2024: A Year of Gratitude, Lessons, and the People Who Changed Me

As I reflect on 2024, my heart opens wide with gratitude—a year where peace began to settle in my body after Benjamin’s passing. This year, I’ve been guided by the lessons Benjamin gifted me over his 27 and a half years. 

Benjamin, I am so deeply grateful for you. You taught me that feeling is the secret—that even in the darkest moments, seeking the thoughts and movements that lift my vibration is the key to finding joy. You showed me that when I focus on how I feel and make that my compass, life opens its doors in unimaginable ways. Your wisdom lives on in every step I take.

Chris Frolic, your presence this year has been grounding and transformative. You held a mirror to the belief I’d buried deep—the idea that I didn’t know enough. Through our conversations, I was reminded that every day I pour myself into work I love, and through that love, I grow. I know exactly what I need to know, exactly when I need it.

Vorian Maryssael, your wisdom is a steady light in my life. As a long-standing member of my Mastermind and now a vital part of the Shestainability Faculty, your warmth and insight enrich not just me, but everyone you touch. Thank you for walking this journey with me.

Rekik, I am endlessly grateful for you, my Chief Ease Officer. You bring simplicity and grace to my work, allowing me to focus fully on what truly matters. Your role is a gift, and I cherish the ease you create.

Lame Verre, my steadfast partner at Lean In Equity, thank you for standing by me and holding space after Benjamin’s passing. Your leadership has been a cornerstone for the organization’s impact, and through your patience, I’ve been able to return, ready to play my part with clarity and presence.

Tatiana Poliakova, this year you reminded me of something so simple yet profound: my strategy has always been to stand still and be visible. Through that stillness, the right invitations find me. You helped me see that my genius lies in responding, in being fully expressed when the moment calls, and in trusting the timing.

Sarah Carlyle Albritton, our conversations this year left a lasting imprint. You reminded me that a firm “No” needs no explanation. That clarity has been liberating, a gift I hold close.

Levina Li, you see me in ways that feel like magic. You find the words I cannot write myself, and you hold space for me in moments of vulnerability. To be seen and understood in that way is a rare and sacred thing. Thank you for your grace.

Kartik and Jyotsna, thank you for opening your hearts and letting me be part of Kushals precious life. Being part of your family is a treasure, and it keeps Benjamin alive in ways that move me deeply.

Line Owren, your ability to draw out my energy and capture it in photographs is a gift. The images we created this year reflect the essence of who I am—fully expressed and alive. Thank you for helping me see myself.

Rich Litvin, your belief in my unique abilities has been a guiding force. You see the parts of me I sometimes overlook and invite me to express them fully. Delivering my Genius Session for 4PC challenged me, but it also drew out my essence in ways that felt transformative.

Richard Medcalf, you reminded me that my clients hire me NOT to keep them on their paths, but to take them OFF them. You reminded me that I serve my clients most powerful when I’m fully expressed , holding nothing back.

I’m deeply grateful to work with some of the most inspiring women in the world—my clients—who are all on a mission to solve great challenges. Being part of my own Mastermind, Lumina Conexus, alongside extraordinary women on a mission, is an experience beyond words.

This letter would be too long if I were to mention everyone in my private life where my gratitude is profound.

Lessons of Gratitude

This year, I learned to hold my power, even when fear whispered doubts about what others might think. Overwhelm, anxiety, and confusion became my teachers, showing me that these emotions often arise when I am on the brink of something profound. They are not distractions but messengers, asking me to pause and listen. Through them, I found a powerful question: “What brilliant message do you have for me through this feeling, and what if it’s not what I think it is?”

Each morning, I wake with gratitude for the privilege of living in a peaceful corner of this earth. It is a gift I did nothing to earn, and it humbles me every day.

Taking Gratitude into 2025

As I step into a new year, I carry these truths:

1. Gratitude is a compass: Each morning, I write ten things I am grateful for. This simple practice lifts my spirit and sets the tone for the day.
2. Feeling is the secret: My well-being is my highest priority. When I honor it, I contribute to the world in ways that matter.
3. The cave I fear to enter holds the treasure I seek: Fear often marks the path to growth.
4. Kind is Clear: Being clear when I speak is an act of kindness, both to myself and others.
5. Slow down: When urgency calls, it’s time to pause and listen.
6. Listen deeply: Beyond words, to the heart of what is being said.
7. Balance the feminine and masculine: Flow like water, supported by the structure of the cup only when needed. 

To everyone who has been part of my journey this year, thank you.

Your presence, wisdom, and love have shaped me in ways I will carry forward. 

Here’s to 2025—a year of gratitude, wonder, and infinite possibility.

Love 

Rita

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