Exploring the New Year: A Journey Towards Our Emerging Future 🌟
As I was writing the first versions of this draft, I was caught up in excitement to inspire all of you. The part of me that wanted to make my message perfect, polished, and put together was driving the bus. Thankfully, there was too much dissent from the back of the bus.
So here I am, reminding myself to just show up and invite you into this messy, human process of reflection and dreaming.
Let’s explore a mish-mash of topics together:
Physical Health and Well-Being
In 2024, I leaned into network spinal care thanks to the recommendation of my mentor. It was the next best step for me after past years of "intense" bodywork like traditional chiropractors and rolfing. (I needed those techniques at the time, and now I need a gentler approach.) In 2025, I'm getting deeper into the work by studying Donny Epstein’s theories and attending his in-person group events.
So often in the past, I have relied on my body sending pain signals for me to take care of it. Now I want to attune to it and listen to the subtle clues on deeper levels. I’m going to pay attention before problems arise and nourish myself.
⭐ What’s one way you’re planning to honor your body in the coming year?
Money: A New Relationship with Abundance
Money has been a theme I’ve explored deeply over the years—from personal finance classes in high school to Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey's baby step plan, money manifestation, all the techniques I could find. In 2024, I tracked every dollar I spent using the Copilot app. And I invested in my first Bitcoin.
Now, a lot of money material out there feels on repeat to me. And a lot of it is about individual success and transactions. I'm interested in collective efforts and a deep relationship with money.
What's helping that process:
✨ I’m leaning into Sarah McCrum’s Love Money, Money Loves You work, which focuses on money as energy. I'll be in her January book club cohort. I don't want to be transactional
✨ I also just started Dana Miranda’s You Don’t Need a Budget, which points out the parallels between budget culture and diet culture. Tracking every dollar and restricting myself reminds me a lot of my Weight Watchers days...lessons to be learned, for sure.
⭐ What's on your mind about money in 2025?
Resistance
I can feel a strong resistance right now to:
Making specific strategies
Vision boards
Collaging or making art about the new year
Nothing wrong with these things. I'm just noticing my personal resistance and getting curious about why. I’m not pushing or forcing myself into ways of being on Wednesday. I’m focused on attunement for what the character of Caitlin needs.
⭐ What are you resisting around the New Year's hype?
Our Emerging Future
One of the most exciting aspects of this year for me is co-evolving Our Emerging Future—a collective initiative designed for "planetary leaders" and an "ecosystem of creation and support."
If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to join us at ouremergingfuture.com.
We already gather virtually and in a few weeks, we'll meet in Austin to build together in person.
⭐What kind of future are you ready to co-create?
⭐What excites you about connecting with others who inspire you to grow?
New Year’s Day Plans
For the fifth year in a row, I’m starting the new year with Scott Schwenk’s Magnetic Joy New Year Events. These events have become a grounding ritual for me—a way to connect with joy, clarity, and a deep sense of possibility as I enter the new year.
This time of alignment helps me set the tone for the year, not with rigid resolutions, but with a clear and open heart.
⭐ Do you have any New Year’s rituals or practices that help you connect with clarity and intention?
Substack / Email Newsletter
I am so glad I didn’t get on the Notes train within Substack. I didn’t want another online avenue to share. It’s been more rewarding to lean into my Columbus, Ohio community than go discover new people online.
And so many of you found me this year through my Sober App guest post! For that, I am very grateful. My latest post talked about breaking free from the holiday drinking cycle.
For this newsletter in 2025, I’m committed to sharing more with you from a grounded place. If I'm seeking external validation or praise, I aim to process that first before posting. And I’m looking forward to your comments and questions.
Let’s co-create a year of abundance, connection, and joy together. 💛
⭐ What would you love to see from this newsletter in 2025?
Yes to all of this, Caitlin! Exciting to see the innovations we all experience in 2025 🙌🏼