala’s gorgeous Lake Atitlan where I had amazing spiritual experiences and learned about Mayan culture.

Experienced a traditional Mayan temazcal ceremony which pushed my mind and body to new limits as I withstood intense heat for 4 rounds of 20 minutes. The typical UK sauna is now no match for me.

September

Released baby turtles into the ocean in Mexico which was an unforgettable experience.

Started my wellness business officially, started a blog and built my own website.

October

Was one of two chief bridesmaids at my best friends wedding who I’ve known since I was 8 years old. It was such a beautiful day and an honour to be there for her.

Filmed, edited and marketed the Stress Management Masterclass for professionals spanning over 4 stunning natural locations across the globe.

November

Taught myself the art of marketing and sales through reading several books, spending countless hours on youtube and listening to podcasts.

Started weekly yoga classes in my local area to spread the wisdom and nurturing practices I have picked up along the way (and just for the pure joy of teaching yoga and connecting with other yogis).

December

Continuing to build my client base and learning about growing my small business. It’s still completely new to me but I’m excited for what 2025 brings.

There are many many more experiences and lessons from this year but I’ll have to keep some of them to myself as I would be here all day writing them.

The LOWS

Most of the lows spanned across several months or are still ongoing so there isn’t a clear timeline, but here are the big ones…

Battled emotionally with the illness of a loved one (who is now better). It was rough but we got through it and I’m so grateful each day.

Struggled with the uncertainty and instability of my new path in life. I initially chose financial services for the stability it would bring which is something I never had growing up. So this was a huge challenge for me.

Battled with the idea of approaching 30 without a house, kids or marriage. We made a bold decision to follow our dreams but jumping off the ladder does come at a cost. The social pressure to have it all figured out continues to weigh on us.

My partner quit their job and started their own business too. It’s been such a privilege. But our relationship was really put to the test this year after 7 years together. We are stronger than ever now, but with such tremendous life changes and time apart we were bound to hit some bumps in the road.

I became terribly ill twice when travelling and had to get myself to a hospital to get better for a few days while alone in a developing country. I had food poisoning and a viral infection but with mosquitoes everywhere I had feared the worst in both cases. I’m fine now, but it was scary.

Had to constantly keep my wits about me and spend a lot of mental energy ensuring I was as safe as I possibly could be while alone in a different country. Bali felt quite safe but Colombia was a different story.

Thought I was being kidnapped by a taxi driver in Colombia. He took me off-route against my will and left me in the car outside a friend’s house on an unlit residential street at night so he could give some money to his friend. “No siento segura, vamos al hostel por favor” didn’t work. He laughed and said I was cute “linda” in Spanish. Again, it was very scary at the time. But he turned out to be harmless, although maybe not the most considerate.

Struggled to balance all of this huge change and excitement and challenges alongside staying connected with friends and family. I dealt with feelings of guilt for not being as present in their lives as I wanted but I knew it wouldn’t be forever and they were cheering me on.

Returned from a 7-month long trip around the world of extreme highs and lows in September 24, moving in with my partner’s family for the short term while we get things off the ground.

Struggled to stay motivated in finding clients when it takes 99 rejections to get one yes. It’s a part of sales which I’m still accepting day by day and I’m slowly building my confidence and resilience. I’ve got this (so I keep telling myself).

Still struggling to decide on which country my partner and I would like to build our future and forever home in. We have a lot more tough decisions ahead of us, but we stand by our decisions to pursue our dreams and have faith it will all work out in the end. Bring on the crazy journey.

My Question To You…

People are usually envious when they hear that I went travelling and became a yoga teacher and started a business this year. But after hearing the full story… do you really think you could do it? Would you want to?

Assuming you had no dependents, could you leave everything behind with no job or house or car, away from everyone who knows you, live out of a backpack for 7 months, and then move in with your partner’s parents while you grow your new business?

We have made so many sacrifices and overcome so many obstacles to get to where we are now. And yet we are just getting started. We think it will all be worth it… but do you?