Hello, 2024.

2023 was a year of reaching milestones, traveling to new places and beautiful moments. I know some people hate yearly reflections or round-ups but they offer me peace and some kind of structure moving into the new year.

Here are my reflections from the past year.

1.     Experiencing new things on your own is incredible and empowering yet lonely at the same time with no one to reflect on these experiences with.

2.     How much of an oasis books provide me, even the not-so-great ones.

3.     Experiencing good luck because of hard work.

4.     Gaining new friends is wonderful.

5.     During this year I accomplished things my younger self never would have dreamed of. It is important to acknowledge these even if they are small accomplishments, because at one point you longed for moments like these.

6.     Plans change no matter how much you may resist; all you have control of is the next path you will take.

7.     Swimming in the ocean is meditative.

8.     Neglecting to take care of your body, physically and mentally will leave you spending the majority of December ill in bed.

9.     That sometimes my way isn’t always the right way (I hope my boyfriend doesn’t read this).  

10.  Speak to strangers, you will never what they may teach you. Connecting with others even in a small way makes me feel present and fulfilled.

11.  I love the creativity in people and the way we all see things differently.

12.  Being negative only creates space for more negativity, as woo woo as that may sound.

13.  I will always find the local bookshop no matter where I am.

14.  Cold plunges are unpleasantly cold.

15.  You can’t fix everyone’s life or their problems, focus on your own. That sounds like a godawful someone shares on their Instagram after a breakup. What I mean is, a flaw of mine is when someone shares a problem, they are facing with me I feel personally responsible for thinking of and implementing a solution. Which I do because I deeply care for others, however, I often put other’s needs at the expense of my own.

16.  You don’t need to accomplish everything you want to at once. You have years to do it all.

17.  Going on holiday doesn’t solve all your problems, you’re escaping them.

18.  The comfort a cathedral will provide me no matter where I am because it reminds me of my dad.

19.  I could be a better listener.

20.  Success will come in different areas of your life at different times, just enjoy where you are now.

21.  I love that my parents’ best friends and their children feel like family to me.

22.  Spending time with friends really does recharge your batteries.

23.  Being yourself is never cringe, even though I’ll read this back in a matter of years, and laugh at my naivety.