I used to fill out this end of year survey thing just about every year, and yesterday my colleague posted his on Facebook which inspired me to do the same. I've been meaning to start writing here again for a while because a) I miss writing and b) it helps me remember things and c) why not. We obviously have some catching up to do, but this seems like a good place to start - so without further ado, the 2023 annual recap!
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| Photo Credit: Megan Norman |
1. What did you do in 2023 that you'd never done before?
Stayed at an all-inclusive resort! Ben's parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and to celebrate they took all three of their sons and families to Mexico for a week. As one does. Honestly, it was kind of amazing. Alex and Owen spent all day in the pool or in the Kids Club (which let me tell you is a freaking godsend - having somewhere you can drop off your kiddos and read by the pool for a couple of hours? Sold.), and discovered the magic of "rainbow cheerios" aka Fruit Loops. They keep asking if they can go back, so we're considering saving up for a return trip for our 15th anniversary in 2026.
And we finally, FINALLY got professional family photos done. I've been procrastinating this for 2-3 years and finally made it happen thanks to the incredible Megan Norman.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions but I do try to set intentions - last year, my goal was to find ways to focus in and go deeper on the things that are truly important to me instead of spreading myself so thin (and as a result, to be a little more selfish in my decision-making and not worry so much about being a burden to others). I would say yes, I did keep it for the most part, and I'm still trying to figure out what my intention is for 2024.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Ben's younger brother and his wife, so we now have a very adorable baby niece!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
I actually can't think of anyone close to me who passed in 2023. So, thankful for that.
5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico and....L.A.? Which is sort of like visiting another country?
6. What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?
I'm actually not sure! I wanted better balance in my life, and I achieved that. I think I could use...more of that? And I have plans to get there, although I'm now revising them slightly due to circumstances outside of my control but, that's life.
7. What date from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 16. It was my 40th birthday, but was also memorable for other reasons, please stay tuned for question 31.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This is a tough one - honestly, surviving February with even a shred of my sanity intact felt like a huge accomplishment. I also went for my first sunrise lake run in a very, very long time. I used to run Bde Maka Ska at least once a week at sunrise, but the last time I made it over there for a run I think I was pregnant with Alex. Probably summer of 2017. Getting back there felt like meeting an old friend again.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I can't really think of a "biggest failure" to be honest.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
So much illness. Like just....so much. Alex, Owen and I all got hit with a truly awful GI bug in the winter, I think both kids had at least one ear infection (Alex had two back to back in the late winter/early spring) and we all got strep in July. Except for Ben, who somehow managed to escape both strep AND poop-fest 2023. Congrats to you.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Probably the playhouse in our backyard. We splurged on one from Rainbow and I can just tell it will last forever.
Also Christmas lights - I bought 3 lit garlands for the living room and some rainbow cafe string lights for the family room and have zero regrets.
And while not technically a "thing," I did a weekend yoga retreat in March for the first time since before kiddos and wow was that ever needed.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Ben, the boys. Watching Alex and Owen continue to grow up into these amazing little people full of imagination, compassion, love of learning, and becoming the best little travelers and is just incredible.
Additionally, a huge shoutout to Harper, who saved my life at work in January and February when we were short staffed. Thank you SO MUCH.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Stealing this one from BCF - Johnny Depp (technically this was more in 2022 but continued to appall me in 2023)
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and property taxes lol.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Planning our 2024 travels, decorating for Christmas annnd...???
16. What song will always remind you of 2023?
Probably this one I'm so sorry.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Less anxiety-riddled for sure.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing, hence this thing. Asking for help when I needed it.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about letting people down.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with Ben, Alex and Owen! Usually we stay overnight at my parents on Christmas Eve, but they're doing some home renovations only two of the four bedrooms are accessible right now. Since we wouldn't be able to stay overnight, Ben and I decided to host Christmas Even dinner so that we could get the boys to bed at a reasonable hour and still stay up and enjoy a drink and some family time with my parents and sister. We sang at the 5:00 church service, then came home and had dinner (most of which had been prepped earlier in the day). Alex has also taken to arranging all of our flameless candles in the dining room during dinnertime and turning off/blocking out all other lights. It's quite a mood. He calls it "dark dinner," so we had dark dinner on Christmas Eve. We woke up in our own home on Christmas morning for the first time ever, the boys were up at 6:15 and ready to open presents, and my folks stopped by around lunchtime. Later in the afternoon we went to Ben's parents for dinner and games. This was a really great holiday, to be honest.
