I love a good list. You may have already seen some of these “23 for 2023” highlight lists circulating, and they have taken many different directions: best media, best products, best moments. My list is a mixture of all of the above. Most items are light. Some are personal to me; others may show up in your 2023 lists too.
I would recommend this practice. It’s a nice way to reflect on the year. Not everything in 2023 was good, to be sure, but there were plenty of good things.
I discovered the joy of the New York Times game Connections. If you have not played, 16 new words appear each day, and the words are connected in groups of four by a common theme. I love mind games, and since I discovered it this past month, I look forward to the puzzle. I like this game more than Wordle.
Professionally, I tried some new things, with the help of a great staff. We held some different kinds of worship services, like a John Prine music inspired Eucharist and a Blue Christmas service for those who were grieving during the holidays, that were very well received.
We took a cruise with neighbor friends. I highly recommend Disney cruises for families—their attention to detail is unmatched—and cruises for traveling with others. Each family has a separate space but plenty of opportunities to spend time together.
I set up a Green Stalk for herbs and vegetables. We only grew basil, parsley, cilantro, tomatoes, lettuce, and a few carrots successfully, and we may have spend more money on seeds and soil this year than simply buying the produce from the grocery store, but I am glad that we tried. I do think the Green Stalk is easier to set up and maintain than raised garden beds. This is something we will continue in 2024.
I started this Substack!
My family found our groove with after school routines. We have some amazing college-aged babysitters, and they help us out when the kids get home from school before Dan and I finish with work. The kids begin their homework so it is not all left for after dinnertime.
New products I discovered and loved: TUL gel pens, Pura car diffuser (smells so good and not cheap at all like most car fragrances), Colleen Rothschild illuminating eye cream (I have very dark circles—thanks, Mom—and this cream does wonders to brighten the area).
I took a New York City trip with friends from college. We have continued to gather for a long weekend every year since graduation. This was our first time to NYC together (two of our group live there).
I went to Paducah, Kentucky for the Pantsuits Politics live show with another longtime friend. Random and unlike me but so fun! It will be one of those experiences that I remember for a long time.
We made our new-to-us house feel more like us. I have very definite style preferences, and it is always a challenge moving to new spaces. I feel like I am starting over each time. We have lived in many wonderful and beautiful houses, and they like nice, but they are just not my personal aesthetic. We made some fairly small but impactful changes this year that make this house feel like our own. Space matters, especially because we spend so much time in our home.
I applied to and was accepted into Duke’s D.Min. program—more on that in 2024.
I made some new connections and friendships by trying new things (a diocesan weekend and a local parent-teacher leadership academy). New things always demand a large energy investment, but they usually bring big returns. I am glad some new people have come into my life through these experiences.
A few books will remain with me for well beyond this year: Yellowface, How to Stay Married, Good for a Girl, Outlive, Built to Move.
We fixed our gas fireplace insert (it broke right when we moved in). I love a cozy fire in the wintertime. Side note: it is always worth it to fix those nagging little things rather than experience frustration every time you remember the problem.
My long distance friendships flourished. My faraway friends and I did a really good job staying in touch regularly throughout the year, and that took effort on all sides. Sometimes I wonder if I pour energy into the long distance friendships at the expense of developing friendships where I live now, but all in all, I am grateful to have people in my life who have known me for so long through so many life changes. That is truly a gift.
I discovered this vacuum/mop and it has made our floors much cleaner and the cleaning process much more pleasant. Ditto on the robot vacuum. The mapping version really is superior to the base model.
We upped our outdoor seasonal decor game and the kids are especially proud.
I found a new way to squeeze more reading into my weekday routine: most days I listen to an audiobook while doing my hair and makeup, which equates to a significant amount of reading over the course of a week.
I did a better job maintaining my nails. I like the look of polished nails but never go to a nail salon and use my hands too aggressively to choose a bold color and avoid chipping. I have found a system with sheer polish that works for me at home. I feel more put together. Small little habits like this (and #19) add small happiness boosts to the everyday.
Plant-based Reese’s hit the market, and Dan is so happy (I actually still prefer Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups or Unreal).
If I were a better Alabama fan, I would say Alabama making it to the Rose Bowl—but sports do not move the needle much for me. I love how much other people love football, though!
This was a relatively stable year, and I will count that as the final good thing. Many of my years are marked by significant change: Dan and I have careers that bring big moves, and our family has grown and evolved. I actually like change; I may thrive on it. But there is a lot to be said for settling in and finding contentment. Some of this year’s challenges involved other people, so they are not mine alone to share. This year was not the easiest, nor was it the hardest.
Feel free to share in the comments, or just ask yourself: What is a good thing from 2023?
You may also like:
This list brings such a positive vibe! From discovering the joy of sourdough to those unique worship services, it’s amazing how varied and meaningful your year has been. The idea of maintaining long-distance friendships is particularly touching. Marvelous writing! 🌟