It’s about time to turn the page on 2024.
What should we expect for 2025? It’s tough to know for sure. But in some regards, that is more up to us than we think.
I am not in control of the world, however I am in control of myself… and you are in control of yourself. So even though we can’t control everything around us, we can control some things.
At the very least, we can control how we interact with the world around us. And many times, that makes all the difference.
To that end, in an effort to make 2025 a better year for everyone, here are 12 decisions we can all make as the new year begins:
1. Smile more.
We have learned over the last couple years the value of seeing smiles in public spaces. Offer them as often as you can and decide to show more of those pearly whites every chance you get.
2. Complain less.
Recent years have had all of us dealing with life-and-death issues on an almost daily basis. In some ways, all the things we used to complain about seem so small now. So let’s decide to no longer complain about the small stuff.
3. Appreciate more.
I thought 2024 would be the year I got everything I wanted. Now I know 2024 was the year to appreciate everything I have. Decide now to carry that forward into 2025 and appreciate all the good around us in a more intentional way.
4. Connect more.
In 2020, we lost the ability to connect with others in-person—at coffee shops, churches, restaurants, concerts, sporting events, and even some family gatherings. In 2021, some of that returned, but not entirely. Even three years later, I’m not sure it’s entirely returned.
Let’s never overlook the opportunity to connect with others again.
5. Own less.
When everything is taken away, we see what is most important. When it comes to recognizing what activities contribute to quality of life, accumulating physical stuff pales in comparison to the actual life-giving pursuits we are being forced to go without. Decide now to own less in 2025.
6. Encourage more.
2024 was still a hard year for many! And all of us needed encouragement from time-to-time. So let’s give it freely in 2025—whether people ask for it or not.
7. Waste less.
Seems like we all learned the value of another day and another opportunity—because too many had their last one taken from them in the past couple years. Let’s decide now to not waste any day, any moment, or any amount of energy remaining.
8. Thank more.
Decide now to say “thank you” more often. You will be blessed, and the recipient will be blessed. Win-win.
9. Compete less.
One thing is for sure—we’re all in this world together. As a result, it’s too easy to see the world as competition against one another. Instead, let’s remember we’re on the same team, all trying to be the best versions of ourselves. If you want to compete, compete against who you were yesterday rather than the stranger down the street.
10. Understand more.
Not only were the last 4+ years marked with a global pandemic and economic downturn, in many parts of the world (including my own) it was a year of political strife and division where a difference in opinion was often regarded as a difference in principle. It rarely is. Everyone will benefit—both sides—if we decide now to argue less and understand more.
11. Save more.
With the overnight shutdown/collapse of many businesses and a worldwide economy, 2024 showed the importance of having some financial savings in reserve. If you haven’t made saving a priority, decide to do it now. Here are some helpful steps to get there.
12. Love more.
Love your spouse. Love your kids. Love your friends. Love your co-workers. Love your neighbor. Love. The world needs more of it.
What does 2025 hold? I have no idea.
But with these 12 decisions as my resolutions for 2025, I’m ready for just about anything. Because life is more than the circumstances surrounding me.
Amen to all of this. The other day, I realized how much control we actually have. The same supermarket that sells Pop Tarts and Doritos also sells rice and broccoli. The same internet that offers pornography and divisive posts also offers a world of knowledge about art, architecture, history, gardening, travel, food and exercise videos. We get to choose what we put into our bodies, minds and hearts.
Thanks Joshua, every morning after my morning devotional time I read your page. You a blessing
Learning from you has tremendously improved my life in every way. I am so very thankful for your heart and the work you do. Letting go of so many physical things has brought more peace to my home, opened room for deeper connections and stronger relationships for myself, my husband and my kids, and given us more of the most valuable things in life. Thank you so very much Joshua. May your New Year be blessed.
I am adopting this! Shared it too! Appreciate your positive perspective!
Just beautifully said!
Dear Joshua, it is so wonderful to receive your daily blog in my inbox from here. Making the differences with good intentions, your blog has been so helpful with ideas for keeps. Sending you good vibes from the Seychelles Island.
Love your work, Joshua. Thank you for all you do, inspire and instill in this world. Keep up the good work.
Isn’t it amazing that everything you mentioned doesn’t cost a thing? That’s what I love about this philosophy. Priceless in both sense of the word.
Yes good point
I wanted to sign up for your on-line course…Uncluttered…I saw it on Facebook and now I can’t find the ad. Please advise. Thanks!!
You can find the Uncluttered Course here: my.becomingminimalist.com
I love you Joshua Baker . . . you have done such a wonderful job bringing so many of us up from our seeming inability to LET GO.
Thank you so much for all your support and willingness to include so many others on the path to minimalism.
Boundless Blessings to you and your family in this coming NEW YEAR of 2021.
Thank you for your wonderful commitment to your work.
I’ve been with you since the beginning.
Sincerely,
Ruth Phares
Nice reminders!
I think the important thing for all of us to remember is that 2021 is just an arbitrary number. It is our mindset and our actions that have the potential to make it better than 2020.
In my comments about the 7 R’s I forgot Reuse. Many things we use day to day can have many lives & we can get very creative in their uses. I found a book from at the thrift store called “Real Simple, 869 Uses for Old Things” These are the same folks who put out the magazine too. Here are a few examples of what is in this fun & inspiring book.
Wall Calendar: Give the Art from months past a new life on a present. Wrap small items like books , with the pretty pages.
Banana Peel: Grow healthier roses by planting a peel at the base of the bush, an inch down. The potassium in the peel feeds the plant & helps fend off diseases.
Garlic Press: Use also to crack cumin, coriander seeds & peppercorns.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Disinfect a keyboard. A cotton swab dipped in peroxide gets into all the nooks and crannies.
I will see if my local library has this book, & if not put in a request for it.
Beautifully said Joshua. Thank you for all that you do for your loyal
followers. Best wishes to you and yours, and this minimalist community for a blessed, happy and healthy New Year.
That’s a lovely one. A lot of us tend to forget these essential things, that we are (in a grand way), in control on our situations. Thanks for the reminder.
I am thankful and grateful for all your posts. I saved so many to catch up and read-over for times when I need inspiration. Thank you for all your insight. We all look forward to more!
Happy 2021! All the best to you sir!
I loved this post , thank you ! ? Big Smile for starters ?