2024: A Year of Growth and Change

 

2024: A Year of Growth and Change

This year was all about transformation, inside and out. I gave up alcohol, dove deeper into my spirituality, and took a much-needed sabbatical to reset. I poured my heart into giving back—sent out over 20,000 pounds of medical supplies to developing countries and built 26 clean water wells in Bangladesh, Nepal, and India.

I learned to meditate(daily), read 158 books, and stayed at my first monastery retreat. My time at Quan Am Nam Hai Monastery - Mindfulness Meditation Practice Center in Panama City, Florida, and an 11-day silent Vipassana retreat in Jesup, Georgia at Dhamma Patāpa was absolutely life-changing. I went vegan, cut my hair off, taught yoga and meditation in Mexico (twice!), built a zen garden, and fell in love with ice baths and saunas.

Even with an ongoing knee injury, I stayed active—hiking, biking, walking, and camping in our new RV. I finished my third doctorate, earned my fifth board certification, and found my true passion for integrative oncology research.

One of the best parts of the year was spending so much time with our Vita and Eddie The Cane Corsos. Sunrise and sunset walks with them became some of my favorite moments.

This year felt so different for us as a couple. We traveled less but appreciated the little things—stopping to smell the flowers, nourishing friendships, and leaning into self-love. It’s been a year of resetting, reflecting, and falling in love with life again.

Here’s to the growth, the challenges, and all the magic this year brought.

I’m looking forward to 2025 with so much excitement—ready to keep growing, deepen the love in my marriage, and make a difference through cancer research. I’m eager to create an even bigger impact through acts of service and continue working toward a better, brighter world.

#newyearsresolutions #growthmindset #reflection #HappyNewYear #reading #meditation #integrativeoncology #drcindyross #alcoholfree #gratitude #yoga #camping #travel

Footpath Reflections: Unveiling the Soul of a Sidewalk

This morning during my five-mile walk, I decided to incorporate a guided 40-minute walking meditation into my routine. One of the prompts encouraged me to look down at my feet and truly take in what I was walking on. As my gaze fell upon the sidewalk beneath me, a profound realization washed over me about the significance of this ordinary sidewalk throughout my life.

When I was a little girl, we lived in a trailer surrounded by fields. Then we moved around a lot and none of the rental houses we lived in had sidewalks in the neighborhoods. I always envied my friends who lived in neighborhoods with sidewalks because they could walk for miles, feel safe, and move with ease.

Living in our first home, little did I expect to find myself navigating a neighborhood without sidewalks. In our starter home, I vividly recall Jason repeatedly cautioning me to be wary of passing cars as I jogged on the road. To me, the presence of sidewalks symbolized a certain level of success and comfort that I aspired to achieve.

This morning as I look down, I realize what I’m walking on is something I have dreamed of my entire life. It's a realization that had long eluded me but now stands beneath my feet, solid and reassuring, like a long-awaited embrace from a friend itself.

In the craziness of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the simple things beneath our feet. Yet, as we pause to appreciate the humble sidewalk, we find a silent companion on our journey—a steadfast guide through busy streets, a canvas for the rhythm of our steps, and a witness to countless stories etched in its concrete surface. With each footfall, we tread upon a history of shared experiences, from morning strolls to chance encounters, from the laughter of children to the contemplation of passersby. The sidewalk is more than just a path; it's a symbol of connectivity, community, and continuity. So today, let's take a moment to walk with gratitude, for every crack and crevice, every bend and turn, reminding us that even in the busiest of cities, there's always a path to thankfulness right beneath our feet. Let's savor each step on this communal landscape that silently carries the weight of our stories and connects us in the shared journey of life.