hello everyone,
i haven’t kept my promise and another month has passed without me posting my reflections on 2023, but here i am now sharing them. last month in the midst of exams i was really looking forward to february - a month dedicated to writing posts and starting working on my thesis.
the post-pandemic years are all blurred together in my memories, sometimes a specific moment comes to mind and i can’t for the life of me recall in which month or year it happened. looking back on my 2023 journal entries i realised a lot has changed. the most important thing i learned from that, and i still can’t believe i’m really saying it, is that change isn’t always a bad thing. for every thing that changes and that you lose, something better will come in its place.
some things i’ve lost:
long-term connections - i grew apart from two childhood friends and even if it was for the better, i still got hurt at first. when you see something that reminds you of them, or some random memory pops into your mind and you’re suddenly hit with the realisation that you’re not talking anymore, it’s not easy but you eventually get over it.
my fear of change
interest for reading - i read just a few books for pleasure, most of them were university ones but for some reason i was never in the mood to sit down and read. this year it’s already going so much better though!
what i’ve found instead:
new friends, both online and in real life
passion for knitting and editing
my love for writing - starting this newsletter meant i had something to look forward to and it’s a safe space that just makes me so happy. it doesn’t feel intimidating to share things on here and even though i hope to make people feel understood and entertained, i’m mostly writing for myself.
a newfound sense of confidence. it feels like i’m becoming myself more and more everyday.
highlights of the year:
my sister’s high school graduation
getting tickets to the eras tour and seeing its movie at the cinema
going dancing with my family on holiday
(virtually) watching a movie with my best friend every sunday / friday
thank you to everyone who made my year better, i appreciate every message, letter, comment, every thing, always. may 2024 be another year of growth and learning, full of love and joy.
happy new year,
from elisa
love you i'm so proud of you <3
so proud of you, and so happy that i got to be by your side to witness this growth first-hand. love you <3