2023 & All The Seemingly Mundane Things I’m Going To Do
2022 was a year of many firsts for me — first time living alone, first time dealing with “actual” depression, first time considering therapy, first time working an actual 9–5 job, first time tendering a resignation mail, first time starting an actual business, first time doing an actual career path pivot, lots and lots and lots of firsts.
With these firsts, came a lot of experiences and resultant lessons. Experiences that I’m better as a result of, lessons I’d keep with me for forever, lessons I’d keep reaching within me for to serve as grounding reminders.
This year was so long, yet so short.
The events that happened, in the way that they happened felt like the year stretched on for a very long time but I blink and we’re in the last day.
The events that happened, in the way that they happened also stretched me so much I thought I’d break. The highs, however few, were really high and the lows? Boy, did they hit?
As with almost everyone else, I’ve set goals for the new year. Goals I may not accomplish and if I’m being really honest, I may not look at the notebook where those goals are tucked away in for another 6–8 months. This, however, is judging from how I’ve navigated the past years, I do intend on being intentional this year.
Amongst all of the goals I’ve set this year — career, financial, academic etc. There are seemingly mundane things I squeezed in there, ‘goals’ I’m going to try my hardest to see that I accomplish because of how happy it’s going to make me.
In the new year, I hope to…
Read More
I set out to read 24 books this year and ended up doing 18. 19 if I can complete my current read before the clock ticks 12.
In 2023, I hope to read 36 books. Making sure to incorporate more black (and African writers) and also squeeze in a little non fiction.
Get A Piercing(s)
I got my first second piercing when I was 13. I got into a lot of trouble for that and ultimately had to let it close up.
Getting another one will be my first true act of rebellion. Not like I haven’t always been a rebel but this will be taking it up a notch and I’m excited about that.
Color My Hair
Color or dye, whatever lingo you prefer is fine.
This is also another act of rebellion. I have no “justifiable” reason to want to color my hair asides the fact that life is short, we should do more things.
Loc My Hair
I tried locing my hair last year and though it came out well, I made a couple mistakes in managing it and so I had to take them down.
I want to give it another try this year because I know I’d be a stunner in locs.
Complain Less
I complain a lot (not more than the average person anyways) and lately, I’ve realized that this makes me ungrateful.
In the new year, I’m going to complain less and try to acknowledge the upside of situations.
Sit With My Loneliness
In the words of Kamnele, I will honor my loneliness and hold the void for as long as it stays instead of trying to escape it.
I’ll no longer try to cling on to temporary obsessions (that come in form of either people or things) with hopes that they’d make me feel a little less alone.
Take and Post More Pictures
The thing with my eyes rocked my self confidence much more than I like to admit and in 2023, I’m saying fuck all of that.
I’m capturing moments and I’m putting them up for my 67 followers.
Trust More
A fundamental thing I noticed that was lacking in my relationships with my people is trust and no, not in the way you think.
In 2022, I spent a lot of time sulking, keeping to myself temporarily and being sad for things that happened in passing. Moments I could’ve spent being in love with my friends and enjoying their company was lost because I didn’t trust them.
Towards the ending of the year, I started learning to trust my friends more and trust that they always have my best interest at heart and wouldn’t intentionally do or say anything to hurt me. This helped me fixate less on minute things that happened and move on from it faster. I hope to do more of this in the new year.
Rest
I don’t know how to rest. I’ve never understood the concept of rest and stillness.
In 2023, I hope to learn how to rest and also do more and more of that.
Build An Affirmation Wall
Leaning more into self care, I intend on curating an affirmation wall for myself. Filling it with words that’ll fill me up on the days I’m empty and words that’ll carry me on the days I can’t muster up the strength from within.
Start A Gratitude Jar
So that when ingratitude seeps in usually towards this time, I’d have something to battle it with.
2022 was a full circle experience and I’m so grateful for it. Grateful for the people that carried me through it as well. The ones who didn’t give up on me. The ones who held on to me tightly. The ones who fought for my joy with me. The ones who kept me tethered.
For the most part, I’m grateful to me, for tarrying and I’m grateful to the vessel that houses me, for not breaking.
I’m still unsure how I feel about the new year but in the famous words of Kanye — “even if you are not ready for the day, it cannot always be night”
So bring it on, 2023.
