Same Old, but Make It Magic: My 2024 Reflections and 2025 Vision
Magical Abundance Starts Here: My Goals, Outs, and Joys for 2025
If you know me well, you know I have three voices—my "this and that must happen" product director voice, my "I think I'm funny" voice, and my "I'm a depressed piece of garbage" voice. My energy and voice right now is 80% #1, 10% #2, 10% #3. If my high-energy go-getter vibes aren't matching your mood today, feel free to save & read this later!
If you do read, for the best experience, read on the free Substack app or in a web browser rather than via email…and to gift little, same-old me the best experience, consider liking the post, leaving a comment, or sharing it with a friend who brings you joy!
January 14th is typically when I stop dilly-dallying and start planning my year more seriously.
Until now, everything was a trial period, a wash, a warm-up.
So far in 2025, I worked a LOT and felt genuinely excited and grateful to work on the projects I'm working on. I also cried about the fires and (skeptically) cheered for a ceasefire. I attended a writing event and hosted a reading event. I saw my new favorite Broadway show with one of my closest friends Stephanie.
I planned out every single day of January, and so far, all is going better than planned.
No rest for the wicked!
I’ll rest when rest is good.
These last two weeks, I also read many serious personal essays and silly "Ins and Outs" social media posts, and didn’t feel particularly inspired.
When I reflect on 2024, I don’t feel very strongly about how the year went. Is this how 30 feels like?
To summarize my feels on 2024: Same old, in a good way.
Same old with Substack—such a positive experience. I’ve made so many new online friends, some of whom I even got to meet in person. I love it here—it’s my favorite social media platform! I’m not torn up about TikTok but I’d miss Substack!
Same old with my IRL community—the people who I was most grateful for in previous years came through, and the people who I was disappointed in in previous years were even more disappointing. The people who always move forward in their lives moved forward. The people who are stuck mostly stayed stuck (except my mama and Alexa, shoutout to them for making moves!).
Same old with my lifestyle—same old as pre-2019. I am once again a social butterfly. Some of my pandemic friends are SURPRISED. I still made plenty of time for quiet moments and am especially grateful for the time I spent alone with my pen or a book.
Same old with my daily practices—I was consistent with my exercising and creating. I exercised enough and I created plenty.
Same old with my daily struggles—sleeping was hard, health anxiety was hard. grieving was hard. But not harder, and I had more tools at my disposal during dark moments, and thus I am grateful.
Same old with my major successes (work, hobbies) and ongoing projects (dating more, painting more, publishing fictional stories).
So, Same Old for 2024.
Did I hope 2024 would be a million times better than any other year? Sure. Was it? No. It was a fine year for me—not the best, not the worst.
But here’s the perspective: growing older while staying consistent and trusting in yourself is a blessing.
2023, I made a vow
A pledge to myself, here and now:
To embrace next year, come what may,
To release the burdens, let them sway
To make space for glee
To make space for more that comes from me
To dip my toes in seas of art
To craft, to read, to write, to start.
With souls around who understand,
I’ll let life pass
better than planned.
This is a poem I wrote for myself last year, and shamelessly, published here as well.
You know what? Hell yeah. I dipped! I took the plunge and made a splash!
I dipped my toes in seas of art, I crafted, I wrote, I started new things—and I prioritized the people who understand me. I did all of this consistently.
I don’t have any poems in me for 2025, BUT I reserve the right to send you a poem at any moment! Poetry was my first love in writing—I have books upon books of my poetry at home. My mother even had it “professionally” “published”.
I felt so cringe publishing the poem before, and I feel cringe publishing this post too.
But here I am, doing it again.
I’m publishing this because I truly believe that sharing intentions and plans—putting them out into the world—helps make them happen, especially with the support of those who care most. And the people who care the most? They’re the ones reading my Substack. It really does take a village—and my village is the coziest.
Looking through my notes from January 2024—from personal manifestations to community reflections—I feel deeply joyful seeing how much has worked out, not just for me but for our entire collective.
Thank you to everyone who partook in our 2023 Reflections and 2024 JoyMap exercise!
