Bringing Morocco-Filled Eyes into 2025

I enter 2025 with fresh eyes and gratitude. I, like many, get caught up in the hustle and bustle of a hectic lifestyle. Constantly busy. Always setting higher expectations for myself, then feeling overwhelmed with the climb. Conveying the same to my son, who in turn ingests a way of existence that is out of sync with what is sustainable–emotionally, physically, spiritually. 

I know better. I always have. But I get out of sync with my “inner knowing”, living instead in pervasive proximity to what Daniel Quinn calls Mother Culture, the unspoken narrative or system of beliefs that shapes and reinforces societal norms, values, and behaviors, guiding people to accept them as the natural order of things. 

Living in accordance with Mother Culture's narrative can limit critical thinking, perpetuate harmful systems, and discourage questioning of societal norms, often trapping individuals and communities in unsustainable or inequitable ways of life.

An alternative to Mother Culture is a consciously created narrative that promotes critical awareness, sustainability, and equitable ways of living, encouraging individuals and communities to question norms and align their actions with values that prioritize collective well-being.

I can’t rewrite the system that I was born into. But I can acknowledge my relationship to it, and enter this new year with a fresh memory of another reality. A reality where relationships are cherished because of our interdependence, consumption of every kind is limited, pace is not as important as quality, and nature is revered as sister or mother, not possession or dominion. 

Drawing inspiration from my recent experience beyond Mother Culture, here are five practices to consider as you enter 2025.

1. Pause and Recharge

We live in a culture that often glorifies busyness. I can’t tell you the number of times over the past that I have said “this is urgent, it can’t wait.” Guess what? Those same issues are still present, unsolved, and not so urgent after all. Constant activity without rest leads to burnout, not growth. Rest and relaxation aren’t indulgences—they’re non-negotiables.

• Take Some Time Away: I took what seemed inconceivable given my schedule, 10 days in Morocco. I wouldn’t change a day. In that quiet time, out of my own context and routine, I found inspiration, perspective, awe and a reconnection to my purpose. Priceless. 

• Find Moments: A big vacation isn’t always necessary, or possible. Even with a well-deserved vacation we need small, regular practices to keep ourselves aligned. Meditate, take a walk, pray, work on a puzzle. Simple moments of connection and stillness can be surprisingly restorative.

2. Reflect and Realign

In challenging times, reflection can be a powerful anchor. Practices like journaling, meditation, or prayer help quiet the mind, bringing clarity and focus.

• Create Rituals: Whether journaling, gratitude practice, or simply sitting quietly for five minutes, find what works for you and make it a regular part of your routine.
• Connect with Your Core Values: Ask yourself: What’s truly important to me? Am I living in alignment with those values? Make a habit of describing to yourself at the end of every day, how your actions aligned with your values. This practice creates internal harmony.

3. Connect with Others

Humans aren’t wired for solitary existence. We need community. The desire to constantly disconnect is a signal that something in our system is broken. Instead of exacerbating our disconnection, seek healthier options. I have promised myself in 2025, for example, to only participate in interactions that are intentionally kind, generous and loving. 

• Avoid Isolation: Find the right balance for you, between social and quiet time. But don’t wall yourself off. When we start creating distance between ourselves and others it is easy to continue down that path, sometimes to our own detriment.
• Ask for What You Want: It’s ok to have requirements, and for kindness to be one of them. The in your face and down your throat behaviors that many have been subjected to as commonplace are not healthy. Put yourself in the spaces that feed your soul, only.

4. Open Your Heart (and Mind)

The popular modes of communication are really just about reinforcing beliefs. Usually absent accountability, exchange of ideas, nor ability to learn. This lopsided way of experiencing the world is surely not benefiting anyone, as we are witnessing real time. 

• Talk To People You Wouldn’t Typically Talk To: We all have our typical circles–friends, colleagues, neighbors, family. Go out of your way to talk to other people–regardless of whether or not it has immediate or obvious benefit to you. No motive needed, just expand. 
• Explore Beyond Your Beliefs: Our beliefs are established when we are very young. They are often a product of when and where we were born. As we navigate our lives, it's important to understand others’ beliefs so that we can develop a better sense of our own and to enhance our cultural competence. 

As for me, my recent trip to Morocco provided first-person learning about indigenous (Berber) beliefs, ways of life and values. I had deep dive discussions with a cross-section of self-proclaimed pagans, Muslims and Jews (I was raised Christian). I asked questions, shared from my experience, listened carefully, and suspended judgment. I learned more, and more viscerally, than by reading The Alchemist a dozen times or scrolling headlines about strained relationships, and various editorial opinions, between Jews and Muslims. I don’t have it all figured out, but my mental models are informed by experiences I had, not other people’s interpretations and representations.    

5. Consume Less

We’re constantly consuming—food, material “stuff”, media, conversations, and energy. What we take in shapes how we feel and how we show up in the world. Let’s face it, we likely don’t need as much as we take. 

• Be Mindful: Pay attention to what you eat, buy, watch, listen to, and absorb. Notice how it impacts your mood, thoughts, and energy.
• Create Rituals Around Consumption: For example, in Morocco we experienced elaborate tea ceremonies every day. The settings weren’t fancy–one time we had tea served to us on the side of a road by a merchant while traveling through the High Atlas Mountains. The tea ceremony created a moment of beauty: a generous gesture to strangers.

Ask yourself: What do you have that is just too much? What can you let go of, and feel the associated freedom?

6. Act with Intention

In times of uncertainty, action can feel daunting. But intentional action—grounded in your values—provides clarity and purpose.

• Center Your Core Values: Use reflection to identify what truly matters to you, whether it’s connection, fairness, lightness, or beauty.
• Take Practical Steps: Dream big but get specific. If you value harmony, what’s one thing you can do today to create it?

Acting in alignment with your values not only helps reduce the internal tension of cognitive dissonance but also gives you a sense of agency in uncertain times.

A Call to Flourish Together

We are living through times of challenge and change. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, isolated, or disconnected. But this is also a moment of opportunity—a chance to reconnect with ourselves, prioritize well-being, and create spaces where we and those around us can flourish.

Just as my Morocco visit connected me with one alternative reality, there are many, many more ways of being in the world. And that is exactly the point. Our choices are never limited to only what we have in front of us, what feels familiar. Spend time with your inner knowing, find the space that feels good to you, and pursue it. That is our journey.