Mary’s Message

2025 Strategy: Reflect and Reset, Stretch and Sabbath

Happy New Year to all!

After a busy holiday season, most of us are back to our offices, stepping into our routines and looking to reset for 2025. We start with fresh intentions to better ourselves and our organizations. We resolve to stretch ourselves to grow, learn and get stronger. The long-term strategy, though, is not necessarily to work harder, faster and longer. Instead, to truly get where we want to go and be who we want to be, we must remember to rest and recover (I will get to that shortly).

Already, 2025 looks different than 2024.

Last month, the world lost Jimmy Carter, a man who dedicated his life to serving others by building homes, seeking peaceful solutions, eradicating disease and teaching Sunday school – all of this after serving as our 39th president.

Much closer to home, we lost Susan Sharp, Simpson’s Vice President of Mission Advancement. Susan led her life guided by her faith and a powerful sense of mission.

“She loved her work and all of us are beneficiaries of her passion for stewardship and meaningful giving,” shared Simpson CEO Carol McKinley.

So, in this first month of the new year, as we plan for the year ahead, let us reflect on the leaders we lost in 2024, including Debbie Reed just one year ago this month. What lessons can we learn from one long life and others that were far too short? I trust that our answers will support and sustain our mission-driven work ahead. We carry those lessons with us to honor their memories and move forward.

Our work as leaders of nonprofit, faith-based ministries continues. Looking out at the horizon of 2025, it is clear we will continue to be called to extend ourselves in many ways – mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Stretching is how our minds and muscles get stronger.

But another, often neglected, essential part of growth is recovery or sabbath. For some of us, this may be the biggest stretch of all. We must factor in time to recharge and, if needed, recalibrate.

This means taking time to process, pray and reflect. To clear our minds.

It means creating space to celebrate, grieve and connect with others. To stop to wonder. To appreciate beauty. To live in the present.

My wish for you is that this strategy will serve you beyond January and well into 2025, helping you realize true success and joy along your journey.