Editor/ Publisher

For our family, 2024 was a difficult year.

Yes, there were some ups with the downs, but overall, it felt like we were put through a meat grinder.

I felt awfully alone in this experience ... until New Year’s Day.

To my surprise, I started to see posts and comments on social media to the effect of “good riddance 2024!” and “farewell to the worst year yet.”

It felt both dramatic and familiar. Especially considering how difficult 2020 was.

Our family experienced the loss of a family member in 2024, which had some interesting ripples. We also have been walking through other obstacles I just can’t talk about in a public platform. These combined issues have created significant weight for my husband and I to bear.

In fact, Erik said to me, “I would go back and do 2020 all over again if I got to skip 2024.”

Whoa. Those are big words, and I disagree. The 2020 experience was awful and painful, but I’ve grown into a more resilient human because of that year.

While Christmas is often a joyful event, I simply wasn’t feeling it. I couldn’t share a “happy” Christmas photo with anyone because honestly, I spent most of Christmas Mass in tears.

We walked through so much “hard” in 2024, and no part of me felt joyful, as the priest was discussing in his homily.

As 2024 drew to a close, we found ourselves, as a family, adjusting our expectations and trying to figure out what a new “normal” will look like for us.

I felt so alone in this vortex of difficult ... until the New Year’s holiday.

I’m thankful others shared how difficult 2024 was for them. I felt less alone to know others were also struggling, also walked through silent battles and struggles I knew nothing about.

I don’t need to know their struggles. They don’t need to bear mine.

But knowing I am not alone in the difficult portions of life we’re currently navigating is a comfort.

The other side of this year of difficulty is the friendships that have really had the chance to blossom.

For me, I walked through much of 2024 with a prayer partner. We selected a challenging devotion and would check in daily with one another. We would celebrate the good, offer sympathy during the difficult and discuss essentials such as “you must see “Wicked the Movie” on opening weekend because it’s amazing.”

I think there was a time in my life that I thought it was important to please everyone in my orbit. The simple reality is we cannot have the same depth of friendship with everyone. Yes, social media leads us to think we’re “friends” with all. The simple truth is that we cannot be. We cannot show up in the same way for each friend in our social network.

The one bright spot for 2024 is that it helped me to narrow in on an amazing friend I already had ... and deepen our existing friendship.

As I mentioned, Christmas Mass was difficult for me. Yes, I felt such emptiness. Yet I also felt immense gratitude for the friends who showed up for my family and I in every way possible.

My son’s best friend lives in the same city as extended family. His mom has taken to sporadically dropping in to say “hi” to our family members and check in on them. I am so humbled and grateful for the extra kindness of this fellow mom.

Shortly before Christmas, my husband looked at me and said, “I hope 2025 is better.”

I looked him directly in the eye and said, “It’s not going to get any easier.”

Later, I took the time to better clarify my overly direct statement.

For us, 2024 was filled with hardships. Those don’t end with the calendar year. Some of what happened in 2024 will continue to impact 2025. I told Erik, “It won’t necessarily be easier in 2025, but because we’ve been walking through the hard together, we’re stronger and better able to handle difficult situations as they arise.”

As we walk forward into 2025, my hope is that you have renewed strength in the face of difficulty.

Bonar is the editor/publisher of the I-R and can be reached at kbonar@indyrepnews. com.