66: THRIVE in '25!

20 ways I'm crafting a rich, soft life (and how you can too!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

As I mentioned in my 2024 round up, I feel an exuberance and optimism about 2025 that I haven’t felt in AGES!

Which means to me that my word of the year for 2024 worked. It was buoyant.

I’m going to keep a good thing going.

My word of the year for 2025 is…

THRIVE!!!!

No longer am I satisfied to just make it or make do. 2025 is the year that I return to living a FULL, rich, soft life.

What does that entail?

For starters, I have 20 bonafide goals this year that cover all aspects of my life. To put things in perspective, I could barely commit to 3 goals in 2024, and had none in 2023.

I’m going to do something bold today…actually share those 20 goals with you.

Move 20 days every month

By move I mean 5000 steps or 25 minutes of exercise whether it be zumba, walking, yoga, strength, or something else. Movement is the tip of the spear for me when it comes to health. I find that on the days that I move my body, I drink more water and eat more nutrient dense food.

Manage blood sugar with diet and exercise

I’m on a cocktail of drugs that’s managing my blood sugar, and doing a number of the rest of my body - from lightheadedness to messing with my liver. I’d like to be off them and not have to start on insulin (dreading and avoiding). Also, no suggestions needed. Thanks:-)

Weigh 220lbs

My weight will likely be much lower than this by the end of the year. I’m much more committed to adopting healthy habits than I can maintain, than being focused on the number on a scale.

That said, last year, I realized that if I lose 10 lbs a year, I would be down to my lifetime desired weight of 150 in 10 years (I was 250 at the start of last year). So, at the end of last year I was 231 at last weigh in. I commit to release 11 lbs in 2025, though I’m sure I’ll release more.

Create something every day

Last year, I generally said that I wanted to create more than I consumed. The result was that I lurked more which also meant that I remarkably consumed more than I had in years.

With the clear, measurable goal to create every day, I’m hoping that creation edges out consumption for me this year.

What falls within the scope of a creation?

Planner spreads, social media posts, videos, newsletters, crocheting, knitting, cooking, baking.

Got ideas?

10 Artist dates

The other part of my creating more than I consume equation is changing WHAT I consume. I’m scrolling much more than I want to.

I want to get out to see gardens, watch comedians, enjoy concerts, savor art.

I want to get to know Charlotte more - take in its vibe.

I want to de-center work. That includes business.

I want a full, rich, multi-faceted life. A slow, soft life.

As Yvonne Orji says, “A WHOLE me!”

Read 10 fiction books

Books may seem like more consumption, but they do an interesting thing.

Books slow my brain down. I can only read so fast. More than that, they activate my imagination. When I read, my brain conjures the imagery of the author’s words.

For example, I just finished the Star Side of Bird Hill by Naomi Jackson. It’s set in Barbados. As I was reading, I pictured the world where the characters live, the characters themselves - their attitudes, gaits, even eye gestures.

Books activate my imagination.

Garbage post challenge

Simone Seol talks about this challenge to post 100 pieces of content on 1 social media channel for 30 days. I want to do it. I think it’ll be fun. PLUS, it’s part of my creating more than consuming.

I find that the more I create and press publish, the more ideas flow to me. I see this as a bonanza for some month this year. Maybe a few months if I’m feeling cheeky:-)

Send a Letter from Nneka weekly

In support of creating more, I commit to sending a letter weekly. I love these intimate notes to you, my darling reader.

I imagine you cozied up with a cup or glass of your favorite drink, savoring these words each week.

Grow Letters from Nneka’s readership to over 250 subscribers

After 2 decades of email marketing, we are all very protective of our inbox. In 2025, I want 250 readers to invite me into their inbox.

Readers who look forward to these letters. Readers who savor them with a cup of tea. Readers who make space and take time with them.

Readers who engage with these letters, with me, and with each other.

Readers who are crafting a soft life - a life that’s rich and full and multi-faceted and slow.

You can help me by liking, commenting, and sharing this love letter with your friends.

Publish a weekly video

Last year, I kicked off my YouTube channel and I want to flesh it out this year. It’s shaping up to be the how-to version of the Letter.

Whereas the Letter is more what and why, the channel is more how I’m doing things and how to do things I’ve successfully done. One of those things may be options trading. When I have a year in on that, I’ll evaluate.

