Before You Set Any Goals, Read This
- Dmitry & Marina Feldberg
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
The start of a new year often arrives with noise.
Advice everywhere. Goals to set. Habits to build. Versions of ourselves we are supposed to become, before we have even had time to rest from the year we just lived.
But before rushing into resolutions or productivity plans, we want to offer something quieter.
A pause.
Because sometimes the most meaningful way forward is not through doing more, but through listening more closely to what you actually need.
We hope your holiday season gave you something real. Rest. Connection. Stillness. Or maybe just a break from the constant pace of everyday life. However it looked for you, we hope it felt grounding rather than rushed.
As we were easing into this new year ourselves, we noticed how quickly pressure creeps in. The subtle feeling that January requires answers. Direction. Momentum. Even before we
have finished exhaling from December.
Then we listened to an episode of the Jay Shetty Podcast that gently shifted our perspective.
Instead of setting goals or resolutions, the idea was simple: choose one word to guide the year.
Just one.
Not something to achieve.Something to return to.
Rather than asking, “What should I accomplish this year?”It asks, “How do I want to feel while I am living it?”
That question feels different. Gentler. More human.
One word becomes an anchor. A quiet reference point you can return to when life speeds up again. A reminder of how you want to move through your days, not just what you want to produce.
Maybe your word is rest.Or clarity.Or joy.Or courage.Or presence.
There is no right answer. And no pressure to choose the “perfect” one. The value is not in getting it exactly right. The value is in choosing something that feels true.
We are sharing this while being a little quieter than usual ourselves. Over the past few weeks, we intentionally stepped back from social media and slowed our pace. We focused on something that matters deeply to us: uninterrupted time together as a family.
We found ourselves sailing the Caribbean with Royal Caribbean (no matter how much we love the cold, even we need a little bit of sunshine on our skin sometimes), phones mostly away, days shaped by sunshine, conversation, and deep rest. It was a reminder of how powerful it can be to fully disconnect in order to truly reconnect. That space is often where clarity returns and intention begins.
This way of thinking resonates deeply with us because it reflects the heart of what we have intentionally created at Sojourn.
Sojourn was never meant to be just a place to stay. It was designed as a space to slow down, to disconnect from noise, and to reconnect with what actually matters. A cozy cabin in the Pocono Mountains created for intentional rest, romantic getaways, and meaningful time together.
Rest, to us, is not a luxury or something you earn once everything else is done. It is foundational. And presence is not something you schedule. It is something you allow.
That belief guides everything from how the cabin is designed to how guests experience their time there. From quiet mornings with coffee by the fireplace, to evenings soaking in the hot tub under the trees, to moments that invite you to simply be instead of constantly doing.
As this year begins, we hope you give yourself permission to choose a word that supports you rather than pushes you. A word that creates space instead of pressure.
And if your word happens to be rest, slowing down, or presence, we have intentionally created a place where those values can be lived, not just thought about.
You can learn more about our philosophy and our cozy cabin retreat here:
And if you are feeling called to step away from the noise and into a more intentional kind of getaway, you can explore the Sojourn Chalet and available dates here:
Wherever this year takes you, we hope it is filled with calm mornings, meaningful moments, and space to breathe deeply again.
With gratitude,
Marina, Dima, Isabelle, Vivian and Alfie
Sojourn STR
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