The Three Trinities of 2024: A Year of Books, Miles, and Heartfelt Growth
Every January, the world collectively pauses to reflect on the past and set intentions for the future. New Year’s resolutions are our declarations of hope, accountability, and renewal. They offer a structured moment for change, a blank slate full of promise. In 2024, I’ve chosen to move beyond a simple checklist and instead embrace a framework for living more intentionally. I call it the “Three Trinities” — Books, Miles, and Matters of the Heart. These aren’t just goals; they are guideposts for a deeper, more fulfilling life. As we navigate another year of growth, these three categories will be my compass How to stick to your New Year resolution.
Books: Nourishing the Mind
Books have always been a portal to new worlds, perspectives, and knowledge. In the context of personal growth, reading is more than just a pastime — it is a means of transformation. In 2024, my goal isn’t to read the most books but to engage deeply with ones that challenge my thinking, stir my emotions, and enrich my understanding of myself and others.
Why Books Matter
Reading sharpens our cognitive abilities, improves emotional intelligence, and cultivates empathy. Whether it’s fiction, memoir, self-help, or philosophy, the stories we absorb help us reframe our own narratives. They teach us how to sit with discomfort, to celebrate the mundane, and to confront the complexities of being human.
The 2024 Reading List Approach
This year, I’ve structured my reading goals around three core types of books:
Books That Challenge: These are the texts that make me pause and reconsider what I know — whether on race, gender, climate, or philosophy.
Books That Comfort: Familiar authors, favorite genres, and stories that feel like home. These are important for balance and joy.
Books That Inspire Action: These include biographies, wellness guides, or personal development books that spark real-world change.
Rather than focusing on the number of books, I aim to extract meaning, apply insights, and engage in discussions that bring these pages to life.
Miles: Strengthening the Body and Exploring the World
The second trinity is Miles — the physical movement that connects me to my body and the places around me. Whether it’s running through familiar streets, hiking in nature, or traveling across cities and countries, each mile represents a step toward wellness, exploration, and presence.
Physical Movement as Mindful Practice
Exercise, particularly walking or running, is often framed in terms of fitness goals. While health benefits are certainly motivating, my 2024 approach to movement is more holistic. Each mile is an act of honoring the body I live in — not punishing it or reshaping it but celebrating its strength and endurance.
Mindful movement offers more than just physical benefits. It can reduce stress, sharpen focus, and serve as a moving meditation. For me, running in the early morning or walking in the evening quiets the noise of the day and connects me back to a sense of inner peace.
Traveling with Intention
Miles also represent geographic movement. Traveling has long been a way to expand perspective and learn from new cultures. This year, I’m setting a goal to travel — near or far — not just for escape, but for enrichment. I want to travel slower, more intentionally, and with the curiosity of a student of life.
Whether it's a weekend trip to a nearby town or a longer international journey, I’ll seek experiences that teach me about humanity, challenge my worldview, and remind me of the vastness and beauty of our shared planet.
Matters of the Heart: Emotional Depth and Meaningful Connection
The final trinity, Matters of the Heart, is perhaps the most important and the most nuanced. It’s about emotional health, vulnerability, love, friendship, and spiritual fulfillment. In a world that often prizes productivity over presence, this trinity is a reminder to slow down, feel deeply, and prioritize connection.
Emotional Self-Awareness
Emotional intelligence begins with self-awareness. In 2024, I aim to be more attuned to my emotions — not to control or suppress them, but to understand and work with them. This means journaling regularly, naming my feelings, and practicing emotional honesty with myself and others.
It also involves sitting with discomfort. Growth doesn’t always feel good. Sometimes it means grieving, processing old wounds, or having tough conversations. But each moment of emotional clarity is a building block for a stronger, more authentic self.
Deepening Relationships
Relationships are central to human flourishing. In 2024, I want to invest in the people who make life meaningful — family, friends, colleagues, and community. That means showing up more fully, being a better listener, and being willing to go beyond surface-level interaction.
The digital age often encourages shallow connections. I want to rebel against that trend by fostering spaces for deeper intimacy — shared meals, unhurried conversations, handwritten notes, and moments of vulnerability.
Purpose and Spiritual Connection
Finally, matters of the heart also encompass purpose and spirituality. Whether through prayer, meditation, or time in nature, connecting to something larger than myself helps anchor me through life’s uncertainties. I’ll be exploring spiritual practices that resonate with me, and reflecting regularly on what it means to live a life of purpose, not just achievement.
Weaving the Trinities Together
These three trinities — Books, Miles, and Matters of the Heart — are not separate silos. They inform and reinforce one another. A book may inspire a journey. A journey may open the heart. An open heart may lead to new stories. This integrated approach to New Year’s resolutions is what makes it powerful.
Rather than pursuing scattered goals in different life domains, the trinity framework brings cohesion. It aligns mind, body, and spirit in a single, unified direction. It encourages reflection, encourages balance, and provides space for both discipline and grace.
Tracking Progress with Compassion
One danger of resolutions is turning them into rigid benchmarks that shame us for falling short. In contrast, I want to track my journey through reflection rather than metrics. Monthly check-ins, journaling, and honest self-assessments will help me stay aligned without turning this practice into another performance.
Some months I may read less or travel less. There may be seasons where the heart feels tender or relationships feel strained. That’s okay. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. The trinity is not a race but a rhythm.
Closing Thoughts
As 2024 unfolds, I hold space for the unexpected. Life will surprise me, challenge me, and, hopefully, delight me. But with these Three Trinities — Books, Miles, and Matters of the Heart — I feel equipped not just to survive the year, but to grow within it. Each book I read, each mile I walk or run, and each heartfelt connection I nurture becomes a thread in the tapestry of a well-lived year.