2023
2023 was yet another year of serious illness for me and my loved ones. But I will not let it be defined by heartbreak or disappointment or fear for my life. I cannot. Because it was so much more. It always is, and thank goodness for that. I have not only survived another year, I have, albeit reluctantly, thrived. This was the year I created my own website, reaching thousands of vulnerable people across the world, and all because of the support from this very communi-tea. This was the year of Poetry Orchard, creating writing workshops with two of the best people I have ever had the pleasure to know, and meeting incredible writers. This was the year my brother got married and I became an aunt! The memories I have made with my family are ones I will treasure forever.
2023 was deceptive. It threw my worst fears at me and laughed, but now I think I see the funny side.
Because 2023 was also the year of… ‘Everything, Everywhere, All At Once’, the Barbie movie, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Anne of Green Gables, Heartstopper, and Percy Jackson. If you are going to have a difficult time, art is what you need to get through it. Art is how we cope: creation and consumption. Making stories to tell each other ‘Hey, I survived this. I believe you will too.’
Here’s how I survived! My 2023 in review:
Products for Chronic Pain and Mental Health I have used this year (I earn a small commission if you buy using this link!)
Highlights of 2023
Trying new food with family for my birthday in Portugal
Making new friends and spending time with family
Being carried down to the beach on a blanket “stretcher”
Late night philosophical conversations with dear friends
Moving into my bedroom after many years without one!
I’m proud of…
Surviving another operation
Healing my broken heart
Respecting my own boundaries
Resting when I need to (most of the time!)
📚 My year in Books
John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars
Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle Series
Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games Series
L.M Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables Series
Caitlin Conlon’s The Surrendor Theory
Alice Oseman’s Loveless
V.E Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Let's be friends on StoryGraph! (The non-amazon Goodreads!)
🎶 My year in Music
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) - Taylor Swift
1989 (Taylor’s Version) - Taylor Swift
emails i can’t send fwd - Sabrina Carpenter
Subtract - Ed Sheeran
The Good Witch - Maisie Peters
Good Riddance - Gracie Abrams
GUTS - Olivia Rodrigo
The Heartstopper Season 2 Soundtrack
Stick Season - Noah Khan
🍿 My year in Film + TV
Barbie
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once
Elemental
Dave
Anne of Green Gables
Porco Rosso
Whisper of the Heart
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Percy Jackson, Scrubs on Disney+
Ghosts, Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer
Heartstopper, Sex Education, Anne with an E, on Netflix
🎲 My year in Games
Carcassonne
Sushi Go
Herbaceous
Unstable Unicorns
Dungeons and Dragons
Stardew Valley
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
