I’ve never been too hip on new year’s resolutions but I’ll be damned if I didn’t set some intentions going into this next year. I’ve been a little quiet here and that’s because I’ve been busy reconnecting to myself and really just living in general. I’ve been doing things that make me feel good and keep pushing me forward. In between all of that, in the downtime, I also did some reflecting on 2023 while simultaneously looking forward to 2024. I won’t bore you with my 2023 revelations but I can summarize them to this: one foot in front of the other, onward and upward.
I made three lists on my phone yesterday which include books I’ve read, movies I’ve watched, and places I’ve seen in 2024. I’ve never been great at recording these things and I get to the end of the year and wonder what the hell I did for the last 365 days. I have things planned already in all three categories so I figured it would be fun and motivating to keep active lists and see what I experience in this upcoming year. And on this note, let’s talk a little about the intentions for the year for accountability sake.
- Finish the books on my shelf and then some
- See new places
- Be active!!
- Fuel the body, heal the mind
- Go to the movies regularly and experience new theaters in Berlin
- Learn a new skill
- Pour love and effort into my friendships
It’s not extensive or original but I’m trying really hard to make the most of my time. I feel like I wasted many months feeling stuck and depressed. I want to keep the ball rolling in a manner of speaking. To elaborate on the above, I finished my first book of 2024 today! I’m in the process of booking my first trip of 2024 to a place I’ve never been at the end of this month. I did a yoga class last night and I have a ballet class scheduled tonight! Also, I signed up for a half marathon in March.. uh oh. I’m drinking a protein shake and a glass of electrolytes as I write this so I’m on track for fueling my body… Tomorrow, I’ll see A Triangle of Sadness with an intro and panel by the director for Swedish Film Month at the Babylon in Berlin. I’m in the process of looking into cooking classes, collage art, intro to sculptures, etc. for Feb. or March. And most importantly, I’m trying to position myself as a source of stability and serve as a constant for my friends—a role I haven’t been able to fulfill for quite some time.
All of this to say, I’ve worked hard (despite my self-deprecating comments and self-view at times) to be exactly where I am. I will never stop expressing my gratitude and disbelief for the life I’ve carved out for myself despite an excruciatingly difficult six months. I live on another continent, surrounded by international people, amongst some of the most famous landmarks in the world. I can’t squander this opportunity going into the new year. Now, it’s time to accept and embrace the life I’ve created here.
Onward and upward.