What Joyful Moments We Wanted for 2024:
In 2024, we set out to create joy through personal and intentional moments—like baking, painting, crafting with friends, and learning new skills such as running and handstanding.
We wanted to spend more time in nature, from gardening and birding in Central Park to horseback riding. Self-care and relaxation, including beach trips, were key priorities.
We mapped our goals—and accomplished so many of them! While we might not have achieved every single one, we’ve done enough to make me proud. I'll be responding to each 2024 participant soon, but for now, it’s heartwarming to reflect on how…
…Our Caring Community accomplished all this in 2024:
Celebrated milestones and created meaningful moments.
Countless joyful birthday, half-birthday, and just-because parties
Many of our subscribers got engaged!
I listed many of the joyful moments from 2024 here https://katyacares.substack.com/i/154236470/s-most-joyful-moments-chronological-order
Engaged in creative hobbies and self-care.
Thriving craft clubs, both casual and structured
Abundant Substack publications
Nurtured community and relationships.
Our community gathered regularly in person while staying connected through social media
New relationships blossomed, in all forms
Consumed uplifting entertainment that inspired and energized.
Some of our favorites listed here: https://katyacares.substack.com/p/happy-new-years-january-care-package
Traveled and sought beauty and joy in new experiences.
We immersed ourselves in nature's wonders!
Our frequent garden gatherings were a personal highlight!
Take this year’s reflections and joymap with us! press on the links below!
Joymap 2025 with us!
Last year, I started the year with drawing 3 Fairy cards (like tarot cards but magical and positive) for my friends. You can see some photos of that here.
I still have them. I’m staring at them as we speak!
I’d be happy to do this again for you in 2025, either in person or virtually—just let me know!
(or email me)
My personal theme for 2025 is Magical Abundance.
It is a big big year for my family and I want all the wins.
Honestly, every single person in my family needs to make big moves this year. It’s one of those years where things just can’t stay the same. Ahhh!
I want to be delightfully surprised by good things and see all the hard work pay off—even better than I expected!
I'm optimistic about this theme and this year. In just these first two weeks of 2025, magic is already conjuring itself in wonderful ways. Stay tuned for more details!
Magical Abundance!
Magical:
The extraordinary, awe-inspiring, and unexpected wonders that feel like they couldn’t happen by chance alone. Magic is the spark of joy, creativity, and possibility that transforms the ordinary into something enchanting. It’s about believing in the unseen forces—whether they’re within us or beyond us—that guide and uplift.
Abundance:
The overflowing, limitless potential for good things to come your way—opportunities, love, wins, surprises, and fulfillment. Abundance isn’t just about quantity; it’s about quality. It’s the sense of more than enough—not just material gains, but also emotional and spiritual richness.
Together, Magical Abundance is the belief that the universe holds endless possibilities for delight, success, and joy, and that by embracing this mindset, you can attract and celebrate those moments of magic. It’s about combining intention and effort with openness to the unexpected.
I believe in magic, of course, but I also know that to have an abundance of it, you need to be a witch or a fairy—and that takes work!
Here’s how I’m putting in the work:
I’m investing in a few themes, both financially and with my time:
This week, I’ve put $50 into a few different buckets
I’m scheduling time each week to focus on my buckets
When magic happens, I celebrate it and write it down:
No shrugging it off or forgetting it
I have a growing list on my Notes app
I’m surrounding myself with magical fairies and witches
No more settling for cynical humans!
If you want to be in my life, you must believe in magic—both mine and magic in general!
Since things can’t stay the same for me in 2025—it’s just one of those years—and compared to 2024, which was a slower, transitional year, some things/people will go in and some out. I might as well set intentions for it!
Katya’s INs:
Magic! Witches! Fairies!
Bunnies! and other cute animals/things/people. Familiars.
Events
Writing, reading, film, crafting, book, technology, and social clubs where I meet interesting, motivated people
Complimentary tickets to events I enjoy and write about
Hosting events that bring people joy, creativity, and connection!
