365 Chances
Happy New Year!
For 365 days, you likely showed up,— completing assignments, mothering your children, choosing to love those around you, clocking into work, paying the bills, shedding tears and moving forward, laughing, tackling laundry, & probably consuming lots & lots of media. Whether this encourages you or discourages you, let's face the fact - every single one of these is a choice.
Whether you’re a follower of Jesus or not, you and I share something incredible in common—we are alive. That may seem simple, but pause for a second. Really think about it. You are breathing, your heart is beating, and your body is carrying you into a brand-new year.
Being alive means you’ve been given something priceless: a chance. A chance to begin again, A chance to grow, heal, and thrive. A chance to leave behind the weight of last year and step into the fresh possibilities of a new year.
For me, this realization hits differently as someone who believes in Jesus. The Bible says, “His mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23). That means every single day, we’re offered a clean slate and the grace to try again. Whether you see this through the lens of faith or simply the beauty of life, it’s undeniable—we’ve been handed the gift of a new beginning.
Being Fully Alive
But here’s the thing: being physically alive isn’t the same as being fully alive.
You can wake up every day and go through the motions without truly living. Let me offer some perspective -In 2024 I got engaged & married. I went from living in a rental house with five roomates t0 being a fully married women. In the begining of 2024, I lived life with my best friends. We would go on sponatoius walks around the neighborhood (to our mailbox), share stories & talk for hours in each others rooms. I had daily access to the ears of Godly women. We made a lot of memories that i will always cherish. But what was i thinking about most of the time? When my boyfriend was going to propose. I LOVE my now husband & would say yes all over again, but what i wouldnt do over again is fixacte on future. Plans are great and preperation is a good, but too much will block being present. Being present doesnt come naturally to me. I have always been a “go, go, go” and “do, do, do” person. Looking forward for whats next in life, but having a hard time slowing down was my mistake. I choose to desire what i didnt have, instead of being content with what i did have. On new years eve of 2024-2025 i found mysef crying because i somehow let the moments pass me by. Full life requires something deeper—being present. Being present is hard, especially when life is hard. But, it’s not impossible.
Maybe last year left you feeling numb, drained, or stuck. If that’s the case, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too. But the beauty of a new year is that it invites us to shift our posture. It’s a chance to ask, What does it look like for me to live fully in 2025?
A Small Challenge
Here’s my challenge for you (and for me):
Take a Deep Breath. Right now. Let it remind you that you’re alive and that life is a gift.
Set One “Fully Present” Intention. Maybe it’s journaling your dreams, reconnecting with a friend, exploring faith, reading your Bible daily, or simply taking more walks outside. Whatever it is, let it bring you closer to being fully present.
Let Go of Last Year. Give yourself permission to release what you couldn’t fix or control in 2024. Let it stay there for right now. (Unless you’re on your way to a counseling session)
Alive and Hopeful
As we walk into this new year, my prayer is that we’d embrace what it means to really live. Make a concious choice to be present. Whether or not you share my faith, know this: you were made for a life that’s abundant, full of purpose, and marked by new beginnings.
Let’s step into that together.
love,
Calista
Resources:
PLAYLIST - WORSHIP SONGS WITH VIBES
BOOKS