Exploring, Evolving, and Embracing 2024!

It’s been way too long since I last checked in on my little corner of the internet. I guess it's about time I make my comeback before 2024 slips away. This time between Christmas and New Year always feels like a special pause—while we’re off celebrating with friends and family, there’s also that moment when we reflect on how the year went. The highs, the lows, and all those wonderfully mundane moments in between.

Like every year, I had a set of goals I wanted to achieve, but this time, I decided to actually write them down in my journal—something I’ve been doing religiously since the start of 2023. Let me tell you, this practice has been a total game changer. If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend giving it a shot.

I’m happy to report that I was able to accomplish most of the goals I set for myself.

In this post, I’ll be sharing some of the personal goals I managed to tackle—and a few that I hope to improve on in the coming year. I’m only focusing on the highs here because I want this space to stay positive. But don’t be fooled into thinking I only had highs—there were definitely some lows along the way. The important thing, though, is how you handle those moments and what you learn from them.

Alright, enough babbling. Let’s get down to business and talk about some of my biggest highs of 2024.

Learn a new language

I’ve always had a knack for languages and have always preferred them over science or math (gag—never could make sense of that!). Having moved around quite a bit and lived in several countries, I found that picking up a new language is both exciting and challenging. For some reason, I’ve always been drawn to the French language. I find the language and culture so intriguing, so I decided to take the plunge and learn it formally. I enrolled in the French Institute of Jordan and began my A1 course. I’m happy to say I’ve successfully completed it, and yes, I even have a certificate to prove it. TADAA!

While I won’t be having fluent conversations in French anytime soon, I’m proud to say that I can now exchange basic pleasantries, make sense of labels on items, and have a basic understanding of the language. Let me tell you, learning French is no easy feat—especially with all the conjugations and the million exceptions that exist. Huge shoutout to my friend Julie for helping me tackle some of the tougher grammar components. By the way, Julie is a highly qualified French teacher and offers online lessons if you’re interested in learning. Her Instagram handle is proffrenchyy - feel free to slide into her DMs

My long-term goals are to watch an entire French film without subtitles and to read a French novel. For now, though, I’ll be sticking to children’s books. Haha!

Read 35 books

I’ve always been an avid reader, ever since I was young. From Peter and Jane and Enid Blyton to Malory Towers, Murakami, Danielle Steel, and Colleen Hoover—fiction has always been my passion. However, I hit the biggest reading slump in 2021, which ended up lasting all through 2022. I found myself glued to the TV or doom-scrolling. And let’s be honest, once you go down that rabbit hole, there’s no turning back.

That’s when I discovered Goodreads and decided to create an account to hold myself accountable through their reading challenge. I aimed high and set myself the goal of reading 35 books in 2024 (yes, I know—it’s ambitious, haha). So, I dove back into reading, and it felt like reconnecting with an old friend—picking up right where we left off, even after a decade apart. I rediscovered my love for stories and got completely lost in the world of books again.

By the way, I actually managed to read 35 books, and here’s my Goodreads stat as proof!

Hehe.

I also attended my first Silent Book Club reading, which was such a fun and unique experience. I absolutely loved the concept—there was no pressure to talk to anyone unless you wanted to (introvert things, right?). On top of that, I organized a book swap event with fellow bookworm buddies in Amman. And guess what? I finally took the plunge and joined an actual book club. I’ll be attending my first meeting in January 2025, and I’m really looking forward to the fun conversations about all the books we’ll be reading.

If you’re interested in the kinds of books I read or want to check out my reviews, feel free to look me up on Goodreads or Instagram (I have a dedicated highlight for all the books I’ve read).

Travel to at least 4 countries

Wanderlust is something I’ll never grow tired of. I absolutely love traveling to new places and exploring their food, people, and way of life. Traveling ignites my soul and often leaves me wanting more. Since I began traveling, my outlook and perception of various aspects of life have expanded considerably.

I had set a goal to travel to at least four countries this year, but we ended up visiting five instead (and I’m definitely not complaining)!

