How do you feel about the new year? Do you feel a renewed sense of hope and purpose? Or are you disinterested – just another day.
One of the lessons from 2023, at least for me, is a deeper understanding of how we’re all looking for progress (or for many, survival) and to keep a clear conscience. Finding that balance is tricky, especially when it’s harder to know what’s truly real and we all grasp onto our beliefs like they are life preservers in a hurricane.
What do I know is real?
Friendship. This year has truly opened my eyes to the amazing number of people, like you, who are looking to the positive, who want the people around them to succeed, and who are willing to exchange energy and time to do good for others.
Intentions. I’ve seen over and over again in 2023 that our values are a hill we’re willing to die on and we’ve got the momentum to keep fighting for them.
Beauty. Even through a tragedy, when the big picture is too terrifying to think about, there will always be beauty in the tiny details of our lives. The child’s chubby fist wrapped around your finger; the air filling your lungs; the mischief in a parent’s eye; the wind in the trees; the warmth under a pile of blankets. Tiny sparks of hope and meaning are worth looking for.
Time. Time heals many wounds. Time flies when we’re having fun. A stitch in time saves nine. Time and tide wait for no man. Time is of the essence. Only time will tell. Time is a river without banks. The time is now.
As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wisely said, “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
In 2024, our focus will continue to be simplicity, building on what we already have, bridging knowledge gaps, carefully testing new ideas and reflecting often so we can learn quickly. We’re committed to simplifying complexity and focusing on what we know is absolutely real.
It’s the small, consistent actions that yield significant results.
Thank you for being a friend, an acquaintance, a colleague, or a client. Here’s to the optimists – the challengers, the fighters and the rebels – who have the courage to face what’s real AND still believe in a better world.
With love,
Erin
