Now, with the turn of one calendar page we've entered a new year, a new decade. Caught up in the muddle of the holidays and being sick the last couple weeks, I haven't really sat down to consider how I feel about the occasion. Ultimately, the extent of my reflections and intentions are in this post.
Going into the new year, the word that speaks to me most is INVEST. Invest in myself, my community, and the causes I care about. I've been ramping up on this the last couple months, signing up for courses in reiki and personal finance (because invest can be quite literal too!), and reevaluating the nonprofits that I contribute to monthly to make sure they support the causes I'm most passionate about (climate change, gun control, and decarceration). I want to be better about putting my money where my heart is (baby steps!) and feeding my mind and soul. Because of course, investing isn't only monetary. It's time and effort. Continuing to meditate, to read daily, to practice yoga and reiki, to pour love and energy into my friendships and family is the most important. I hope this will build on a continued sense and intentionality of openness and bring more simple abundance to my world.
In 2019, I...
Got crabby at the annual Portuguese crab feed with family
Got on the Konmari train (and am realizing it's time to do it again!)
Turned in my Box badge and felt the love from my fellow Boxers
Went on my first yoga retreat, at an incredible resort in Mexico - can't remember the last time I'd ever felt this free, focusing on mind, body, and spirit, all on my own, and with no job responsibilities whatsoever!
Received an "emotional therapy massage" at said retreat that released my chakras and made me sob in relief, much to my surprise
Toasted the end of an era as Brittany moved out early in the year, after six in our Glen Park HQ together
Am going on seven years in my beloved apartment, now living with roommates Maddy and Katie
Ate my way through Hong Kong and rode the iconic Star Ferry
Took another leap of faith and went to Nepal with Amanda to support a local nonprofit, where I:
...met Nasreen, the inspiration behind it all, who is working tirelessly
to create economic opportunity and safe spaces for women
while promoting fair trade and equality
...joined in healing shamanic ceremonies
...danced (and dodged) my way through Holi in Kathmandu
...stood absolutely in awe of the Himalayas
...and fed, pet, and traipsed through the jungle with an elephant!
Got some April reading in with 11-month Rosalee
Got almost all of Suite 108 Book Club and babies together for brunch Brittany's birthday weekend
Met one of my heroes, my finance guru, Ramit, and he called me a "huge nerd"
Learned about the Galapagos at Cal Academy's Big Bang Gala with Britt
Led a mentoring group for Leading Women in Technology again this year
Celebrated Kasey's birthday in Russian River
Was as disappointed as everyone else at the GOT series finale
Got a new headshot
Gobbled up more time with baby cousins
Dylan's baptism
Dylan, 1
Kendall, 4
Shaking our butts at the penguins,
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Milynn's bridal shower
Ok, so I wasn't even here for this one
but it's my favorite picture of them all year!
Christmas
Accepted the fact that college graduation was one decade ago
Celebrated Independence Day in Mystic, Connecticut
Kicked off summer German-style with close friends at the Tourist Club
Welcomed a new baby to our Zendesk team: James
Went on another yoga retreat, this time with Brittany in Santa Cruz
Enjoyed Fleet Week on a boat for the first time
Captained my team into winning gold in our office olympics
Did a 5 minute, 40 second plank in said olympics
Returned to Disneyland after many years, with my family
Got to catch up with Ian and Kelsey in LA
Celebrated two October weddings; first, Brandon + Milynn
...and second, Nathan + Michaela
My brother cleans up pretty well, eh?
Wore one of my favorite 80's dresses of my mom's for Halloween
The original!
...Ice skating to support Larkin Street Youth Services
...Civic Center lit up on my way to The Nutcracker with Brittany
...Christmas tea at the Haas-Lilienthal House
...and the Zendesk "Miami Vice" party!
Me and Mikkel, the CEO
My plus-one Mermaid Mechanic
(Most of) the squad
Survived the Christmas Sick
And last but not least, celebrated 33 in Napa!
Ironically, now that I work in travel, I actually do it a lot less.
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Xinalani yoga retreat)
- Nepal: Kathmandu, Namo Buddha, Pokhara, and Chitwan National Park
- Russian River, CA
- New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
- Disneyland, Camarillo, and Burbank, CA
- Maggie Rogers @ The Fox
- Elton John @ Chase Center
- Sara Bareilles @ Chase Center
- Lizzo @ Bill Graham
My Spotify Wrapped:
Was not surprised that Sam Smith shook out as my most listened-to artist of the decade. I saw him live three times, including the first, when I won the Amazon/Capitol Records sweepstakes and got to go backstage in LA to meet him in 2014. Explains a bit of the obsession!
2014, LA Greek Theatre
Books
I read more books this year than ever before: 91! I'm not sure I can keep beating my personal record, but I sure do enjoy trying. Here are my favorite recommendations.
Top five fiction:
- The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
- City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
- This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel
- The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
- The Unexpected Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke
- Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- Heavy by Kiese Laymon
- Once More We Saw Stars by Jayson Greene
- The New York Times Sunday edition: Kristen and Amanda finally got me convinced to get the weekly paper. Yes, sometimes it can feel like homework for me to "get through it" in a week, but mostly I feel a sense of nostalgia and worldliness as I crinkle the pages. I now feel like I'm tapped into a knowledge keg with a huge community of citizens pulsating with ideas and opinions, and I certainly don't mind the fun anecdotes I pick up. Quiet weekend mornings on my couch surrounded by plants with a cuppa and my paper has become a top happy place of mine.
- Brene Brown: I've read three books so far and have watched the Netflix special, which is part standup and part auditorium therapy. She's changed the way I view relationships (both personal and work) and has me looking at vulnerability, boundaries, and showing up for people in a new, more empathic and healthy way. Do yourself and your relationships a favor and at least start with the Netflix special, Call to Courage.
- Wellness travel: I very recently would roll my eyes at people who used their vacations to do yoga, but now I get it. Most trips are so optimized and indulgent that they require a detox with a side of salad and the proverbial "vacation from your vacation." Wellness travel is fun and centering without so much planning or injury to your sleep, gut, and liver. One gets the chance to really reset. I loved my week in Mexico so much, that I've signed up with Brittany for a Portugal yoga retreat in the spring (which will be a good balance of retreat life and normal vacation)!
Wishing you all a beautiful start to the year and the decade!
Love reading your reviews of the year and I have taken some excellent book recommendations from it! What a year and I'm sure 2020 will be even more rewarding :-) x
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