22. Did you fall in love in 2023?
I re-fell in love with running!
23. How many one night stands?
I've been married for 12 years, we do have one nightstand in our bedroom...does that answer your question...?
24. What was your favourite TV program?
Succession
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, hate is such a strong word. I don't know if there's anyone I know personally that I would say I truly hate. Definitely people I have been severely let down by, but not this year.
26. What was the best book you read?
Beloved by Toni Morrison. It's been on my to-read list for YEARS and I regret not picking it up sooner, it is an absolute masterpiece.
Honorable fiction mentions to Convenience Store Woman, When Women Were Dragons, The Light Pirate, and the entire Earthsea series which I re-read and was reminded why I love Ursula LeGuin so much.
Honorable nonfiction mentions to It Goes So Fast by Mary Louise Kelley, How The Light Gets In by Pat Schneider, and Underground by Haruki Murakami.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
On Thursdays I usually pop into Yellowbird to grab a coffee on my way into the office after I drop Alex and Owen off at school. One morning, they were playing this song and I immediately ran to the Googlebox to figure out who the artist was. I listened to the rest of the album in the car and while I was cooking dinner and it quickly became one of my favorites of the year. I'm such a sucker for acoustic roots vibes for rainy days and sad people.
28. What did you want and get?
I wanted to find a better balance between work and family, and made some intentional changes in my life/schedule that have made a huge difference.
Also, as a shoutout to my incredible husband - he saw me drooling over this ceramic box at a little shop in Los Feliz when we were visiting Julianna, and last week it appeared under the Christmas tree <3
29. What did you want and not get?
Snow for Christmas, still figuring out how to control the weather.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I had five, and only one of them actually came out this year sorry:
TÁR - This and Everything Everywhere were my top films of the year.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Spiderman Across the Spiderverse - Alex's first movie theater experience!
Your Name - a 2016 Japanese film that looks like a lighthearted rom-com but...there is a twist. And that's all I will say, I think you should go into this film knowing as little as possible about what happens in it. Even if you're not an anime person, give it a shot I do not think you'll be disappointed.
Banshees of Inisherin - I was not prepared for where this went lol. Colin Farrell's performance is incredible.
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I spent my 40th birthday very, very sick on the couch with an awful GI bug, surviving on crackers and yogurt while working from home trying to stay on top of doing two jobs. It was not a great day, in the midst of a week that I can only describe as "hell week" but it was the start of a turning point that really helped me re-evaluate my boundaries and priorities when it comes to work and family.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know? There were a lot of challenges, particularly in the winter and spring but I don't think any of them were necessarily avoidable.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?
I always skip this question sorry. I don't have a fashion concept, I just wear things I like.
34. What kept you sane?
Setting better boundaries for myself. Giving myself permission to pause when needed. In September when Alex started Kindergarten, I decided to shift my schedule to work 7-3 on Monday and Tuesday when I work from home, so that I can pick the boys up at 3 and spend some time with them in the afternoon. Life changing.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Fancy...? No one really.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Because I have a little boy who loves wearing sparkly dresses, anything to do with supporting GLBTQ rights and the absolutely nonsensical outrage against drag queens. And as always, gun control in this stupid country.
37. Who did you miss?
All of my friends and family who live out of town.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Back at you BCF, and also a number of parent friends at STM.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023.
Sometimes it is really and truly impossible to do everything. But boy, what a blessing have a fulfilling with an organization I admire, and a family I love beyond measure with two kiddos who I can't get enough of - even though it means that those two things sometimes come into heart-wrenching conflict. The tradeoffs feel impossible because I love my job, and for that I am very lucky.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Not a song lyric, but a quote from Rilke:
"...have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to live the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way to the answer."
And actually - I know this lyric is so cliched but it's the one that came to mind for me, for 2023:
Ring the bells that still can ringForget your perfect offeringThere is a crack, a crack in everythingThat's how the light gets in.
