goodbye 2022
on my mind
having a birthday in december feels like the celebration of endings and new beginnings. it is always an intensely reflective and emotional month, framed by twinkling lights and warm drinks and desserts. i am grateful i got to celebrate my birthday this year amidst the red rocks of Sedona with some of my closest friends. we are all in our early 30s and were able to take stock of another wild year, share our hopes and dreams, and recommit to the ever-changing needs of adult friendships.
we’re often focused on how we want to change in the new year but i think it’s also important to remember what we want to preserve. So below is my list of things i hope to carry over from 2022. I’d love to hear yours if you want to reply back.
as we welcome in 2023, i wish you all good health, peace, lots of rest and joyful, meaningful relationships. happy new year!
what i’m noting
taking classes in things I’m interested in without any expectations or goals | I took a weekly ink drawing class from January to March that brought me so much joy and fed my childhood artist dreams. I’m planning to take pottery, poetry, and improv classes next.
giving things away | in the process of moving out of my apartment, i learned about a hyper local group called Buy Nothing, which helped me easily get rid of so many items and allowed me to say goodbye in a sustainable and thoughtful way in my neighborhood
walking and getting some outside time every single day | i fell into a depressive funk, gained weight and was mentally foggy for awhile because of working from home in isolation but everything shifted when I began a routine of either starting or ending (sometimes both!) my day with a walk. it inspired and motivated me in ways i didn’t expect, so all those people who talk about the important of physical exercise are annoyingly correct.
sending more voice notes | conversations came alive for me through voice notes this year. I enjoyed listening to these little podcasts from people i love
reading more books | getting back into reading through physical books, audiobooks and my new kindle - the goal is less Netflix and Instagram scrolling and more reading for pleasure
spending more time with family and friends | this was the year i moved back home and spent intentional time traveling and working remotely with family and friends. this was a hard transition but it was exactly what i needed. now taking suggestions for new cities for me to check out!
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— Nesima