3 Big Little Thoughts on 2023

2023. Where do I begin? This past year was a mixed bag of emotions, periods of transitions, and discoveries. It witnessed doors closing, windows opening, and many twists and turns. The last year of my 20s was my most unexpected yet - turning everything I thought I knew upside down, but gifting me a blank canvas in the process. Here are 3 of my biggest lessons from a year gone by.

1. Things Don't Always Go According to Plan, And That's Okay

Lisbon, April 2023

I quit my job in the 3rd month of the new year. Looking back, it was the scariest, and bravest decision I've made in recent years. I put my mental health above my career and took a giant leap of faith. I traveled, switched off completely, and started to think about what really mattered to me. What I didn't expect? Navigating a job market that was more challenging than anything I've ever experienced, and more uncertainty than I had signed up for. I had to find a sense of resilience I didn’t know I was capable of. Thankfully, I found it. As someone who always prides myself on planning ahead and knowing what my next move is, this year taught me that there is very little that is actually in our control. I had to simply learn to surrender, and trust that it's all part of something bigger (as my mum often likes to remind me). Things don't always go according to plan, and that's okay.

2. We’re Human Beings, Not Humans Doing

Artwork, August 2023

Over the past 8 months, I’ve had the opportunity to reframe and unlearn many old narratives about myself and my worldview. A big one was equating my self-worth with productivity and career achievements. In a world that constantly reinforces this, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the more productive you are, the more valuable you are, and I for one didn’t realise how deeply ingrained this was for me. We forget that we are human beings, not humans doing. This year, I learned to just BE. I spent time building my yoga practice, writing music, and developing my personal brand. Each one brought me a sense of joy and fulfilment that I had been longing for, but never prioritised. I read something recently that struck a chord with me “Whether you think you should be doing, completing, or achieving more, remember this: if all you do in this life is stay true to yourself, create meaningful connections, and cultivate your unique gifts, you’re doing much more than you realise.”

3. Everyone is Connected In More Ways Than We Think

Cologne Christmas Markets, November 2023

Over the course of the year, I’ve been fortunate to have had honest and vulnerable conversations with friends, strangers, and former colleagues. It’s often happened instantaneously when I’ve shared my experience about something, that someone often responds with ‘I’ve experienced this too!’. While this has given me a sense of reassurance, it’s also made me wonder why we don’t lean into our shared human experiences more often - both personally and professionally. The world is changing at a dizzying rate, and it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with it. Feeling connected and supported in our mutual experiences is an integral part of our existence, but somehow, we're always hesitant to take the first step towards it. Everyone is connected in more ways than we think, and together we can find strategies to cope with whatever comes our way.

I’ll end by wishing you a beautiful holiday season filled with the things that matter most to you. May we wrap up the gift of another year by looking back not just at what we have achieved, but at the experiences that have shaped us, deepened our worldview, and allowed us to tap into our gifts and capabilities.

Good, bad, and everything in between, it’s all part of the journey. Thankfully, we have another 365 days to continue writing it.