I think everyone goes about reflecting and turning over a new leaf in their own way and in their own time. This year I'm finding myself feeling adverse to the idea of new year's resolutions. I'm not enjoying how forced it feels to jump on the commuter train of good health and even better intentions as of January 1.
Maybe it's because I spent a lot of 2018 accumulating and building better habits and routines. Thanks to the influence of friends, I let go of the forced concept of "vegetarian" vs. "meat-eater" and instead just became a lot more comfortable with eating less meat.
I really kicked up my morning routine, committing myself to almost-daily meditations (I use Headspace), 5 minute gratitude journaling, and short pre-commute workouts when I can. I'm trying to carve out time for learning, too, sometimes using DuoLingo to practice a new language (bonsoir mon ami!) or taking a few extra minutes to dive into a meditation book before rousing myself to my vanity. At night, I'm journaling again and leaving ample time to unwind and read.
Fundamentally, what's helped me build these (still in progress) habits is small steps. Picking something (my first something was meditation), and working to cement that habit. Using triggers (same time every day, after brushing my teeth and before making my bed). After that first step felt secured, I could tackle the next.
The inspirational and tactical mindfulness and self-help books I've read over the last couple years have been infinitely helpful as well. Books like The Untethered Soul, Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, and The Life‑Changing Magic of Tidying Up have all been very helpful to me. Just naming three was hard: this learning and inspiration aspect has been paramount for me.
And so of course it may sound like a cop-out, the whole "I'm just being kind to myself and taking it one day at a time" thing, but I'm really proud of all those small steps I've taken over the last year. And I want to keep building on them (because don't get me wrong, there is plenty I could do to improve myself), in my own time and as I feel ready.
Yet despite this resistance to formulate resolutions, I'm digging the concept of a one-word theme for 2019. I've decided mine will be OPEN. Open to new experiences and relationships, open to change, open to stepping outside of my comfort zone, open to building more good habits. So OPEN is my new mantra. Please send any and all "open" thoughts my way!
In 2018, I...
Started the year with good fortune, finding a $10 bill on NYC streets on New Year's Day
Became a discussion "ring" leader for WILpower, a women's skill-building and networking community
Continued to foster cherished friendships and celebrate milestones big and small together
Traveled by myself for the first time, in Japan
Said "see ya later" to a couple favorite Boxers
Around that, I started building myself a morning routine that also involves my gratitude journal and at-home workouts
Celebrated lots of fun birthdays
Chased waterfalls and kicked back behind this one
Welcomed several new babies into the world, including Rosalee, cousins Dylan and Briella, Austen, and Jaymason!
Rosalee
Dylan
Austen
Jaymason
Helped my dad recover from back surgery
Hired a very cute new sous chef
Bought my first-ever pair of wedged sneakers and I daresay I'm pulling them off
Shared lots of laughs with my team
Finished watching Friends from start to finish in order for the first time
Wriggled into lots more Emma snuggles
Helped pull off Box's first-ever community Impact Day
Witnessed the wonder that is CELINE for my birthday
- New York, NY
- Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, and Hakone, Japan
- Upstate and New York, NY
- Chicago, IL
- London (England), Paris (France), Brussels and Bruge (Belgium), Milan and Lago Maggiore (Italy), and Santorini (Greece)
- Pescadero, CA
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Las Vegas, NV
Live Shows
Came back with a vengeance on concerts this year:
- Ja Rule andAshanti @ The Warfield
- James Bay @ The Fillmore
- Kendrick Lamar and Sza @ Oracle
- Taylor Swift @ Levi's
- Justin Timberlake @ SAP
- Big Boi @ Bill Graham (BoxWorks)
- Sam Smith @ SAP
- OTRII: Beyonce and Jay Z @ Levi's
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra @ Oracle
- Ingrid Michaelson @ Masonic
- Celine Dion @ Caesars Palace (Vegas)
- Ellen @ SF Symphony Hall (same set as her Relatable Netflix special)
- An evening with Sara Bareilles @ SHN, talking about Waitress
- Sebastian Maniscalco's comedy show @ Masonic
- Michael Jackson ONE (Vegas)
- The Color Purple
- School of Rock
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I and II (London)
- Get On Your Feet
- Waitress
- Dear Evan Hansen
Books
I have now completely come around on non-fiction. Audio-books still feel life-changing; thanks to them I read 82 books this year, more than I ever have in one year before! Here are a few of my favorites over 2018, both with Suite 108 Book Club and on my own.
Top 5 Fiction:
- Call Me By Your Name
- The Hate U Give
- Pachinko
- Where The Crawdads Sing
- Rebecca
- Becoming
- Educated
- The Untethered Soul
- Dopesick
- White Fragility
Became obsessed with:
- #jvnskates: Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye, just a few months younger than me, is following his childhood passion and learning how to ice skate, shouting loudly from the (skating rink) rooftops that it's never too late as he goes for the gold and becomes BFFs with Michelle Kwan. Following his journey on Instagram is one of my favorite inspirations.
- thank u, next: Seriously the voice and song of a generation. It's all about self love and learning on our individual journeys, with a huge dose of millennial short attention span and rom com nostalgia. Also I find it is a perfect response to just about anything. Ariana: thank u, next hit please!
- Reading about meditation and spirituality. Every author has new metaphors and perspectives that are slowly starting to seep in and create a whole new way of looking at and being in the world. If you have any such books to recommend, I would be ever grateful.
