On what felt just like the 99th day of January 2023, I sat right down to overview my journal entries from the month. I haven’t stored up a journaling behavior like this in over a decade. This time, I set the bar low—write a sentence concerning the day and you may take into account it “carried out”—and I believe that’s what made the behavior stick this time. On some days I wrote just a few phrases and on others, sentences poured out of me.
At the moment I’m sharing a glance again at my month. Right here’s what January 2023 was like for me…
On the primary of January, I resolve 2023 is the yr I wish to doc my day-to-day in a extra detailed approach. I wish to be a greater historian of my very own life. I begin preserving a digital journal (utilizing the Day One app) that enables me to each write and add pictures.
On January 2, I write in my journal that in the present day seems like a check. I’m being pulled again into previous patterns of overthinking and avoiding. I discover this as a result of every little thing feels actually heavy and tough. My thoughts is loud, however I resolve to maintain shifting ahead anyway (which occurs to be my mantra for 2023).
On the third, I’ve a microneedling appointment. My face is crimson for the rest of the day.
On the fourth, we get a large quantity of snow. I attempt to embrace the magic.
That is the month I announce that I’m shifting additional into the inside design house with content on Wit & Delight. I begin providing consulting appointments. There’s a lot assist from our viewers, which feels superb, though a way of impostor syndrome creeps up anyway.
This month, we transfer Bennett into her personal room. She claims the guest room for herself and is so happy with the change.
We’ve household meals collectively on the eating desk extra usually. I make tacos one evening and the children love them. They haven’t actually favored something I’ve cooked shortly and it makes me so completely satisfied.
In the midst of the month, I begin having actually bizarre goals. I cope with a number of panic assaults. I start studying the e book Flow, and it fully blows my thoughts.
Spending time with mates is a precedence all month lengthy. For one such event, I make a very nice pearl onion tart that solely requires 5 components (the recipe is from French Country Cooking by Mimi Thorisson). I instantly realize it’s one thing I’ll make repeatedly. I additionally study probably the greatest life hacks: to make your salad dressing in an nearly empty jar of Dijon mustard.
This month I understand one of many colours that appears nice on me is shiny inexperienced. I by no means anticipated this, however I wholeheartedly embrace it.
On January 20, Joe and I drive up north for a cabin weekend with mates. We eat brined and braised pork shoulder with couscous, apricots, and fennel slaw. For dessert, we eat Basque cheesecake and drink fernet. We go antiquing and marvel on the extreme nature of Lake Superior within the winter.
On the twenty third, I can barely get away from bed. As soon as I lastly do, I resolve to bike for fifteen minutes. It turns right into a forty-five-minute journey that modifications the trajectory of my day.
I drink quite a bit much less this month—solely when at dinners with others. I work out nearly each single day in some capability. For me, this isn’t about figuring out to alter my physique; it’s about figuring out to really feel higher emotionally. It feels actually good.
On the twenty fourth, I get my interval and understand my irritable nature of late doesn’t imply I’m an asshole—simply hormonal. The subsequent day, I apologize for what I stated once I was coping with PMS.
I’m scripting this submit on the finish of the final full week of January. This weekend, I’m having mates over for a raclette social gathering. It looks like the proper exercise within the midst of a polar vortex! The solar is supposedly going to emerge once more within the coming days, which all the time seems like new beginnings to me. Right here’s to a contemporary begin in February.
Kate is at the moment studying to play the Ukulele, a lot to the despair of her husband, children, and canine. Observe her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
