Today I’m writing to share a bit of my reflections on 2024. I have the great privilege of participating in one of the coolest containers for annual planning, hosted by a good colleague of mine, Elyse Preston, called Radical Reconnection. She’s facilitating 4 weeks in which we take time to map out some of our goals for the year ahead, while at the same time checking in with our spirit, our bodies, and what level of nourishment will make us feel truly fulfilled this year.

It’s been such a gift to have this space and time to reflect in community in a way that’s gentle, invites patience and grace, and also fun through somatic practices! 2024 was an absolute whirlwind, and when I started taking notes of my accomplishments and places I traveled during the year, I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the final list. To create more expansiveness for readers in their own lives, work, and relationships, I’ve included a copy of my list at the end of this blog post. 

But I wanted to spend a little more time sharing what I’m ramping up for in 2025, based on some of the work that I’ve been doing through Radical Reconnection, as well as another digital community I’m a part of, called The Wealth Vibe. I also want to offer you some journal prompts to help you think about, and plan for, the year ahead. There’s a saying that if you don’t make plans, someone else will for you. And I agree with that 100%. In fact, I spoke recently about this concept of ‘getting sh*t done’, as a quality that I’ve observed in people who I would consider successful in their lives and in work in a recent episode of The Transcendent Farmer. Give it a listen if you’d like to dig deeper into this topic!

**P.S. – The image of this blog post is a copy of the vision board that I created as part of a workshop I attended through Secret AI Society, an online course that’s teaching me how to use AI for graphic design**

Anyways, here’s what I’ve got lined up for 2025, organized by quarter so far:

Q1: Getting footing under me in Mexico | January-March

For some brief context, I decided in December that I would commit to a country. I was in analysis paralysis mode, as has happened to me before. I was struggling between Australia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the U.S. With so much flexibility in my remote work, I was a bit overwhelmed by all of the possibilities, weighing things like cost of living, being close to family, learning more about my Mexican culture, climate, etc. Within about 4 weeks of having decided to move to Mexico and pursue residency abroad, I secured a temporary resident visa through ‘economic solvency’, which is what works for digital nomads like myself, and within three days of arriving in Mexico, a legal consultant advised me to apply for dual citizenship, since my dad was born in Mexico. As of the publishing of this post, I’ve sent my birth certificate off to Kansas to get an apostille to affirm that yes, indeed, what I have is my actual birth certificate.

Goals:

• New home
• New car
• Dual citizenship
• Participate in podcast accelerator
• Hire a new member for my team with Mezclada!

Q2: April-June | Getting Grounded

Goals:

• Settle into my new space and routines
• Make friends, stay active and healthy
• Start my diploma in traditional mexican medicine, finishing podcast accelerator
• Explore the region on the weekends!
• More support = more simplicity

Q3: July-September | Int’l Travel + Client Nurturing

Goals:

• Attend USDA summit in August in MN
• Travel across MN to conduct more podcast interviews and visit new farms
• Invest in client relationships by facilitating opportunities for in-person connection/networking – happy hours, farm buds trips, etc.
• Get together with my volunteer planning team for the Farmer Wellness Summit and meet with my new consulting associate in person!
• Take a weekend for myself on the north shore?! 
• Plan travel around my herbal medicine module requirements

Q4: October-December | Going Inward

Goals:

• Slow down the pace a bit
• Specific activities/goals TBD

 

Journal Prompts for Your Annual Planning

I always find these things great to help with self-reflection and goal-setting. Whatever way you want to process these – writing them down, talking through these questions with a friend, etc. – make it your own and have fun with it! The more creative the better. If you want to share your progress in a more public way, tag Mezclada (@mezclada.co) on social so we can cheer on your progress! 

• Consider completing the following statement: “By the end of 2025, I will have…”
• When I think about what support I will have created for myself by then, it includes…[finish the sentence/write a paragraph]
• Projects I anticipate having on my plate work-wise
• Trips that I want to take for fun/vacation include…
• Ways that I’d like to invest more in my physical, mental, and spiritual health include…
• What I’m willing to do differently this year to have my personal and professional relationships/friendships reflect who I am/becoming include…This is different than how I’ve behaved in the past because….and I will ask for help or create more support for myself through….
• Ways that I’d like to be supported by my community include…

 

2024 Summary of Accomplishments

A brief summary of things that I’m especially proud of having accomplished in 2024. 

Business Developments

• Joined the Melbourne Innovation Centre in Greensborough, Australia
• Completed ILT Academy’s Advanced Cohort (for the 2nd time)
• Became certified through MNUCP as officially Hispanic-owned for government contracting opportunities
• Awarded first foundation grant with Mezclada as the lead applicant
• 33 1:1 meetings scheduled (for which I have notes)
• 1 online course hosted
• Increased LinkedIn followers by over 500
• Published 16 podcast episodes
• Recorded 12 interviews for the podcast

 

Travel Highlights

Countries/Cities Visited:

• Melbourne, Australia
• Tasmania, Australia
• Oahu, Hawaii
• Costa Rica: Santa Teresa, Grecia, Tilarán, San José 
• Mexico: León, Guanajuato, Guadalajara, Ajijic, Muquiz
• United States: Lawrence, Kansas; Twin Cities, Minnesota, West Central MN; Mustang, Oklahoma

Coolest Farm Visits:

• Warratina Lavender Farm – Warratina, Australia
• Hoa ‘Āina O Mākaha – Oahu, Hawaii
• Hungry Turtle Farm – Amery, Wisconsin
• Los Trapiches – Santa Gertrudis Sur, Costa Rica
• Hacienda La Alsacia – Dulce Nombre, Costa Rica

Financial Wins:

• Hitting my revenue goal for the year!
• Increasing Roth IRA contribution
• Securing two grants for food systems work in West Central MN 
• Going full-time in my business in August
• Paying for health insurance in full for one year

Expanding my team:

• Hiring Melissa and Brayan to provide much-needed support

Investments in myself:

• Becoming a member of Secret AI Society
• Becoming a member of the Wealth Vibe 
• Monthly massages and regular manicures and pedicures 🙂

Best Airbnb:

• Lindisfarne, Tasmania

Favorite Dancing Spots:

• Sunday night salsa, Melbourne
• Alma Tropical (dance academy), Grecia
• Salón El Lago, Grecia

Place with the biggest hearts and hospitality:

• Muzquiz, Mexico

Favorite Small Town Event:

• Weiner Dog Races, Vergas, MN (pop. 350)

New places added to my travel list:

• Countless spots in Costa Rica
• All of Mexico
• Several remote locations in Australia
• The rest of Hawaii

Most affordable trip:

• Mexico

Percentage of retained clients from 2023:

100%

Country I spent the most time in:

Costa Rica (4 months)