December 2024
This month was full of traveling to new places but also staying still for a while, meeting new people, and spending more time with old friends. It wasn’t the easiest spending the holiday season, mostly solitary, but I was able to learn a lot about myself and my priorities. I did end the year with my favorite “Half Pint” though, which made up for a lot. So, shall we?
Table of Contents
1.Recap | 2.Lessons | 3.Challenge | 4.Summary
1. Recap
After Tilde and I went to visit her cousin halfway up in Sweden, we stopped by Stockholm for a couple of days. We both determined we could see ourselves living there… which may or may not have been influenced by the Bar Nordic we came across. Afterward, we spent another few days back in Gothenburg before making a trip to Copenhagen. The “other country,” according to my little Swede. With her, we: almost got lost in the Swedish forest, forged wood in the cold and dark night, went to a Christmas flower market, played board games, went shopping (a lot), got invited to watch a Parliament session, discussed the specifics over our fictional shared-custody dog, baked and burned cookies, started knitting a scarf, went to over six Christmas markets, got day tipsy, and had lots of delicious meals together. But eventually, I went Netherlands-bound again for some house and cat sitting. I did end up going to Amerstdam for an afternoon and watching a Christmas candlelight string quartet concert which was beautiful. Then I spent Second Christmas with my friend Myrthe and her family in a new Dutch city (for me). I spent a lot of time alone this month, which was difficult but also needed, I feel. The last several days of the year I met up with Tilde again, but this time in Spain. Beach walks, winery tastings, city exploring, poker nights with her family, and NYE event in the square. We wore red underwear, ate 12 grapes, and drank a lottttt of cava.
2. Lessons
Something that really solidified for me this month was my need for routine AND spontaneity. My time house and pet sitting showed me that I really do thrive with a schedule. Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, have breakfast, exercise, and stretch, set time aside for work, set time aside for socializing, have a routine… BUT. I also need to do random things I didn’t expect to do when I woke up. It doesn’t have to be every day necessarily, but every week at least. I need both worlds. I need to have a plan, but plan time to go against the plan too.
3. Challenge
I did accomplish several things that were on my to-do list this month like I set out to do. I didn’t complete all of them, but many. And that’s a win in my book. So starting January, for the New Year, my first challenge is to simply settle into whatever my life looks like. I am still unsure where I will be for the beginning part of the year, so I will give myself time to figure that out and simply get comfortable there. That’s all I ask of myself.
4. Summary
I cannot believe 2024 is over. This has been one wild year. I would do it over and over again. This month, particularly, was full of smiles, laughter, broken hearts, and tears. All the emotions were felt while ending this year. I spent time with friends, time alone, time in new places, time in familiar places. I learned about my need for the polar opposites. And I successfully did what I set out to do this month. What a December. Thank you, 2024 and all the adventures and people a part of it. I’ll see ya next year!
