Life is rarely a straight path. It’s full of changes, challenges, and moments of profound discovery. This year has been one of those winding roads for me – a year of exploration, self-reflection, struggles, and, ultimately, victories.
I’m sharing my story not to brag about triumphs or lament the difficulties but to demonstrate that growth requires vulnerability, courage, and the willingness to stand up for what you truly desire. If you’re in the midst of your own challenges, I hope this will resonate with you and remind you that greatness and growth come through persistence and self-belief.
Starting Strong, but Feeling a Void
2024 started with so much promise. I threw myself into an incredible adventure across Central America, took an intensive German course, and pitched exciting freelance projects. I was full of energy, filled with hope, and eager to see what the year had in store.
Adventure was the theme. I climbed an active volcano, swam with sharks, enjoyed sunsets in 12 countries, and covered 3,798,480 steps (yes, I tracked them!). Somewhere in those experiences, I found freedom – the kind of freedom that comes from exploring new places and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Yet, no matter how exciting my days were or how much progress I was making – B2 German fluency, check! – something felt off by mid-year.
To find clarity, I did something I’d dreamed of for years but always found an excuse to avoid: I embarked on a solo trip from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. It was everything I hoped it would be – challenging, beautiful, and deeply personal. The long days of walking gave me time to reflect, recalibrate, and reconnect with myself.
But by evening, I felt it. Something was missing.
This pilgrimage was a physical test, a mental challenge, and a deeply personal experience. Walking alone, I was confronted with my strengths and limitations.
During the day, I enjoyed the solitude and the beauty of my surroundings. But by evening, I strongly felt the absence of someone to share the experience with.
What I thought was my biggest revelation during the trip was this truth – it’s okay to be capable of walking alone, but it’s also okay to admit that I long for shared journeys. And while that insight stayed with me, it wasn’t until months later that I understood the broader lesson fully.
Looking back, the most powerful lesson wasn’t just about solitude or companionship. While interacting with others on this trip helped me regain the faith I had lost and reaffirmed that, with the right people around me, everything flows, the deeper lesson was about owning my desires and fears, and not shrinking from them. Admitting what you truly want requires vulnerability, but fighting for it demands courage.
It’s okay to fear change. It’s okay to not have all the answers. And more importantly, it’s okay to change your mind. But, what’s not okay is settling for a life or circumstances that don’t make you happy.
Stop comparing yourself to others. Stop letting fear paralyse you. Stop surrounding yourself with people who don’t see your worth. Most importantly, stop letting the opinions of those who don’t truly matter define your worth and confidence.
Sure, the year wasn’t perfect. Just like others applying for roles, I faced rejection after rejection. I experienced three nervous breakdowns – two during my Santiago walk (blisters have a way of breaking both your feet and your spirit) – neglected my health, fell out of shape, and gained a few grey hairs. And yet, I am deeply proud of all these, maybe even more than my successes.
Why? Because they reminded me of the incredible support system I have around me. They forced me to confront my limits, lean on the people who care about me, and appreciate the strength it takes to get back up. They showed me that no experience – whether it’s rejection, failure, or physical discomfort – is permanent. Each struggle taught me resilience and gave me perspective, making the victories that followed feel all the more meaningful.
This post isn’t about hustling harder, chasing milestones, or ticking boxes. It’s about realising that life is not a competition. It’s not about measuring up to others or living by anyone else’s standards.
It’s about showing kindness – to yourself and others. About fighting for the things you truly desire. About letting go of the things that make you unhappy and never losing sight of what matters most.
If I could shout one thing from the rooftops today, it is this: you are enough, just the way you are, for the people who matter most. And those who don’t see your value? They simply don’t belong in your world.
The life you want is worth fighting for, and every misstep along the way is part of what leads you there.
Next year, I plan to make it more about me. To prioritise my happiness unapologetically. I’ll continue tracking my steps, chasing meaningful goals, and pouring my soul into projects I love. But I’ll do it all with this grounding knowledge: I’m not perfect, and I don’t need to be.
Nonetheless, this article is dedicated to all the people who chose to stay in my life or became part of it in 2024 by supporting, inspiring, and lifting me up. I am grateful for each meaningful connection, and if you feel you’re on that list while reading this, it most certainly is about you.
I’m enough. And so are you.
Thank you for being part of this year and for allowing me to share this with you.
To growth, connection, and happiness,
Ariadna