When the Year Begins in Abib

Colombia 2024

“This new moon is the beginning of new moons for you; it is the first new moon of the year for you.”
- Shemoth (Exodus) 12:2

Most people measure their year by January. But for me, the new year begins in Abib.

Not with fireworks or countdowns, but with memory. With movement. With a quiet command to begin again.

According to the instruction in Exodus 12:2, the month of Abib marks the true beginning; the appointed start of the year for the children of Israel. It was not marked by certainty. It was marked by leaving. By stepping out of Egypt. By trusting that what lies ahead, even if unseen, is better than what we’ve outgrown.

And that’s the rhythm I feel as this sacred year unfolds.

There’s something deeply human about wanting a clear plan.

We stall because we can’t see five steps ahead. We stay in safe places because at least they’re familiar.We hesitate to make the call, the shift, the leap because… “what if it’s the wrong one?”

But the Israelites didn’t wait until they had every detail. They moved with what they had: a word, a promise, a push. And sometimes, that’s enough.

It’s easy to believe that progress means more. More revenue, more clients, more visibility. But lately, I’m learning that growth is not about having more. It’s about being more aligned.

It’s about choosing the path that honors your calling, not just your calendar.

It’s about saying no when the yes would stretch you too thin.

It’s about trusting that what’s unfolding, even if unclear, is still part of the plan.

So this year, I’m walking differently. Not with urgency, but with intention.

Not chasing clarity, but choosing to trust.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to begin again, maybe this is it.

Not because everything is certain but because you’ve been called to move.

Reflection: What have you been waiting to begin, simply because you can’t see the whole path? And what would it look like to move forward, anyway?

Shalom, everyone!