2024 reflection
From Steph Ango, shared by a dear friend.
What did you do this year that you’d never done before?
I learned how to slide while downhill skating and also learned how to free skate.
Did you keep your new year’s resolutions?
Some of them — I hit a lot of skating milestones in both skill and distance. I sewed a lot of bags. I read a lot but not the books I originally intended to, but that’s okay. I was decent about journaling but didn’t blog as much as I would’ve liked.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! It was the first occasion of a close friend giving birth, and I also got to attend her baby shower in Boston, which was fun.
Did anyone close to you die?
Gratefully, no.
What cities/states/countries did you visit?
Ireland (Dublin), UK (Belfast, London), Germany (Munich, Berlin), Canada (Vancouver, Banff/Jasper), Boston, New York, Arlington, Seattle
What would you like to have next year that you lacked this year?
A more specific sense of purpose in my work.
What date(s) from this year will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 11th, 2024 — our wedding day! Definitely the most fun day of the year.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Lots of small milestones in my own learning and personal growth. Not sure if I have anything I’d consider the biggest achievement — maybe getting over the intimidation of skateparks and actually sort of being able to ride in a bowl / pump track.
What was your biggest failure?
There’s nothing that immediately comes to mind, but that makes me think I should be trying more things to potentially fail at.
What other hardships did you face?
Nothing particular notable this year.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got sick more than I typically do. I started the year with COVID (first timer) which was way rougher than I expected. I got food poisoning on our honeymoon.
What was the best thing you bought?
I bought my childhood dream film camera, which I took on our honeymoon and had the absolute best time shooting with.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Max is my life anchor — his kindness and thoughtfulness will never cease to amaze me. I am very lucky.
Whose behavior made you appalled?
I honestly just don’t think I spend any time with people whose behavior could appall me. Maybe the number of times people got road rage around me for no reason.
Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage. Wedding. Honeymoon. And a good chunk to skateboards and cameras.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I really enjoyed making our honeymoon vlog and piecing all of the clips together. I want to do more vlogs, but I also don’t want to become a “vlogger”. But I also was very excited to get back all the film photos from the honeymoon. I absolutely love shooting in the Canadian Rockies.
What song will always remind you of this year?
Tsunami by NIKI
Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter? Richer or poorer?
I am happier (I think my happiness levels have just been on a general upward trend for the last couple of years), thinner (skating is just good consistent form of cardio for me), and maybe slightly richer (because saving).
What do you wish you’d done more of?
More time with friends and making new ones.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Fewer ADHD fixations on things that ultimately didn’t matter.
How are you spending the holidays?
With family, as always.
Did you fall in love this year?
I am continuously falling in love.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not anyone personally.
What was your favorite show?
I honestly don’t think I watched a single show this year.
What was the best book you read?
I really enjoyed Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future.
What was your greatest musical discovery of the year?
I can’t say it was my most musically exploratory year, but Gallant’s new album was definitely on repeat.
What was your favorite film?
The Wild Robot made me cry a lot. In a nice way.
What was your favorite meal?
I had so much delicious food this year, but have really enjoyed home cooking! Dry pot cauliflower, vinegar napa cabbage, tomato egg, scallion oil noodles, and steamed eggplant are regular favorites.
What did you want and get?
A satisfying mechanical keyboard.
What did you want and not get?
A dog, but that’s happening soon!
What did you do on your birthday?
I had a lowkey birthday — Max attempted (and mostly succeeded) in cooking me a nice dinner.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less political polarization. More empathy in the world.
How would you describe your personal fashion this year?
Steady — I feel like I’ve refined my wardrobe where I am happy with most things and how they work together. It helps that I rarely ever need to dress up. But I feel like I have things that are utilitarian, comfortable, natural, occasionally feminine although mostly not very. I also learned a lot about color palettes and what colors are most flattering to my skin tone. I always feel like me, which I can’t say I’ve always felt in previous years.
What kept you sane?
Max, my stuffed animals, sewing, skating, cooking, snacking, friends, and family.
Which celebrity/public figure did you admire the most?
I try not to admire people I do not know personally.
What political issue stirred you the most?
The Election, definitely.
Who did you miss?
Friends who don’t live nearby. Brother.
Who was the best new person you met?
I’ve made a couple of great friends through Citizens Climate Lobby this year.
What valuable life lesson did you learn this year?
Not a new one, but I very much felt the impact of “How you spend your days is how you spent your life”. I felt very validated with the skate progress I’ve made over the course of the year. Even if it’s just 5-10 minutes some days, I genuinely feel very comfortable on a board now and am able to relax while riding in a way I never previously thought possible.
What is a quote that sums up your year?
“Any day spent with you is my favorite day. So today is my new favorite day.” - Winnie the Pooh
