On what felt just like the 99th day of January 2023, I sat right down to evaluate my journal entries from the month. I haven’t saved 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 “executed”—and I feel 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.
Immediately 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 an extra detailed means. I wish to be a greater historian of my very own life. I begin conserving a digital journal (utilizing the Day One app) that permits me to each write and add images.
On January 2, I write in my journal that in the present day appears like a take a look at. I’m being pulled again into outdated patterns of overthinking and avoiding. I discover this as a result of everything that feels actually heavy and troublesome. My thoughts are loud, however, I resolve to maintain transferring ahead anyway (which occurs to be my mantra for 2023).
On the third, I have got a micro-needling appointment. My face is purple for the rest of the day.
On the fourth, we get a huge quantity of snow. I attempt to embrace the magic.
That is the month I announce that I’m transferring additional into the inside design house with content on Wit & Delight. I begin providing consulting appointments. There’s a lot of assistance from our viewers, which feels wonderful, 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 now have household meals collectively on the eating desk extra typically. I make tacos one night time and the youngsters love them. They haven’t actually appreciated something I’ve cooked shortly and it makes me so joyful.
In the midst of the month, I begin having actually bizarre goals. I take care of a number of panic assaults. I start studying the ebook Flow, and it utterly blows my thoughts.
Spending time with mates is precedence all month lengthy. For one such event, I make an extremely nice pearl onion tart that solely requires 5 components (the recipe is from French Country Cooking by Mimi Thorisson). I instantly comprehend it’s one thing I’ll make many times. I additionally study probably the greatest life hacks: to make your salad dressing in a nearly empty jar of Dijon mustard.
This month I notice one of many colors that appears nice on me is brilliant 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 at the extreme nature of Lake Superior in the winter.
On the twenty-third, I can barely get off bed. As soon as I last do, I resolve to bike for fifteen minutes. It turns right into a forty-five-minute experience that modifications the trajectory of my day.
I drink loads much less this month—solely when at dinners with others. I work out nearly every single day in some capacity. For me, this isn’t about figuring out to vary 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 notice my irritable nature of late doesn’t imply I’m an asshole—simply hormonal. The subsequent day, I apologize for what I mentioned after I was coping with PMS.
I’m scripting this put up at the finish of the final full week of January. This weekend, I’m having mates over for a raclette occasion. It looks as if the proper exercise within the midst of a polar vortex! The solar is supposedly going to emerge once more within the coming days, which at all times appears like new beginnings to me. Right here’s to a recent beginning in February.
Kate is presently studying to play the Ukulele, a lot to the despair of her husband, children, and canines. Observe her on Instagram at @witanddelight_