Lessons from 2024

What I Learned in 2024

The story of what I learned in 2024 actually started in August 2023. Throughout my 20s, I’ve essentially moved to a new place every year, so moving has become a bit of a ritual for me. This ritual usually involves getting rid of things I’ve been holding onto for no reason, looking ahead to what’s next, and reflecting on the growth I experienced from the beginning of one lease to the end.

But 2023 was different. For the first time, I felt like I hadn’t grown. I was in worse physical shape, I was wayward in my career, and I didn’t feel like I had learned much.

That feeling stuck with me throughout 2024. The phrase don’t let this lease go to waste has been reverberating in my head all year.

Have I had low moments? Certainly. Have I grown as much as I wanted? Not really. But that brings me to my first lesson of the year:

Growth Isn’t a Guarantee

When I was in middle school, I would run track every spring. I hated it, but I was fast, and I liked that. Every year, I wondered how much faster I’d be compared to the year before—not because I trained harder, but because I figured I was older, and puberty would take care of the rest.

As an adult, I’ve realized I approached much of my 20s with the same attitude. I thought if I just kept meeting responsibilities, maturity and wisdom would follow naturally.

But moving out of my lease in 2023 sparked a realization: growth isn’t automatic. It requires intentional effort. Turning 30 in 2025 won’t magically give me the wisdom I wish I’d gained in my 20s. But reflecting on my actions, seeking out learning opportunities, and surrounding myself with people who share similar values will.

Just Chat

This year, I moved to a new city where I knew very few people and even less about the city itself. Some of my favorite moments have come from random conversations with people I’ve encountered.

On two separate runs, I ended up going the same direction as someone else and just asked if they wanted to run together. Those conversations lit me up—not because they were groundbreaking but because I genuinely enjoy hearing other people’s stories.

It doesn’t have to be running. I’ve had great chats with Uber drivers, people at coffee shops, and everywhere in between. Sometimes, it’s okay to just chat.

Celebrate

Celebrating myself is hard. I’d much rather focus on what I could do better than acknowledge how far I’ve come.

In college, I had a habit of tearing up my race bib after every race—a symbolic gesture of leaving it behind. Good or bad, I kept no mementos. The only thing that mattered was the next race.

While there’s some wisdom in looking forward, it cemented in me the idea that no moment was worth celebrating. This year, I’ve been learning to take a beat, be proud of my progress, and use those wins as fuel for future goals.

Make Your Food at Home

Apparently, most people already do this. I, however, did not. I knew every Uber Eats driver in the greater Seattle area.

Making my own food isn’t just about saving money. It’s about being intentional. Every ingredient is a choice I made, and when I’m cooking for myself, I feel more in control of my life as a whole. It’s a small change, but it’s made a big difference.

Create a Healthy Consumption

These days, content feels like an all-or-nothing game. We’re surrounded by it.

I heard someone compare YouTube to the Library of Alexandria on a podcast recently, and it’s true—we’re the luckiest people in history when it comes to access to information.

For creators (like someone writing a newsletter, for example), consuming the right content is key to spurring ideas and staying inspired. But it’s a balance. Go too far in one direction, and you either gorge yourself on content or starve for new ideas.

Creating and consuming work hand in hand, and finding that balance has been a lesson for me this year.

These are just a few things I’ve learned in 2024. As always, I write these newsletters mostly for myself, but I hope there’s a nugget or two in here for you.

Writing is one of my major themes for 2025, and this is just the beginning.

See you next year!

Kyle