What a year
Bell and I went on a date yesterday and the theme of the date was to reflect on 2024. It was quite a hard year for each of us as individuals and as partners. But it was also a very meaningful, interesting year of growth and experiences. I won't be able to capture it all here as I'm quite tired today and just committed to writing for a few minutes, but here's some things that happened in 2024:
- I quit my job, ending in June, after nearly four years with the organization. End of an era!
- Bell quit their job, ending (early next year) and moving into freelancing consulting.
- I started making cards, oh my god, rediscovering creativity has been incredible.
- I de-escalated with M. in the summer, and now we have a platonic connection.
- I clarified that I'll be focusing now on animal advocacy, after working across several causes for the last four years.
- Bell lived their first year as a trans person.
- The latter half of the year, bell and I slowly but surely reconnected on a deep level.
- I stumbled upon fundraising as a career focus that I'm very unexpectedly excited about.
- My parents sold their house and are moving for the first time in 36 years.
- I ran my first trail ultra.
- I stumbled upon the most wonderful running coach, yay.
- I leaned into a few special relationships I have here in my community, and focused on saying no to other opportunities for connections with new people.
- Bell and I both started to get involved with local community volunteering, but especially bell.
- Bell and I lived in Nairobi for a few months earlier this year, reconnecting with a few friends, seeing bell's mum, and spending a few leisurely weeks lakeside at Naivasha.
- I got to do a site visit (while in Nairobi) with GiveDirectly--wow!
- I visited London in May, seeing friends and attending a conference.
- Bell and I went to the Okanagan in late summer, and then to southern Utah in the fall, two incredible road trips--the one to the US was particularly interesting and special, despite having anxiety dialled up as a trans person.
- If that wasn't enough, bell and I also went to
- I leaned into more actively planning our (bell / mine) financial life.
- I had a wonderful friend visit with V.
- I found THE BEST vegan apple crisp recipe.
- I started volunteering in animal advocacy.
- I started a new blog (this one) and started writing again, even though it's just these extremely rough and quickly written posts.
- I found a wonderful new therapist, and bell found daily accountability coaching, both have been very helpful.
- I participated in my first direct action.
- I started reading books again.
- I got a postcard from Timbuktu!!!!!
I'm sure I'm missing so, so much here. I was honestly shocked when I looked at everything that's happened in 2024. A year can hold a lot. I would like to remember this on a day to day basis when I beat myself up for sleeping in an extra hour. Small, consistent efforts on all or most days can lead to some incredible progress over the course of a year.
The spirit of the reflection date was to celebrate, while avoiding toxic positivity. In 2024 there were abundant hard moments for each of us. Just speaking for myself, there were tears, rage, sadness, fear, depression, and so many mistakes made. And that's aside from all the horrible things that are going on in the world right now.
We don't go through life alone. I am struck by the generosity, kindness, forgiveness, openness that I was gifted from so many folks in my personal and professional lives. This year I felt quite supported and connected, overall. And I saw real progress in how authentically and wisely I am able to show up in some of my interactions with others.