Mindful Consumption
Books, movies, TV shows, plays, musicals featuring characters who stay hopeful and positive at least 80% of the time
Beautiful settings and beautiful writing
Personal Growth and Learning
Learning new technology, science, and skills
Investing in my future
Growth mindset
Believing in Abundance!
My sister is hoping to get into an abundance of colleges.
Financial abundance is especially needed for my family, so she can go to college.
As for me, I need an abundance of love and joy.
Embracing my inner academic fairy, both in mindset and style!
Romancing! Romance is everywhere 😊
Physical Well-Being and Movement
Lifting heavier weights
Moving more fluidly in new ways
Walking extensively, even in cold weather
Creative Expression
Creating something daily
Publishing short stories
Painting in the bathtub
Displaying my art in my bedroom
Boundaries
Prioritizing people who:
Create joyful memories for me and others
Understand intuitively, without needing to relate
Communicate directly and respond reliably
I am proud to be friends with
Matching low effort with low effort and minimal explanation
Travel and Exploration
Traveling to new places, seeking beauty, joy, and moments of awe in different cultures, landscapes, and experiences
More work trips!
What are your Ins for 2025? Comment or email me!
Katya’s Outs:
Stronger boundaries with
People who drain my energy without offering value or empathy
People who are difficult/uncomfortable/embarrassing to bring into social situations
People who pressure me to lower my standards or compromise my values
The peanut gallery
Less worry-warting:
Wasting time overthinking things in bed when sleep is more important
Spending energy worrying about people who aren’t there for me when I need people to come through
Wasting energy worrying about myself when tomorrow is uncertain
Less Consumption of Movies, TV Shows, Books, Plays, Musicals:
featuring characters with negative inner voices
gloomy settings, somber music, dull colors, or heavy plots that create an overall dark atmosphere
Health & Wellness
Less Sugar (In 2023, I had almost no sugar and felt great. In 2024, I had so much sugar. Time for a reset!)
Less Coughing
Less of my favorite rectangle, the phone, in bed (wish me luck!)
What are your Outs for 2025? Comment or email me!
What does “Magical Abundance” mean for this Substack?
Magical:
I will only be writing about witches, fairies, and familiars!
Nah, I’m just playing.
I will be reading a little more fantasy and sci-fi than in 2024. I will be writing a little more fantasy and sci-fi, although I'm not sure I'll publish it here.
We will see where the magic brings me!
Abundance:
I am still going to be a prolific writer. Same. old.
I submitted an application to a writing club that asked “What is your relationship with creativity?”
Here’s exactly what I typed into the box without any editing (and I want to carry this energy into the rest of 2025):
“I am a creator. I create to feel more alive during the day and to sleep better at night. I've been writing stories and poems since I could read. As soon as I got a computer, I started building apps to help people, like a mental health bot that reframes negative thoughts. I created bilingual books to help refugee kids, like myself, learn English and feel less alone. At work, I build tools that empower small business owners. I create art that brings joy to myself—and sometimes, to others too. Most importantly, I focus on creating joyful memories for the people I cherish.”
I got accepted on January 14th, a perfect start to my 2025 goal of embracing creativity and connecting with inspiring magic-makers.
In 2025, I'm diving deep into book, reading, writing, crafting, tech, and social clubs—fully embracing my #academic-fairy life. I hope this creative immersion inspires better writing, and that you'll enjoy both reading and discussing it with me.
Thank you for reading! I hope this post has encouraged you, motivated you, or given you some fresh ideas for 2025. If you feel this way, please let me know so I am not embarrassed for too long after publishing this!!
It’s a big year for my family, my friends, and me—we’ve got a lot of big moves to make! A lot is at stake… Things will not be Same Old after this year, there will be Ins and Outs, which is bittersweet. I’m both worried and excited about what’s ahead.
So, I’m sharing this post with one ask: please send some magical abundance fairy sprinkles my way for 2025! ✨ I really need them 🧡.
Here’s to embracing change, magic, and abundance in 2025. I’m ready to make this year unforgettable—and I hope you’ll join me for the ride!
With care and magic,
Katya