What changes in our lives would we see in 2025 if we lived as if thoughts are energy?
I believe thoughts have the power to shape one’s reality. This concept is echoed in many spiritual teachings, exemplified by the Buddhist teaching of samma sankappa (right thought or intention), Jesus’ words in Matthew 9:29 (According to your faith let it be done to you), and Taoist teachings that emphasize aligning oneself with the Tao (the natural way of the universe). This past week, I thought about these ideologies while in New York City for the Pin Stripe Bowl.

I am one of those parents who chronicled my two children between 2007 and 2010 on Facebook. This time frame coincided with the advent of the iPhone (which allowed me to avoid carrying a bulky digital camera) and my husband on back-to-back deployments to the Middle East. So, I enthusiastically shared my children’s sporting events, school activities, and gatherings for him and with friends. Fifteen years later, the random memories that pop up remind me of the frenzy of my life at the time. Today, my life is less eventful, and I’ve let go of the habit of documenting every moment. Yet, revisiting those memories sparked a profound realization the
A photo from the summer of 2008 brought these teachings to life. The picture showed me with my children at Yankee Stadium. My four-year-old son, munching on cotton-candy, declared, “I’m going to play here one day!” Later that evening at Rockefeller Center, my eight-year-old daughter recognized the giant statue of Prometheus and shouted loud enough for many to hear, “This is where Kevin meets his mom!” (referencing Home Alone 2). She then expressed her dream of meeting me at the big Christmas tree someday, just like the mom in the movie.
At the time, a hot day in July, my primary focus as a frantic mom was keeping my kids safe in the chaos of a big city. The deeper meaning of their declarations was far from my mind. Fast forward to this past week. My son, now a Husker, played football (not baseball) in Yankee Stadium, and on Christmas Day, my daughter and I stood together posing for a picture at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The moments felt surreal, a vivid reminder of the spiritual understanding that the universe does respond to the energy of thoughts said with intention and belief. Even those spoken in the innocence of childhood.
What dreams will you energize in 2025?

