oh em hoyt

I kind of can’t stand the idea of New Year’s Resolutions. It might just be me but when I think of the term “resolution” I immediately associate it with a problem. As if you have to make or find a “resolution” for 2025 in order to fix the problems you had in 2024. Idk, I guess I’ve always thought of it as having sort of a negative vibe to it. I do know that by definition it means “a firm decision to do or not do something” and I guess I can get behind that thought. I decided that because 2024 was the year (or half of the year) I got sober, I had already “resolved” a bunch of shit. I know I have a lot more work to do but man, I am going into 2025 so fucking grateful for all that 2024 brought me. And I want more of it!

More memories, more laughter, & more happy tears. I want more growth, more strength, more wisdom & more courage. I want to see more sunsets, hike more trails & breathe more fresh air. I want more dance parties & more books to read. I want to learn more, write more, create more & share more. I want more naps & snuggles, let’s give more hugs! I want to build snowmen in the winter & jump puddles in the spring. Let’s run barefoot all summer & watch the leaves change colors in the fall. I desperately want more understanding, more empathy, & more kindness. I want more adventures, more passion, & a lot more fun! In 2025, let us do more, live more, & love more •

I did also make an actual list of specific things I’d like to do in 2025 cause #goals right?! When you’re sober, setting goals means more cause well, they’re actually realistic and attainable. Anytime in recent years I’ve made resolutions, I’ve made them while drunk and most of them never even went past the initial thought because I either A) didn’t remember making them or B) got drunk instead of following through on any of them. So below are a few things I’d like to do in 2025 that I think would be pretty rad:

• Hiking Trips – Go on at least 1 day-long hiking trip per month (once spring hits cause fuck winter in Rochester). Ideally, said hikes would be at places I’ve never been before. It’s like a two-fer; get some exercise and check out a new spot!

• Design & Bind My Own Daily Journal (with hopes of many more projects to follow) – I got a Cinch book binding machine for Christmas and I can’t wait to create all of the things and bind them in cute little books!

• Spring Clean – Okay so I guess this doesn’t sound rad at all. But, we’re talking like a straight up gutting of our apartment from top to bottom. I want to feel like I live in a new place once it’s done. That could be pretty rad!

• Sober Bestie(s)- I am so lucky to have my husband, friends, family & the amazing support system that I do and it might be asking a lot but I’d like to meet some sober friends (outside of my immediate family) or even just one that I vibe with. I love the peeps at my meetings but, I keep that mostly separate from spilling into my personal/social life. It would be cool to click with someone who I can grab food and NA drinks with, bitch to about work, send funny memes to, talk about my drama with, who can ALSO relate to the ups and downs of recovery because they’ve experienced the same shit I have. Are you out there sober bestie?! Hit me up, let’s talk, sober af!

• Get a Tattoo – I think 5 out of the 7 tattoos I have, I got while I was drunk or had been drinking. I still love (almost) all of them but it would be sweet to get one post-alcohol. Not sure if I would want or am ready for said tattoo to be a commemorative sobriety one, but new art on my skin is something I can justify spending some of the money I’m saving by not buying 30-racks everyday on. Ideas include: Lena’s birthdate, family tree/tree of life, wedding date, small finger tats or all of the above.

• Stay Sober AF . – the end.