February 2024
Last month, I decided to recount each month of this year. In doing so, I hope to notice patterns, self-correct when needed, and immortalize my memories on this digital piece of paper. We only get twenty-four hours every day, which isn't that much in the grand scheme of things, especially when you consider the larger-than-life experiences we wish to have. But here I am, two-thirds of the way to making a new lifestyle (it takes ninety days for that, and only twenty-one to form a habit), in which I take a moment of pause and reflect on the previous 28-31 days of my life. Before you continue reading, I want you to think of the top three challenging things that occurred this month, then the top three experiences that brought you joy, how to have fewer challenges next month, and more joyful moments. Done? Okay, carry on.
Table of Contents
1.Recap | 2.Lessons | 3.Challenge | 4.Summary
1. Recap
The Sparknotes version of my February 2024 goes as follows. I started this month by confirming the first month of my next adventure (can you guess what it is?), and I’m super stoked about it! Then, one of my doctors informed me that an invisible illness I was diagnosed with seven years ago is no longer a concern… WOOHOO!!! Immediately after that news, I went hiking with an old friend. Although, I lost the receiver to a new personal microphone set… boo. I went with the same friend on an adventure to get him a couple of new tattoos, which turned into an all-day event, but it was fun to hang out. The next day, my family toured a $4M+ aircraft, which we were all drooling over and fantasizing about taking it down south for some warm water. Safe to say, that won’t be happening any time soon. But a family can dream. Fast forward a few days, I saw Argyle with my dad at the theatre… interesting, to say the least. Then, a few days later, I had a girls’ spa day with my mom and a sweet friend who came to visit. A couple of days after that, I had an ashiatsu massage, and I can say, without a doubt, it gets better every time. Then, towards the end of the week, I had a mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment. I’m not diving, so it wasn’t for DCS! Just to see if it would help with some headaches and improve my sleep. The jury’s still out, but it was only one treatment, so hard to say. On the weekend, my family went to surprise my grandfather for his eightieth birthday and enjoyed some family time and a beautiful hike to a very cold waterfall. The moments I’ve probably enjoyed most, though, are the family game nights we’ve had after almost every dinner this month. Itchy Feet is our fam fave, and we highly recommend you get it too. I also read a whopping seven books and listened to two more on audio. Not sure if I take pride in this yet, but I’m beginning to enjoy reading. So weird. There’s my leap-year February in condensed notes.
2. Lessons
This month, through all of my reading and introspection, the biggest takeaway is this: I want to find my next ikigai, my reason for living, learn how to have productive and fruitful interactions with everyone I meet, and help teach the world something that I can offer. Scuba taught me that I love teaching. Yes, I realize the irony in that sentence. But I do, I love sharing my knowledge. So this year, I plan on finding my next “lesson plan,” so to speak, to share with the world. The first step to finding that out will be finding a genuine interest in everyone I interact with and learning from them. If I can determine what more I have to learn myself, perhaps I can articulate what I already have a substantial amount of knowledge on, and grow from there. I have a feeling this year will be more full of lessons than last year, and last year, I felt bombarded. But it’s all about perspective. And the fact that I still can learn and want to learn is a blessing in itself.
3. Challenge
This month, I tried to listen more, observe and analyze everything around me, and think before I speak or act. I’ve always been more on the reserved side, but we have two ears and only one mouth for a reason. I want to teach people, but my peers still teach me so much on a daily basis. It would be arrogant of me not to think I have more to learn from them. To further that journey of learning from others, I read an astounding (for me) number of books this month. Next month, I will start to prepare the way in which I will interact with people this year. Finding a way to communicate with, question, be lovingly criticized by, and learn from the humans I bump into on this planet. “Well organized is half the battle,” or so they say.
4. Summary
If you made it this far, thank you, seriously. These monthly synopses are more for me than for anyone else. But, if it can help you in some way, then I have fulfilled the purpose of posting them online instead of keeping them in my private journal. Maybe I even inspire you to do something similar so that you can take account of the beautiful life we are all living. February, fittingly with Valentine’s in it, was full of love and time with family. Just as it should be. Thank you, February. Here’s to March.
