24 Things I Know to be True in 2024

Strength shows not only in the ability to persist,
but the ability to start over.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Hi, there! It’s late February, which means we’ve made it past Quitter’s Day.

In case you’re not familiar, Quitter’s Day is the second Friday in January — which fell on January 12th this year.

It was first designated in 2008 by Strava (a fitness app company) when they noticed that consumer activity on their app had fallen off dramatically around that time — implying that most well-intentioned people had abandoned their New Year’s resolutions by then. (Not to worry…Strava offers some tips and encouragement to keep going.)

Well, I don’t know about you, but I haven’t made a New Year’s resolution in years. Instead, I like to use the start of a new year to pause and reflect on lessons learned — whether from reading, observing, or personal experiences. They’re just random ideas about life that have solidified in my mind after floating around for a while.

When I first wrote What I Know to be True in 2023, I didn’t expect this to become a yearly tradition. But I guess I’m wired for it because here we are again.

You’ll see that many of the items shared here aren’t groundbreaking or original — and some are just for fun! Please let me know in the comments if anything resonates with you or if you have something of your own to share. I’d love to hear from you.

24 Things I Know to be True in 2024

• We’re not all as good at multi-tasking as we think we are. It helps to eliminate distractions and try to focus on what’s in front of us at the moment.
• We shouldn’t try to force things from our past into the present. We need to accept that life has seasons.
• There are no losers in a pie-eating contest. Win or lose, you still get to eat pie. [From a 7-year-old, quoted on Instagram].

• Instead of asking our kids, “How was your day at school,” maybe we should channel Mr. Rogers and ask them, “Who did you help at school today?”
• I think Target has a $100 cover charge. How else can we explain going in for Swiffer® refills and coming out with a receipt for $115?
• If someone you don’t know says something mean or hurtful to you, it’s usually best to walk away. Just because you’re invited to pick through their garbage, doesn’t mean you should.
• Never underestimate the value of journaling to work through your emotions. Writing things down in a space “for your eyes only” has a way of clarifying your feelings — good, bad or confusing.

• Always start by choosing the best tool for the job — even for something as simple as chopping carrots.
• A strong hug has the power to bring us back from a bad day.
• We won’t know where or how to spend our limited time or energy unless we first develop a clear set of personal values. Writing your values down is a good idea. [Here’s one resource to help.]
• We will probably never become good at something if we can’t get comfortable with sucking at it first.
• “There is no cure for being human…but for each other, we are all good medicine.” [Kate Bowler]
• “Art is for the brave, not only the talented. You don’t have to be good at it; you just need to do it.” [Tatia Baurre]

• The best gift we can give our family and friends is our undivided attention.
• Our intuition is more than a hunch. It’s the collective wisdom of life experiences that live in our subconscious. We should follow it more often.
• One of the perks, I hope, of living long is to be able to speak more freely. We should be able to ask, “Are you still with that Dave guy?” Or to say, “I liked your hair better the other way.” [From Ann Bernays essay, “I’m old and I know things.”]
• We should probably all have an idea capture system. “Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” says Productivity expert Colby Kultzgen. There are countless note-taking apps to jot down anything that interests, excites or energizes you.
• We should never take for granted any day when we can put our feet on the floor, walk to the bathroom, take a shower and get dressed without help. [I’m speaking from experience here, as this wasn’t always possible for me in 2023.]
• We can learn a lot from birds, if we take time to pay attention. Barnacle geese chicks, for example, leap from the nest at just one day old to escape predators. They don’t flinch, they just do it. Human lesson: We shouldn’t let nervousness stop us from taking a leap of faith.

• “I’ll cut and you choose…” is still the best way to settle an argument over cake between a six-year-old and an eight-year-old.
• “People are weird. When we find someone with weirdness that is compatible with ours, we team up and call it love.” [Dr. Seuss]
• At least once a month, we should reach out to someone who has or had a positive influence on our lives. It doesn’t need to be profound; it can be a simple text.
• “Our vulnerability is the truest thing about us; the place where mutual connection is possible…and community begins.” [Kate Bowler]
• Faith is believing that when you’re forced to jump, someone will be there to catch you…or you will be taught to fly. [Source unknown]

Now it’s your turn. Let me know if you can relate to any of these or if you have a personal truth of your own to share.

I am not a licensed nutritionist, medical professional or cosmetics expert. The information provided on Honest + Simple is for general informational purposes only. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food + Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, prevent or cure any disease. Before making decisions about your health or other concerns, please consult a qualified professional and do not rely on this website for medical advice.