62. 2024, A Year of Growth, Lessons, and Milestones (and much more ...)

 

2025: No More Coffee?

Coffee has been a constant in my life since I turned 18. As a college student, a hot cup of coffee became my go-to daily ritual. For years now, I didn’t question it. Recently, I paused and asked started asking myself: do I drink coffee for its taste? Is it just a way to keep myself blended into the society and to be seen as a coffee lover, because coffee lovers are romanticized on Social Media? Or has my system simply grown depending on it?

Surprisingly, I realized I didn’t even like coffee! The bitter-sweet taste and lingering smell were unappealing. So, after all these deep questionnings with my inner self, one November morning, I decided to skip my usual cup. The results? Catastrophic at first: difficulty focusing, extreme fatigue, constant yawning and a disrupted appetite.

Here we are a bit more than a month later, and I’m thriving in my coffee-free journey. My sleep has drastically improved, I feel more energetic, and my teeth look and are healthier.

Venturing Into Content Creation

Earlier this year, mmother gifted me a smartphone. I found myself diving into Instagram content creation, vlogs, motivational videos, and even some sarcastic storytelling that I throw out there in my "green" circle (and you know when you are in the green circle, you feel lucky right?)

This journey helped me; enhance my editing and storytelling skills and stay connected to global trends in social media.

However, social media is a double-edged sword. It’s easy to lose hours in endless scrolling, but I’ve learned to strike a balance. The key? Always start using my phone for scrolling reasons when the battery is about to die. When it's time to charge, I just leave it, far away from any accessible place near me.

Professional Growth: Taking on New Challenges

This year, I embraced a new professional role as a communications officer for USAID’s Power Tunisia project. It’s a groundbreaking initiative focused on clean energy transitions in Tunisia’s private sector. This term was almost unknown for me until I started my journey in the project. The experience expanded my knowledge in renewable energy and energy efficiency. It’s been a rewarding challenge that opened new doors in my career.

Reclaiming Fitness

After a six-month long and imposed pause, I went back to the most comforting place to go to. Starting my mornings with a short workout session before heading to the office has been transformative. It’s more than just fitness; it’s a routine that sets the tone for the rest of my day. I do not work out daily, but I do not spend a whole week without visiting at least twice a week.

Lessons from Teaching Public Speaking

One of my proudest achievements this year was delivering a workshop on public speaking to students at Enactus Esprit ICT. Preparing for and leading this session was a a big moment for the little dreamy communications person in me. Eight years ago, I was in the students' shoes. Now, I’m passing the baton, sharing the skills I’ve owned over the years.

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Key Lessons Learned Overall

I would like to express full gratitude to 2024 which has taught me that authenticity is invaluable, people's reactions often reflect their own struggles, non-punctuality is a dealbreaker in my friendships and aging brings clarity, it’s not something to fear but to embrace.

I would also like to express gratitude to each and everyone who entred my life this year, and left an impact whatoever. I am sure I learned soemthing from you.

Last but not least

While challenges were part of the journey, I’ve chosen to see them as lessons rather than obstacles. They’re the stepping stones leading me toward growth and success. I strive to focus on the bright side of every situation, hard but TOTALLY worth it!