Blissful New 12 months

Blissful New 12 months!

I hope your new 12 months has gone effectively to this point and that 2024 will probably be higher than you possibly can even envision proper now. My holidays and New 12 months have been very quiet and peaceable on the surface, which suggests the noise in my head has been deafeningly loud. The brand new 12 months brings up so many issues: the reflection of the earlier 12 months, the stress of defining what you need in 2024, and weight reduction messaging in all places (heightened considerably this 12 months by injections.) I discovered myself attempting to numb the noise in my head by adorning all of the Christmas bushes and consuming a whole lot of media – social media, podcasts, books, TV, motion pictures… which (no shock) have been solely momentary escapes. Since I did not do a full Christmas decor roundup like previously, I’m going to share some pictures right here earlier than moving into an extended replace.

You may view a video of the vacation home tour on Instagram or TikTok.

Happy New Year 2 — I beloved this bejewled Christmas tree. It was one thing I began final Christmas however I used to be in a position to higher obtain my imaginative and prescient this 12 months with further ribbon and outsized gem ornaments

Happy New Year 4 — This Chinoiserie tree did not change from prior years, however I nonetheless like it simply as a lot

Happy New Year 7 — The magnolia tree is the one which began my tree-mania in my home. It’s a tribute to my mother, who I affiliate with magnolias and who beloved Christmas decorations. She died 16 years in the past and my recollections are fading however they hit in a great way after I get to embellish my home with a lot glitter.

Happy New Year 9 — The animal print tree had just a few new ornaments this 12 months however in any other case remained the identical. It is my husband’s favourite, although fact be informed he does not actually care someway if we’ve got any!

Happy New Year 10 — Generally when individuals see my closely adorned/themed bushes they are saying they might by no means do this as a result of their ornaments are heirlooms and so particular. I agree and have my very own set of these – they’ve their very own tree. That is by far the tree I treasure probably the most – the ornaments have tales behind them and I get to recall the recollections and other people tied to them.

There have been extra bushes, however I feel you get the gist!

Now to deal with the silence: I do not share this as a result of I feel individuals are ready with bated breath for me to place up a brand new weblog submit, however as a result of I have to get this out for myself. I began this weblog virtually 15 years in the past. Nobody knew what a weblog was, Instagram did not exist, and I used to be just a few random 20-something in Kentucky who wished to share some issues on the web in hopes that I would not really feel so alone. I did not filter what I shared. There have been posts about getting zebra-like stripes in a twig tan sales space, the truth that I used to be a fats woman with a little bit automobile, and different random quips and observations. There was additionally a serious weight reduction focus, one thing I let go of a few years in the past as I divested from food regimen tradition. I have been lucky to have so many individuals proceed to care about what I’ve to say for thus lengthy at the same time as I’ve developed as an individual.

With the surge of social media, divided consideration, and content material creation/”influencing” now an enormous business, there’s stress to do extra, produce greater high quality photos or video, combat for eyeballs, “curate” a feed, acquire followers, go viral… and all of it made me doubt myself and what I used to be doing. Each time I felt myself falling into the “my content material is not ok” thought jail, I needed to remind myself of spray tan Zebra stripes and “fats woman in a little bit automobile.” Again then, I used to be being myself irrespective of who paid consideration. My need wasn’t ever to be a “creator,” have probably the most followers, or be probably the most in-demand with manufacturers.

On the opposite aspect of the stress to face out among the many on-line noise is the concern of standing out an excessive amount of. Folks on the web will be so merciless – there is a effective line between reaching individuals who may discover one thing useful about your message and reaching individuals who wish to rip you to shreds. The fats hate is so robust and expertise makes it really easy for individuals to spout off some hateful remark with out regard for who’s on the opposite finish of the display. It is actually gross, and avoidance is one approach to skip all that.

Peloton teacher Christine D’Ercole usually repeats this quote in her lessons: “Probably the most highly effective factor anybody can say to us is what we are saying to ourselves.” The issues I stated to myself in 2023 have been a lot harsher than anybody on the surface may say to me. If a good friend stated this stuff out loud about herself, I could not let it stand.

So in 2024, I am not letting it stand. What mattered 15 years in the past is similar factor that issues right now – that I really feel comfy displaying up totally, authentically, and imperfectly. In doing so, possibly I could make you concentrate on one thing another way, introduce you to a brand new perspective, or make you are feeling seen and fewer alone. Selfishly, I additionally hope that I really feel extra seen and fewer alone. If nothing else, persevering with to share implies that I’ve stayed true to myself and did not self-silence out of concern that somebody may not like what I’ve to say.

Thanks for being right here. ❤️