Vanessa Paesani

2024, like most years, probably started the year before, in 2023. I was working a lot and doing a lot of things —traveling (for work and for fun), playing sports, and generally just running at full speed. 2023 also had some major life shifts for me, so by about mid year, I knew I needed to make some changes. Changes, as you know, can take some time to implement. By the open of 2024, I knew I wanted a quieter, more restful year, so I made the conscious decision to say no to many things. I said no to lots of travel, no to commitments that drained my energy, and yes to rest. I had some catching up to do, and 2024 became a year of slowing down.

Over the holidays, I watched a Netflix documentary about Bryan Johnson, the tech entrepreneur who’s invested heavily in anti-aging and longevity research on himself. While there’s criticism that his approach isn’t a traditional scientific experiment because he’s the only subject, I find it fascinating. What really stood out to me was his focus on getting out of his head and fully into his body. It echoed something I’ve been learning this year, and the last few years – wellness comes from aligning not only the mind, but also the body (and the spirit).

Blue Zones has been one of the most insightful books I’ve read on longevity. It looks at places where people live longer than expected and identifies the basics: mostly plant-based diets, regular exercise, strong social ties, and a sense of purpose. So, in 2024, I leaned into these principles more. I spent more time cooking, I started my first in-ground garden (I’ve done a herb garden for years, though this was my first in-ground), and I embraced a slower pace. It was grounding, in more ways than one. Standing amidst my beans and tomatoes was a deeply profound experience. I felt really connected to my ancestors. I also could taste the difference of this food compared to what I buy at the grocery store. The garden gave me food for the summer, but also enough pesto and tomato sauce to feed us for 4 months.

As I leaned into feeding my body, I also discovered the Yuka app that scans and rates product for harmful ingredients like endocrine disruptors. It can certainly make grocery shopping take more time! I was shocked at how many products contain harmful ingredients, even products labelled as organic, or low additives.

I also started making significant shifts away from alcohol in 2023. In 2024, I experimented with having it from time to time. I now have the occasional glass of wine, but it’s not the norm anymore – now that I’m away from it as a habit, I notice how tired it makes me. Mostly, I’m glad that I’m at a point where I feel very in control of whether I have it, rather than saying yes as a social norm.

As I’ve slowed down, I’ve also noticed that I gained a little weight – perhaps a bit symbolic! Honestly, I don’t mind it all that much, though it does make staying active a bit harder. Losing some of it in 2025 is definitely on my list, but for now, I’m okay with the changes.

Over the years, I’ve come to learn that wellbeing isn’t just what you eat, how much you exercise, or how purposeful your life is – it’s truly about living from the inside out. Or as Richard Wagamese said, ‘nothing in the Universe ever grew from the outside in’. I’ve continued the work of mastering myself. One of the most profound lessons of 2024, was embracing the feminine aspect of receiving. In a culture that constantly tells us to do more, strive harder, and achieve the next milestone, I decided to experiment with just being. It hasn’t been easy—receiving, waiting, and letting intuition guide me—but the lessons I’ve learned in the process have been incredibly valuable.

In 2024, I also concluded data collection in my master’s thesis on the concept of presence in master certified coaches. Through interviews and research, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how presence works. The more I study it, the more I realize that being truly present is about slowing down enough to fully connect with others—and with the moment. It’s something I’ve been practicing this year, and I feel it emerging in my work and personal life.

Related to both my research and my work, Theory U by Otto Scharmer has also been part of my 2024 journey. This book talks about slowing down enough to be present with the “emerging future”—something I find incredibly relevant as I think about the trends shaping 2025. AI is one of those trends, and while it’s made my work easier, more efficient, and sometimes higher quality, it’s also raised a main question about presence for me. What does it mean to be human in a world increasingly dominated by technology? We’re so concerned that AI will take our jobs. I think what we’re actually worried about is how we’ll make a good living if AI takes some of our tasks. I know now that we are much more than tasks, so perhaps the invitation from the AI revolution is how we be more present with each other, and also with ourselves.

I find the best way to be present in being regularly in nature. I’ve always been drawn to nature. I studied biology early in life and continue to feel a deep connection to the natural world. This year, I’ve been reminded how important it is to slow down and reconnect with the land. I think there’s a cultural fear of nature, like it’s something dangerous or threatening. But the more I embrace it, the more I realize how healing it is; to realize that I’m part of nature. I read a few less books than I usually do this year (though still 15, which I’m happy with). My favourite book from my year was Restoring the Kinship Worldview. I can’t recommend it enough. One of the most powerful lessons from it was the reminder that humans can live if they need an appendage removed (part of themselves), but they can’t live without air or water – we are PART of nature, not separate from it. What we do to nature, we do to ourselves. As our world speeds up, taking time to reconnect to nature feels like one of the most important things we could be doing.

2024 was a year of slowing down and my holidays were a perfect reflection of that – rest, connection with loved ones, and time spent making the house more of a home. Learning again to slow down and receive hasn’t always been easy, and it’s not something that’s culturally celebrated, especially when we’re all expected to achieve milestone after milestone. But for me, it was exactly what I needed. It’s been a year of deep lessons in presence, wellness, and embracing a slower pace—and I’m grateful for all of it. Now, I’m feeling fully rested and ready for what is emerging in 2025.