On what felt just like the 99th day of January 2023, I sat all the way 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’ll think about it “executed”—and I feel that’s what made the behavior stick this time. On some days I wrote only some phrases and on others, sentences poured out of me.
At present 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 12 months I need to doc my day-to-day in a extra detailed approach. I need to be a greater historian of my very own life. I begin retaining a digital journal (utilizing the Day One app) that permits me to each write and add photographs.
On January 2, I write in my journal that at this time seems 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 I’m being pulled again into outdated patterns of overthinking and avoiding.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 every part feels actually heavy and troublesome. 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 huge quantity of snow. I attempt to embrace the magic.
That is the month I announce that I’m shifting additional into the inside design area with content material on Wit & Delight. I begin providing consulting appointments. There’s a lot help 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 visitor 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 youngsters love them. They haven’t actually favored something I’ve cooked shortly and it makes me so glad.
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 e book Circulation, and it utterly blows my thoughts.
Spending time with pals is a precedence all month lengthy. For one such event, I make a very nice pearl onion tart that solely requires 5 substances (the recipe is from French Nation Cooking by Mimi Thorisson). I instantly understand it’s one thing I’ll make time and again. I additionally study top-of-the-line 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 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 pals. 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 resolve to bike for fifteen minutes. It turns right into a forty-five-minute trip that adjustments the trajectory of my day.
I drink loads 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 following day, I apologize for what I stated once I was coping with PMS.
I’m scripting this put up on the finish of the final full week of January. This weekend, I’m having pals over for a raclette get together. It looks like the right 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 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 canines. Observe her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.