2024: A Year of Growth, Connection, and Storytelling - Hello 2025!!
As I sit down to reflect on 2024, I realize this wasn’t just another year—it was a pivotal one. It was a year of taking steps, not just in a scattered, reactionary way, but with intention and strategy. It was the beginning of a 20-year vision for my life, my work, and the stories I want to leave behind.
The Milestones That Shaped Me
On a personal level, 2024 brought moments of profound self-discovery. For years, I struggled to articulate my emotions—to navigate difficult conversations and communicate in ways that truly connected. This year, I made progress. I learned to hold space for complexity, for the feelings I’d long suppressed, and for the people I love. It wasn’t always easy, but it was necessary.
Professionally, releasing Solo Agers: Book 1 - Kakistocracy was a monumental milestone. For most of my life, my writing existed in narrow spaces—screenplays shared with a select few or ideas jotted down for myself. But this novella? It was something entirely different. It was a piece of me, put out into the world, addressing themes that matter deeply to me: aging, isolation, resilience, and the healthcare crisis. For the first time, I felt like my voice—my real voice—had a chance to be heard.
Challenges That Taught Me to Pivot
This year also brought its share of challenges. Beyond the progress of my father’s Parkinson’s, my mother faced a breast cancer diagnosis. There were moments when life stopped in its tracks—moments when my own plans, ambitions, and routines had to be set aside to care for those I love. These experiences taught me to pivot, to adapt, and to let go of the things I couldn’t control.
But they also gave me a deeper appreciation for the fragility of life. They reminded me that time is finite, and that the work I’m doing—whether it’s writing, caregiving, or just showing up for others—matters in ways I can’t always measure.
Finding Connection in Unexpected Places
2024 was also a year of unexpected collaborations and connections. Within my family, we came together in ways we hadn’t before, navigating crises that tested our bonds. It wasn’t always smooth—sacrifices of time, money, and plans often strained relationships—but we made it through.
On the professional side, one of my most surprising collaborators was AI. Strange as it might sound, tools like ChatGPT became my brainstorming partner, helping me refine ideas and push my writing further. Writing can be such a solitary process, but having an assistant to bounce ideas off of—even a digital one—brought a new level of clarity to my work.
Lessons in Resilience and Creativity
This year taught me that resilience isn’t just about enduring hardships—it’s about systems and processes. It’s about creating structures that keep you focused, even when life throws you off course. For me, that meant carving out time for writing, for exercise, for family, and for self-care. It also meant learning to let go of perfectionism.
Creativity, I learned, thrives when you’re willing to release your work into the world, even if it’s not perfect. You can’t grow if you’re holding everything too tightly. By sharing Solo Agers, I opened myself up to feedback that helped me see my blind spots and evolve as a storyteller.
Themes That Deepened Through Experience
The themes of Solo Agers—aging, isolation, resilience—took on new meaning for me this year. Spending time in hospitals, witnessing my mother’s battle with cancer and my father’s struggles with Parkinson’s, brought home just how fragile life is. It’s not just our bodies that can falter—it’s our minds, our lucidity, our sense of self.
These experiences gave me a deeper understanding of my characters. They made me more attuned to the quiet struggles of aging, the strength it takes to persist, and the ways in which resilience manifests in everyday life.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As I look to 2025, I’m excited about the journey ahead. Solo Agers isn’t just one novella—it’s the start of something much bigger. I’ll be living with these characters for years, exploring their stories alongside my readers.
Personally, I feel like I’m at a turning point. There’s a moment in life when you realize your parents have done the best they could, but it’s now up to you to build your own understanding of the world. For me, that moment has arrived. I’m learning who I am beyond what I’ve been taught, and it’s a liberating, humbling process.
I’m no longer as rigid as I once was. I’m learning to focus on the bigger picture, to value collaboration, and to let go of the things that don’t serve me. I’m excited to see what this openness brings—to my writing, my relationships, and the life I’m building.
Thank You for Being Part of the Journey
As I reflect on 2024, I’m grateful for the progress I’ve made, the lessons I’ve learned, and the connections I’ve forged. Whether you’ve read Solo Agers, offered feedback, or simply followed along with my journey, thank you. Your support means more than I can say.
Here’s to 2025—a year of growth, discovery, and storytelling. Let’s keep building something meaningful together.
Warm regards,
Myron Ward
