As I reflect on the arrival of 2025, I am filled with gratitude for the traditions that anchor us and the opportunities that lie ahead. For many years now, I’ve celebrated New Year’s Eve with the same cherished group of friends. It’s a time of warmth, laughter, and reflection—a tradition I was grateful to uphold this year.
One of my dear friends, Tania, has a meaningful ritual. Every New Year’s Eve, she gathers us together and asks, “What is your word of the year?” This simple question always sparks thought and inspiration. The word each of us chooses becomes a guiding light, a touchstone for our focus and intentions throughout the year. My word for 2025 is "connection"—a reminder to foster deeper relationships, collaborate with intention, and connect ideas to actions. What will your word of the year be, and how will it inspire your journey in the months to come?
This year, I’ve been diving into the book The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Its insights into how we frame our progress—focusing on the “gain” rather than the “gap”—feel especially profound as we enter this new year. It challenges us to measure success not by how far we are from our ultimate goals but by how much we’ve grown along the way. This perspective not only fosters gratitude but also fuels momentum. Imagine what we could achieve in 2025 if we focused on celebrating the gains in our lives, on our lands, and in our communities.
2025: Planning the Future Together
As we celebrate the gains of the past 40 years, we’re also turning our attention to the future. This year, HMI will be gathering input from our incredible community to shape our next five-year strategy (2026–2030). Your voices are vital in this process. Through surveys, interviews, and focus groups, we invite you to help design a future where Holistic Management can continue to grow, inspire, and make an impact. Stay tuned for more details on how to participate—we can’t wait to hear from you.
A New Chapter for HMI
We’re excited to announce the launch of HMI’s brand-new website, unveiled during the REGENERATE Conference and our 40th-anniversary celebration in Denver, Colorado, in November 2024. This updated platform reflects our commitment to making Holistic Management resources more accessible and impactful. If you haven’t had a chance to explore it yet, we invite you to visit us at www.holisticmanagement.org. Let us know what you think!
Looking Ahead
As we embark on this new year, I’d like to leave you with a quote that resonates deeply with our mission and values:
“Savor the little victories as much as you criticize the little mistakes”.
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits
This serves as a powerful reminder that whether in our land management practices, personal lives, or shared work at HMI, the small actions we take daily create the foundation for lasting success. Together, we can make 2025 a year of connection, growth, and gain.
Wishing you a joyful and purposeful New Year,