It’s strange to look back on a decade. I have so many memories etched in my mind and made more memorable and accessible through digital means.
Over the past decade, I have done a lot of observing. Thanks to the Internet, it’s been easier than ever to observe others; to compare ourselves; to see what makes others successful, memorable, or outstanding. Of all the content creators I’ve come across, there is one who I discovered five (!) years ago and hasn’t ceased to amaze me and that is Casey Neistat. I am still so inspired by Casey. Everything from his personality to his work ethic resonates with me. His ability to produce 800 daily vlogs and at such a high production quality is astounding. I think what separates him from all of the many other creators I have followed or observed over this decade of boundless content is that he knows who he is and he’s not trying to prove himself to anyone. And through watching him, I’ve indirectly learned that that in its own is very powerful.
The most enjoyable part of 2019 that immediately comes to mind was going to Greece and back to Paris. I bought the ticket for $450 roundtrip. It was a nonstop trip and I thought that was the best deal EVER. I just found a ticket for $350 roundtrip and am now contemplating booking it…
Speaking of deciding, I’d like to get better at making quick decisions and not worry so much about the outcome. I don’t struggle with this much, but have noticed (particularly in the past weeks) that I have been less decisive than normal. I think there is probably a deeper factor here that has to do with me being in a more contemplative state of mind and reflecting on the past decade, my 20s, etc. In most of the moments I’ve been indecisive, it’s had to do with deciding how to spend time (i.e. what I want to do that day).
Other highlights of the year have been:
Work, which has been very productive and meaningful.
I traveled to San Diego, Atlanta, Palm Springs, Dallas, Las Vegas (on two separate work trips, two weeks in a row), New York for NYFW, Los Angeles, Hawaii, and San Jose to Apple HQ. In mid-November, I spent almost a week in Connecticut, driving ALL over the state in a car that had a broken heater. It was freezing! I also went to Colorado, Salt Lake City, Southern Idaho, and to Chicago twice (and drove to Rockford on both occasions — a place which, on the first occasion, I thought I’d never go back to, and yet was back two months later!). And to Greece, Paris, and technically London, but we just stayed at a hotel by LHR for two nights so we could travel to Paris for a day before flying back home, so don’t think that one counts this time. I am probably forgetting somewhere or other.
I came THIS close to going to Disneyland on three separate occasions. I watched When Harry Met Sally on multiple flights. I also watched The Biggest Little Farm, which is a fantastic documentary that taught me a lot about life. (You should watch it. It’s only $4 on Amazon and SO uplifting and good.)
Some of my most memorable lessons this year were on flights
On one flight, I sat next to someone who literally tried to eat all of my leftovers. It was odd and a test of character and felt like something straight out of a Seinfeld episode. I could feel him wanting to eat what I purchased from the moment I opened it. “Are you done?,” he’d asked after I put my fork down. When the flight attendant handed out the Alaska Gold chocolates, he asked for one too. They declined, but I gave him mine. I am not sure what was going on, but it was an experience in patience.
On another flight, I witnessed a flight attendant handle a situation with so much grace and class: on a flight home from Denver, there way a boy who was probably 8 who had never flown before and refused to board the plane. Every time he neared the door, he screamed. His poor parents were so embarrassed and distressed. The whole thing was delaying the flight and people were getting irritated. His parents would try and try, and he would enter and then turn right back around, shouting. I was sitting in row 6 and could see the whole thing, but many people behind had no idea what was happening and were loudly complaining. In an effort to make him feel comfortable, the flight attendant jumped on the PA and explained what was happening and asked the whole plane to shut the window covers and asked that everyone welcome him with kindness if and when he walked by. The guy sitting behind me then produced $100 to give to the boy, to which someone closer to the front matched, and the boy was presented with $200. It worked like a charm.
I stopped drinking coffee in May 2019. It wasn’t for some grand reason, other than the fact that I realized it seemed to make me anxious and agitated (which was noticeable because I am not an agitated person) and also seemed to cause inflammation. After researching its impact on cortisol, I figured that what I was experiencing was linked to that; that caffeine was too much for my body. I decided to stop drinking it. It wasn’t that difficult and has felt really good. And to put it in context, this is coming from someone who bought a Nespresso last December. I have probably had 8 cups since May, most of which have been light syrup peppermint almond milk lattes or mochas during red cup szn. 🙂
2019 as a year was about simplification and grounding
Years ago, I started this site as a fashion blog with the intent of taking outfit pictures and sharing clothes I loved. At some point halfway through the year, I really stopped caring so much about clothes and brands. Finding new trends is a never-ending cycle, and one that I was more or less done with. I have learned what works for me, what I actually need, and how much more I value everyday workwear basics over cute weekend outfits that end up sitting on hangers. I didn’t need to wear something to prove myself to anyone.
I took a break from Instagram because I really didn’t like the feeling of losing hours of time to something that wasn’t becoming or productive. I think in this day and age, many people will eventually feel this way at some point as they look back on their lives and think about the amount of time they’ve poured into a platform (and that could be Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, Netflix, etc.) that probably takes more than it gives. Though Instagram can be a great source of inspiration, it’s lately felt more like a game where the highest scorers have meticulously developed a fake sense of self, perpetuated by an algorithm that rewards this behavior. This feeling of waste became especially clear to me on two occasions. One was in Santorini where I saw so many girls climb on top of the dome churches for photos; Two was when my mom told me something along the lines of not to waste my 20s on Instagram and that I’d look back and regret it. So while I still enjoy the platform, it’s become much less important to me and I don’t find myself wasting much time on it after work. Nor do I feel a sense of pressure to post or take specific photos of specific events or places. Nothing to prove to an audience. It’s simplified my life. I’m sharing this here not to say I’ve surpassed a phase, but in case you or someone you know needs to hear this message and consider it as well.
Speaking of time, someone documented how they spent every hour of their time in 2019
You can see the chart here.