Over the last few years, my life has been on an incredible upward trajectory. Every year outdid the last in personal growth, business achievements, and bucket list experiences. By the end of 2023, I genuinely couldn’t imagine how life could get better. It felt like I was living a dream, one where all the experiences I was living exceeded my wildest dreams.

Then 2024 came, and it turned out to be a year of extremes. It was a rollercoaster of high highs and low lows—a stark contrast to the consistent growth and stability I’d so fortunately enjoyed for the last few years. For the first time in a long time, I faced some of the biggest challenges that tested my strength, resilience, and physical well-being.

The Year Started Strong

Q1 felt like a continuation of the magic of previous years. My husband, Rafa, and I began the year with a safari in Africa, a dream trip that remains one of our favorite travel experiences. We celebrated a milestone by becoming American citizens, became first-time homeowners, and continued to work and travel full-time together, living what could only be described as the “am I dreaming” life.

When the Rollercoaster Began

But as the year progressed, life threw unexpected curveballs. There were moments of immense joy, like having our highest-ever revenue month, growing my Instagram following significantly, and landing a long-term ambassadorship contract with Expedia—a true bucket list career achievement. We traveled to 15 countries, celebrated 10 years of marriage, launched a new course, hired two amazing team members, and found out we were expecting a baby boy in just one try naturally. This came as a surprise to us, especially after receiving devastating news from an earlier fertility test.

However, these highs were matched with challenges I hadn’t faced in years. On a brand trip to Dubai, I underwent two emergency surgeries while pregnant. This brought on a new level of fear and anxiety I had not experienced before. We also experienced our lowest-ever revenue month, and I struggled with creative burnout despite growing my audience by the tens of thousands. And as a first-time expecting mom, pregnancy brought both immense joy and unexpected mental health struggles that nothing could’ve prepared me for. On top of all that, we encountered costly issues with the interior designer for our dream home, resulting in a terminated contract and significant financial loss.

The Breaking Point

By November, I was juggling more than I could handle. I committed to a dozen sponsored posts during the busiest work month of the year, while also managing a brand trip and the launch of a major project. And just like the saying goes, “When it rains, it pours…” I found myself hospitalized in Dubai with kidney stones in the midst of it all. Two surgeries abroad and a week in the hospital forced me to confront a hard truth: I needed to slow down.

I had spent the year pushing myself beyond my limits, thinking I could power through every obstacle. But my body and mind had other plans. The hospitalization was a wake-up call—one I couldn’t ignore.

Redefining Balance and Success

As 2024 comes to a close, I’m taking time to reflect and redefine what balance and success mean to me. Life is about to change drastically in 2025 with the arrival of our little one. And both Rafael and I will be learning how to navigate parenthood while running a seven-figure business, traveling the world with a baby in tow, and letting go of the control I’ve clung to for so long.

For the first time, I’m not aiming for the highest highs. Instead, I hope 2025 brings steadiness, calm, and ease. I’m ready to embrace a life that feels balanced and fulfilling, even if it doesn’t come with the extremes I’ve grown accustomed to.

To anyone reading this who’s also navigating the highs and lows of life, remember: it’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to redefine success. And it’s more than okay to prioritize your well-being above all else.

The milestones and accomplishments are easy to get swept up in. They’re the culmination and rewards of all your hard work, determination, and perseverance. But no matter how far you’ve come, obstacles and challenges are sure to arise. It’s why I want to share these moments with you, no matter how hard and fresh they still feel. Because from it all, I learned an important lesson in being gentle. That stability and consistency are more valuable to me than outdoing each personal or professional best. That at the end of the day, the health, safety, and happiness of those I love the most are irreplaceable.

And as you continue your own journey, checking off achievement after achievement, I hope you and your loved ones are doing well–mentally, emotionally, and physically. As we wrap up 2024, I wish you success, however you choose to define it, and peace.  Here’s to 2025 being a year of growth, grace, and balance.

xo Catarina