I’ve never been big on resolutions. Every year is different. You’re making guesses about where things might go, what will happen, and who you’ll become as the year evolves. Maybe having people close to you die unexpectedly—something that happened to me a lot—changes your perspective on what the future has to offer. You just can’t take “the future” for granted. I wish this realization had influenced my decisions more when I was younger, but it’s something I reflect on often now.

Still, I like using the first quarter of the year as a signpost. I set goals—mostly things I’d like to do. Some of these goals have been simmering in my mind for a while, while others come to me spontaneously. Starting the Design For The Public conference last year was one of those moments. It came together during a cold Michigan February without much thought about execution until later. It wasn’t an old idea exactly, but rather something I’d been “threatening” to do for a long time: a small conference for civic-minded designers. Somehow, 2024 became the catalyst for making it happen.

This year, I have some thoughts about what I’d like to get done. None of them involve organizing another conference, though I do love bringing people together. I’ve been going back and forth on whether to stay involved with AIGA Portland after my term ends this summer. Ultimately, I’ve decided to pursue other opportunities for activities, contributions, and whatever else comes my way as I move into 2025 and beyond. Teaching at the University of Michigan last year revealed something important to me: the idea of creating my own trainings and writing more is far more approachable than I’d been making it. While I appreciated the structure of the institutional environment, I’m excited to explore other ways to keep these pursuits on my radar.

I find it useful to set goals and use my (April) birthday as a benchmark. It gives me a chance to reflect on what’s happening, assess my progress, and adapt. Every year is different, but at the heart of it, I’m just grateful for the opportunity to grow. At this stage of life, so much is a balance of gratitude and reflection. The striving doesn’t stop, but I’m much more inclined to appreciate the journey it took to get here than I used to be.