On what felt just like the 99th day of January 2023, I sat right down to evaluation 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 in regards to the day and you’ll take into account it “completed”—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.
Right this 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 determine 2023 is the yr I need to doc my day-to-day in a extra detailed manner. I need to be a greater historian of my very own life. I begin holding a digital journal (utilizing the Day One app) that enables me to each write and add images.
On January 2, I write in my journal that at the moment appears like a check. I’m being pulled again into outdated patterns of overthinking and avoiding. I discover this as a result of the whole lot feels actually heavy and troublesome. My thoughts is loud, however I determine to maintain transferring 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 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 area with content on Wit & Delight. I begin providing consulting appointments. There’s a lot assist 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 usually. I make tacos one evening and the children love them. They haven’t actually preferred something I’ve cooked shortly and it makes me so completely happy.
In the midst of the month, I begin having actually bizarre desires. I cope with a number of panic assaults. I start studying the guide Flow, and it fully blows my thoughts.
Spending time with buddies is a precedence all month lengthy. For one such event, I make a extremely nice pearl onion tart that solely requires 5 elements (the recipe is from French Country Cooking by Mimi Thorisson). I instantly comprehend it’s one thing I’ll make time and again. I additionally study probably the greatest life hacks: to make your salad dressing in an virtually 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 buddies. 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 off the bed. As soon as I lastly do, I determine to bike for fifteen minutes. It turns right into a forty-five-minute experience that adjustments the trajectory of my day.
I drink so much much less this month—solely when at dinners with others. I work out virtually each single day in some capability. For me, this isn’t about understanding to alter my physique; it’s about understanding 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 penning this publish on the finish of the final full week of January. This weekend, I’m having buddies over for a raclette get together. 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 at all times appears 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, youngsters, and canines. Observe her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
