End of the runway for 2024
When a friend asked me how I'd sum up my feelings about the end of the year, I conjured the image of a plane ride.
I'm arriving into Washington National Airport, coming home after a trip that went by faster than I'd expected. It's a short domestic flight after dark. All of the historic symbols of power are lit up and twinkling outside the window: the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial, and the Pentagon. I think about the privilege of taking this trip, seeing this view, coming home to this place.
And then the DCA airport's peculiar combination of geography and physics comes into full play. We're descending rapidly over the Potomac toward the runway in a sequence that sounds like this in my head: "Water, water, water... LAND!" The jet comes suddenly to a stop before the short runway ends, and we all exhale, collecting ourselves before we collect our things and go on our way.
This was literally my experience coming home from a work trip to Ohio a couple of weeks ago, and I think it also sums up the end of year perfectly for me. You want it to end smoothly, and it usually does. You have to place a certain amount of trust in your cabin crew and your fellow travelers to do their jobs, because those aren't your job. And after a last-minute burst of energy and adrenaline, you get to go home to bed.
It's the fifth anniversary of Peaceful Direction as a full-time endeavor. In 2024, I ran my 50th half marathon and published my second book. I leaned hard into facilitation, bringing Everything DiSC and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to groups near and far. I had the worst financial month in the history of my business in July, followed by the third-best in November.
I continue to be supported by a fantastic team in Rachael Davila (operations) and Nancy Hull (bookkeeping), and have amazing collaborators in Jennifer Hart and Deepti Gudipati. I'm also grateful to the Nebo Company and Sparks Group for another successful year on their coaching and facilitation benches.
After running this business for five years, it's comfortable and familiar. It is a privilege to do this work and serve the clients I serve. It has also been a bumpy ride at times.
I am taking the period of December 21 to January 1 off and will be back at my desk early in 2025. Wishing you and yours a safe, warm and restful holiday!