A 2024 Digest 🗓️
Impressions and thoughts about the last year.
I could write about how Autumn is my favourite season, but let’s be honest: it’s already nearly done. And this Fall has been a warm one. I’m not fond of warm temperatures, but it makes for beautiful walks under colourful trees.
But this is not about leaves changing, the recent elections in the US, or anything that has occurred lately. Because a lot has happened, but this isn’t about that.
It’s about absolutely nothing. Other than some thoughts and recollections of the past year. I probably won’t write in December. Not because I don’t want you, but because my energy has been low lately, and I’m trying to focus on my next big project.
Let’s start with this. 2024 wasn’t it.
It really wasn’t. I took time to read my little recap for 2023 — 2023 was a burnout year, a neutral year. I followed up by reading my 2022 recap—the year of listing my accomplishments because I don’t necessarily see them. — and that was underwhelming. Then… well, you can see the pattern; I read them all.
2021 was the year I met my partner and settled into my journalism career.
2020 was… well, the pandemic. I didn’t go to Ireland, but I started writing professionally!
2019 was deemed worthy of being declared a great year.
2018 was my first actual first year as a single woman.
2017 was the year of my major breakup — that looked like a nasty divorce.
Yadda yadda yadda… they all sound the same. But for 2019. In 2019, I was maybe at my happiest. I had big plans for my thirties that all came to a halt in 2020, and since then… well, it’s been a succession of years that are good, but not this good.
But for the first time, I can say with certainty and confidence that 2024 was a bad year.
Friendship breakups, losing a complete summer, losing myself, the meltdown, the sadness, feeling my world slipping under my feet… Yikes. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
But 2024 was also good for me. I had to think about it for a moment, but I found many tiny moments that significantly improved the year.
Vermont day trips
Meeting Brioche, my friend Gaby’s dog
Friends who came over just for a chat
Reading on my sofa
Seeing Noah Kahan TWICE
Heather O’Neill called me one of her peers
Getting published in a book
New York twice (!!!!!!) in a year — and one of these two times was with friends
London (!!!!!) with friends
Shrooms and getting high with friends
Meeting new people, making new friends
Choosing my partner again and again
Taking the path of radical acceptance
(What is radical acceptance? As defined by the Dialectal Behaviour Therapy (DBT) website, [...] Radical acceptance means fully accepting our reality and letting go of the bitterness. It refers to realizing that fighting what is already happening just leads to more pain.)
I often find myself reminiscing about 2019, a truly magical year for me. My longing to return to that pre-pandemic version of myself was a form of denial. I had to accept that I had evolved as a person and an adult. But now, I had to accept who I am radically. Completely. This realization was the basis of intense personal growth.
I talked about containing layers and being made of multitudes. I am a woman of multitudes. I’m made of layers all so complex and beautiful. So, I decided to give this title to 2024, a year not defined by a single narrative or emotion but rather a collection of diverse experiences and feelings.
2024, A Year of Multitudes.
Things I liked in 2024
Even if I undeniably want to throw 2024 à la poubelle, some things were pretty good this year.
Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo — Y’all know how I love Sally Rooney. This one is her best—a gem of a novel.
London’s markets — Mostly Broadway. I loved Broadway Market and London Fields. Sue me.
London’s Hackney Borough — A cliché for this Montréalaise.
Daunt Books — HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
Brooklyn’s Bushwick — I’m late to the trend, but graffiti! Punk vibes! Locals!
Books Are Magic — Emma Straub’s bookstore is adorable.
Goods For The Study — My eyes watered when I saw all the pens and notebooks.
Dolly Alderton — my kind of woman, the kind of woman I want to hang out with everyday
Book launches — I love them, and I want to go to more of them
Anissa Riviere’s artwork — I fell on one of her prints at Ex Voto and held on to it. It was love at first sight.
Tote bags — I barely buy handbags anymore. I transport my life in canvas tote bags. I still want an Olend bag.
Twinning’s Earl Grey Creamy Vanilla — I won’t pay for overpriced tea if the best is from the grocery store.
Ded Cool Xtra Milk Fragrance — White musk, Amber, Bergamot. Three notes. Powerful.
The return of the sensitive folksy man — Noah Kahan, Hozier, Field Guide can save my soul anytime.
Celebrities Lookalike Contests — They make my day better.
Spinning — it’s been hard getting back to it since the depression, but I found my fitness thing, and it’s spinning. I cannot wait for my energy to increase so I can go again.
Écrire en français — oui, j’aime écrire en français. et ça risque d’avoir un petit impact sur cette infolettre en 2025. more to come soon.
What do I wish for 2025
I end up often thinking about what I wish myself for 2025.
I wish myself absolutely nothing. I want to let go of the pain and sorrow others have caused. I want to go with the flow and waves of things. I hope to embrace the woman I’ve become.
I wish for radical acceptance. I wish for multitudes. I wish understanding and love.
I wish for more New York (which will happen again in February), more Noah Kahan, more Bon Iver, more Vermont day trips, more tattoos, more music, more great reads, more love, more friends, more family, more moments at home.
I wish to write about music again. Writing features and reviews. Slowly, at my pace.
I wish to discuss my readings and favourite novels openly through my socials.
I wish to put my writing forward without being ashamed of what I write.
I wish to listen to myself, my energy, and my needs and not be as exhausted as I am now.
I wish you, dear reader, a beautiful end to 2024. I hope you found yourself through the year, which was difficult for many.
May 2025 opens up new doors of opportunity, more meet-cutes, and more little moments that improve a year.
And if I don’t write before the end of 2024, well, I’ll see you next year.
À la prochaine!