The countries I visited this year are Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to explore these beautiful destinations around the world. The cherry on top is sharing this passion for travel with a husband who loves it just as much.

I’m hoping travel keeps filling our cups in ways we never saw coming—whether it’s watching a sea of tulips sway in the spring breeze, speeding down the autobahn at top speed, taking in the jaw-dropping Duomo in Milan, or soaking in the epic view of Lake Lugano with the Alps in the background. We’re all in for whatever comes next and can’t wait to dive into more adventures together.

I’ll leave you with some photos from my travels. Enjoy!

Build new friendships and strengthen connections with existing ones.

When I’m not traveling, I can be a complete homebody. I’m perfectly content staying at home for days on end, and I’m pretty good at entertaining myself. But at the start of this year, I decided to be more social and make a conscious effort to meet new people and form new friendships. Along the way, I’ve met some amazing people—some who have now become lifelong friends, and others we’ve had to say goodbye to. This is the bittersweet reality of expat life: you never know when someone might have to move on. But that’s just how life goes, isn’t it? People walk in and out of your life—some become permanent fixtures, despite the miles between you, while others are like passing clouds. Either way, each one leaves a lasting impact. Didn’t mean to get so deep, haha.

We recently bid farewell to our amazing friends Julie and Matt as they embark on a new adventure in Vanuatu. Here’s hoping our paths cross again somewhere in this big, beautiful world!

Friends like family!

Made it a point to visit our dear friend, Renee in Den Haag when we were in the Netherlands.

Eat better and become a fitter, healthier version of myself.

The younger me would binge on anything and everything. I had no real understanding of diet, nutrition, or exercise. To me, "dieting" meant starving myself and cutting out entire food groups because they were considered "fattening." To make matters worse, I had a major sweet tooth and loved my desserts, yet I hated exercise or any kind of sports—not the best combo, I know.

As I got older, I became more aware of my habits and decided to start going to the gym. I had no clue what I was doing, though. All I knew was that, after work, I would drive to the gym on autopilot, do an hour of cardio, eat something light, and then try to sleep as quickly as possible before hunger kicked in. There were times when I’d just go berserk and gorge on high-calorie foods, and honestly, I saw no results.

Over time, I had to unlearn those old eating habits and find a workout or sport that I genuinely enjoyed. That’s when I discovered yoga, and it truly changed my life for the better. I don’t enjoy high-intensity workouts or cardio, but yoga was just the thing for me. My instructor, Sonya, shifted my perspective on food and exercise. She introduced me to workouts and poses that focus on strength and mobility, and now, I’m definitely fitter than I was in my teens or 20s.

Super beginner baby grasshopper pose

I now enjoy going for long walks and playing badminton. I find myself genuinely wanting to do something active daily, without needing to force it—that’s a win in my book.

I also have a much better relationship with food. I enjoy all kinds of food in moderation, including my sweetened iced lattes and sweet treats. I’ve learned to slowly swap refined sugar for healthier choices, and now, after dinner, I find myself reaching for stuffed dates or fruit instead of calorie-loaded desserts (which I still enjoy from time to time).

I now follow a fat-first diet, and I’ve seen significant improvements in my overall health. Nutrition and exercise are a constant learning curve, and I’m always educating myself on what works best for my body.

As I look back on everything I’ve accomplished this year—from rediscovering my love for books, embracing new adventures, to taking control of my health and fitness—I’m filled with gratitude for the growth I’ve experienced. It hasn’t always been easy, but each step has taught me something important.

As for 2025, my hopes are simple yet ambitious. I want to continue pushing myself to grow, to learn, and to embrace new experiences. I also want to be kinder to myself, to savor the present, and to keep nurturing both my mind and body. Here’s to more friendships, more adventures, and more moments of joy, laughter, and growth.

Cheers to another year of possibility! 2025, let’s do this - It is going to be special!

Till my next post (which I hope won't be months away, haha)! Wishing all of you a joyful 2025 filled with light, love, and good health.

Toodles!