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to the channel.

Grow YouTube channel to 1000 subscribers

For some reason, I feel the stream on YouTube moving faster. I feel it’s more wide open. Whereas Letters from Nneka feels deeply intimate.

Conventional wisdom - the voices of a thousand business coaches - say that the what and why of what I do ‘should’ be more widely accessible than the how. I guess it is. Technically, anyone can read the what and why openly on Substack. YouTube strikes me as a how-to place.

We shall see.

Here’s an example:

Profitable business

In 2023, I didn’t completely shut down the business, but I stopped actively promoting it. I stopped taking clients. I stopped creating courses, workshops, and webinars.

I had ‘reasons’ for my retreat - caregiving, divorce, a move.

The real reason…my heart wasn’t in it.

I created a business that was basically me being self-employed. Doing something that I’m highly skilled at, but no longer love.

When I started Letters from Nneka, it was to find my way back to my desires.

In the last quarter of 2024, I was ignited back into the business world by a simple request by someone I follow on YouTube. I thought that spark meant returning to Sage Simple Solutions where I left it. But it wasn’t.

It wasn’t a return to Sage Simple Solutions, the systems consulting company.

It was a call to me to step into what I always wanted to create and who I am called to be - Nneka, the Oracles’ Oracle.

Sage Simple Solutions LLC will continue to be the container.

While I kept SSS alive last year with my financial investment, I expect that in 2025 it is profitable again.

Stick to put option disciplines

I took significant losses (and learned their lessons) last year in the options trading world as I was learning by doing. Over the 6 months, I developed my disciplines. They are proving quite lucrative.

Over the next year, I’ll be testing and tweaking them. As I mentioned above, if I’m still at it after 12 months, I’ll start sharing my how on the channel.

Increase realized premium by 10% per month

Following my disciplines will naturally lead to this outcome goal. It’s the goal I’m most tender about this year. The realization of this goal will lay the foundation for my longer term retirement goal which is my deepest desire in this cycle of life.

I’d like it to be part of the foundation of my soft life.

Invest $12,000 in Freedom Fund

The Freedom Fund is the stash I’m accumulating to take my sabbatical, or, more hopefully, launch my retirement.

While the option premiums are active income, the Freedom Fund will employ other, ‘safer’, investment strategies - growth stocks, REITs, dividend stocks, dogs of the dow, and call options.

Continue 6% 401K contribution

The 401K contribution is matched 100% by my employer. It immediately doubles my investment. It’s a no-brainer. As long as I’m employed, I will contribute to my 401K up to the match.

Publish a book

This one is a stretch goal. I have some ideas about what I want to publish. Maybe too many ideas. It’s between a compilation of Working Mystic - my spiritual journey; short stories that are erotica; or something entirely different.

I have no clue.

What I do know is that come December 2025, I will have at least ONE high content work published on Amazon. I’m being specific about high content because I have several low content works already published.

An Oracle Oasis

Last year, I had a delightful restorative retreat in Raleigh, North Carolina.

I want to continue that tradition by indulging in an Oracle Oasis in Barbados in October this year.

The Oracle Oasis is a pillar of my soft life, and I see it becoming one of my signature offers in the future.

Contribute to Stephanie Perry’s sabbatical fund

These days, I’m spiritually fed on Saturday mornings by Stephanie Perry’s lives on ease, sabbaticals, soft living, freedom, and moving abroad.

For the first time in years, I feel called to ‘tithe’.

She has a sabbatical fund that sponsors Black womens’ career breaks. In 2025, I’ll be contributing to that fund.

It feels good to have a giving goal. I’ve never had one before.

Moodle daily

As part of my own slow living practice, I commit to moodling daily. It’s another pillar of my soft life.

Funny that I arranged this as my last goal, it’s certainly not the least. In fact, it’s THE most important goal.

Why last?

Because I want to end as strong as I started. As clear and committed as I started. Even more so.

I want to end 2025 BETTER than I started it.

Cheers to THRIVE in ‘25🥂

In Joy,

Nneka

PS. If you made it through this, you are a TRUE fan! Thank you:-) Like the post to show your love ❤️ Share your goals in the comments ✍🏽

Let’s support each other!