Over the past three months, I’ve stepped away from writing this blog. Professionally, life has been intense—demanding more of my time and energy than usual—and that disruption has affected my personal rhythm. The fast-paced changes at work have weighed heavily, creating moments that felt unexpectedly heavy.

Happy 2025! As I reflect on the goals I set for last year, I’ve been reviewing what I considered both successes and failures. Looking through my 2024 list, I felt not only excitement about the achievements but, more importantly, a deep sense of gratitude for the lessons learned from what I hadn’t accomplished—the so-called "failures."

As I stepped onto the sideboard and gripped the handle of the rented Ford Expedition to hoist my petite frame into the seat, my heart pounded. I knew what lay ahead: miles of stunning landscapes filled with golden aspen trees, fiery red sumac, and chokecherry bushes, along with steep curves at high elevations.