48 things that made my 2024

I went through last year’s journals and pulled out the most important lessons, experiences, and things I was grateful for.

1. Not coming to the journal with any emotional turmoil stories in weeks. “Things are going well as they’ve ever gone, from the standpoint of going." At the beginning of ‘24, it was a tool for working through trauma and grief. By the end, it remained that, but also a way to document ideas, ground my days with interstitial journaling, and more.
2. My health. Stretching without pain and feeling sharp in mind.
3. Letting go of the need to know what some folks are thinking. Saved myself the stress and the strain.
4. Making trips. Seeing family and touching grass.
5. Being in a position to support people in my life with my expertise: photography, personal finance, etc.
6. Support like you wouldn’t believe in my time of need from my friend, Jamie.
7. Taking my ball and going home twice. Might’ve saved myself the cortisol and a couple headaches.
8. Having the freedom to walk around in areas where I’m staying, especially when away from home.
9. How tunes, uniform, and a time maketh a routine.
10. Algerian woman telling me I was too stylish to be from San Francisco in the Papusa restaurant post-club in July. Top 5 stranger conversation.
11. Resolving to touch grass monthly.
12. Resolving to keep the eye mask in the carry-on. Rather get caught with it than without it.
13. Resolving to skip (short) connections on (international) flights. My bag got ‘misplaced’ the first day in Colombia because it missed a short connection. But also, challenges can make the trip. Losing that luggage was a welcome challenge that tested my resiliency and patience, but got me my favorite linen pants–thank you, Delta. Some of my richest experiences out of town come from travel mishaps.
14. Resolving to do most of my shopping on Sundays. I lost many a day to scrolling through sales and contemplating purchases.
15. Resolving to be careful about what I start the day doing. Fresh air first, screen time last.
16. Resolving to get to bed tired.
17. Enduring a relational disaster with a close friend in June.
18. Learning that being outside don’t cost a thin dime.
19. Learning that if I eat the 2 hash browns and shake for breakfast, I won’t be hungry for lunch.
20. Learning that putting water on my body is automatic. Whether it was washing the loss off when my brother moved out or generating some momentum for the day, taking a shower as a way of resetting proved to be the move throughout the year.
21. Resolving to not get buck with customer service again. What do I look like arguing with folks who are just trying to put food on the table? When in doubt, and when applicable, report the charge as fraud.
22. Learning that the mission always comes first (said of travel).
23. Learning that I shouldn't go a day without working my day job, my craft, or my purpose. There was a day in Oslo that I felt a tug of discontent, but I moved the needle towards fulfillment by sitting down and writing.
24. Adding ‘create something’ to the daily habit list.
25. Learning that short-term car rentals aren’t as expensive as I thought.
26. That cherry mint limeade with the crushed ice and the spritz in Colombia.
27. Watching and finishing Samurai Jack. The most powerful cartoon I’ve seen.
28. Developing tools and lexicon from the show Samurai Jack, film Northman, and experience breathing water in Truckee River to stop hating.
29. Picking up the camera after Ping Tom games, instead of stewing. I used to be upset after a loss and now I go make images.
30. Healthy amount of relational separations.
31. Shaking off malaise and hate too.
32. Retreating in Poynette in the spring.
33. Unintentionally trail running the Devil’s Lake loop (The Hike Eternal) in April. Definitely went up a level on the outdoor game.
34. “Studying Abroad” in Oakland in October.
35. Beating Gears of War with Kev. Smoking those bugs.
36. Getting back to wearing my retainers.
37. Getting back to sewing in August.
38. Starting to wear a bike helmet—sometimes. Or is it getting back to? Can’t remember the last time I wore one before last year.
39. Getting back to spinning.
40. Backpacking for the first time in May.
41. Talking with friends on the game for the first time.
42. Starting to make hoop images.
43. Hosting in Chicago for the first time in September.
44. Bouldering for the first time.
45. Skiing for the first time. In January, I journaled about skiing in Wisconsin. 11 months later, and forgetting I’d thought about it before, I made it happen.
46. Going to Soul Full for the first time in September.
47. Hosting Craft Tuesdays and hitting open decks on Thursdays. In January, I was writing about going to a creative third space on Fridays. By the end of the year, I was making and participating in these spaces.
48. Getting off my phone. Can’t find screen time from back then, but I’m down and more importantly have guard rails in place to prevent me from using the phone in ways that aren’t aligned with my values.