Entry 04

Just a little video I made documenting my year! Trying to take more videos in my life to capture moments like these :)

2024 Round-Up

Hello! Welcome back to my blog — the first time I’ve posted in a few years…oops! Anyway, I leave for Italy in a few days to spend a couple of months there for school, and the time has come that I have begun freaking out! So, to calm myself down, I figured I would do what I’m best at and write. So, here’s my little yearly round-up of some things I’ve been thinking, working on, and enjoying.

This year has been one of the hardest for me emotionally — if you know, you know. But that meant I had to lift myself up from the bootstraps and find a way to find happiness in a time when I frankly couldn’t conceive of the possibility of joy existing in the world. So, I began hiking a lot more — hiking by myself (sorry, Mom), hiking with friends, and spending a lot of time listening to music or just thinking in nature, and I think that was the moment I started to really discover who I was after years of not knowing.

Besides hiking, I’ve been going skating a lot more: lots of roller and ice skating, even though I’m not the best at the latter. I also started collaging and junk journaling MUCH more, and it’s now one of my favorite things to do in my free time (and I have a whole little purse of collaging materials). I did a well-needed deep clean of my room and finally felt comfortable in my own living space; I also redecorated it so it felt a little more like home, compared to my college dorm, which is usually covered floor to ceiling in posters.

It’s been a tough year emotionally, but I’m a tougher gal. So, here are some of my favorite things from this year!

Favorite Song

Tough one, but it has to be Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes — it’s #3 on my Apple Music Replay, and I was obsessed with it, especially in Italy. I was constantly listening to it on repeat on my late-night walks around Florence, and listening to Carnes’ beautifully raspy voice while sitting on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge was incredibly healing. A close runner-up would be Hey by The Pixies — one of my favorite songs to listen to in the car.

Favorite Book

I didn’t read nearly as much as I wanted to this year, but I read Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey for my Political Science class, and I really resonated with that book, particularly after pushing myself so hard this year (and especially in the Fall ‘24 semester). It was a gentle but needed reminder that taking care of yourself is essential in a world that prioritizes grind culture.

Favorite Movie

Another toughie, but I rewatched a lot of Mattel’s animated Barbie movies, and watching Barbie in the Twelve Dancing Princesses brought back some beautiful memories of watching all the Barbie films during my childhood.

Biggest Lesson Learned

It’s okay not to be alright and to take time for yourself to breathe and grieve. Pushing yourself to “get over” something too early will only lead to a longer and harder recovery.

Podcasts

I used to be into the most depressing, vile, sickening True Crime and American scandal podcasts that would keep me awake at night and completely ruined my trust in people. So, this year, I decided to go a little more light-hearted with Kurtis Conner’s Very Really Good and Lucas & Jacob: The Bro Show. These podcasts were silly, funny, and just what I needed for a pick-me-up.

New Year

With a new year comes lots of new experiences and adventures, and I’m lucky enough to be able to study abroad in Florence, Italy, in Spring ‘25. I’m nervous but also so unbelievably excited, and I can’t wait for all of the new memories I’ll be bringing home with me. Stay tuned for some Florentine updates :)