Miscellayneous

I felt a great relief when we ran in the new year. Last year was a rough year for almost all of us, but on a macro level, I felt a lot of stalling in self-growth that I didn't like. I felt creatively stuck for a majority of the year and couldn't find any good projects to get my hands on and create. I felt a block in my writing (not to be confused with writer's block because I don't believe in such a thing), but I'm working on a novel and didn't know what direction to take it in. I wasn't consuming any new, inspiring media: I petered out with four episodes of Breaking Bad, watched the same movies I already loved when my TBW list is about a mile long, and read books for my Goodreads count and not out of pure interest. 

I also felt in a mental limbo for a chunk of the year. I'm not settling into my new job, I'm uncomfortable in my crammed living space, and I haven't felt comfortable in my skin or my style in quite some time.

When the new year hit, it felt like someone hit the reset button on all of that and I could not be more grateful. I want to make the most of my time this year doing things I have never done before, use creative problem solving to bust out of slumps, and reconnect with the parts of myself I used to love and revamp them so I can love them now that I am older.

After taking the time to dwell, reflect, and brainstorm, I've created a list of ten things to do this year. The list I made last year was a bit derailed by CoVid and some of the things were unattainable after that. The list that I've created this year is tailored to staying at home and focused on personal growth. They are things I have been neglecting or procrastinating on, and it's time to take the time and do it.

1. Visit New York City
2. Write that book
3. Settle into a place that is my own
4. Spend at least one day one-on-one with each of my cousins
5. Visit one new place each month
6. Meet Lauren <3
7. Send out snail mail for random occasions
8. Take a cross-country train ride
9. Find a budgeting and savings system that works best 
10. Crochet an afghan