2023 Reflections and Hopes for 2024

As I look back on 2023, I definitely see it as a growth year for me. I put a lot of emphasis on trying to live by my 2023 yearly theme of “confidence”. I think I did really well and I’m happy that I pushed myself hard to learn to be a bit more independent. I don’t think I would have been able to truly live up to my theme this year if it wasn’t for this amazing city. I love living in NYC. From it’s amazing food, culture, arts, history, and more. I’m not sure that I’ll be able to leave New York ever again. In the 6ish years I’ve lived here, it’s absolutely become home. It’s a strange yet wonderful feeling in a city of 8+ million people to walk in to a bar where everyone knows your name. From strangers in to friends with a simple hello. This city will always amaze me.

To everyone in my life, old and new, I thank you for being a part of my 2023 and the memories we made this year.

Looking ahead to 2024, I am optimistic. There are a lot of things to look forward to and I’m excited to see what adventures await in the new year. My 2024 yearly theme is “consistency” which I think is fitting as I come off of a year of confidence building. I want to make it stick, and I know I have a long way to go, but consistency is what I’ll strive to hold up and exude that confidence I worked hard to build in 2023.

So, what do I wish for 2024? There are a lot of practical things I’m striving for (like selling the beach house). But I think it’s the intangible things that I’m looking forward to the most.

• Building a stronger foundation with friends and creating memories to last a lifetime. Having that support system, love, and grounding in a city so big is so comforting. 
• Learning a new language and finding connection through different cultures. 
• Contributing and giving back to the city somehow, whether it’s through volunteering or the arts. There are lots of opportunities. 
• Pursuing more of my hobbies.
• Continuing to build a better version of myself.

There are a million things that I want to do, but I’ll never know my successes or failures if I never start them. I want to paint more. Continue learning Korean. Pick back up on that novel I started writing in early 2023. Get involved with the arts. Volunteer in the city. Make that podcast I’ve been ideating upon. Travel, travel, and travel.

So, let’s find “consistency” this year and live up to that theme. Let’s be consistently happy or proud of ourselves for just trying something new. I always say “it never hurts to ask” so why not apply that to myself.

Cheers to 2024 and the joys and adventures that I am optimistic it will bring with this new year.