January 2025
I really liked my idea of recapping each month of the year in 2024, so I want to continue that, but with a twist. As we all know, 2025 is the year of WTF. Because it started on a Wednesday, obviously. Hopefully, it’s not a foreshadowing for a 2020 remix. I don’t think it will be though. We have to stay optimistic and create our own magic. Because this year, we are the magic, baby. So at the end of each month, I will be sharing my wins, takeaways, and failures of the previous 28/30/31 days. Also… can we please start having 13 months of 28 days to go along with the cycle of the moon and just make our lives easier? Thanks. Anyway. January. Let’s go.
Table of Contents
1. Wins
Big / Small Victories: I went on several first dates, putting myself out there and finding out what I like and don’t like. I also submitted several job applications, despite my abhorrence to having a big girl job.
Moments of Joy: *Read Favorite Memory* or hugging my brother for the first time in four months!
Number of Books Read: 2 started, neither completed; 1 audiobook started, not completed
Favorite Quote: “I’m so funny.” - Angela, texting her fourteen boyfriends
Favorite Location: Morocco because I was with my friend Angela from school, whom I hadn’t seen in four years, and her friend Asma, dancing our way through the northern part of the country.
Favorite Meal: Mushroom toast and veggie meatballs because I was surprising my friend Haley after not seeing her for a year and the company was even better than the food.
Favorite Memory: Ahhhh I don’t know! NYE with my friend Tilde in the south of Spain, a Moroccan wedding with Angela, a night bar hopping with my friend Andi in Barcelona, a morning at the spa in Andorra, clubbing with Anthony in Amsterdam, surprising Haley when she didn’t know I was back in the US… too many good memories to choose from.
2. Takeaways
This month, I learned that I need to get over myself about not liking the US so much. I’m doing my best to make the most of it and remain positive. I’ve been PMA-ing the shit out of life recently, and I’m not gonna let a little ‘ole country get the best of me. I’m going to sign up for some group classes, get social, find a job, enjoy time with my family, and not let myself be miserable in the interim.
3. Failures
Expectation: I would secure a visa-sponsored job in Europe.
Reality: No one wants to hire someone with relatively no experience and pay to sponsor her visa.
I decided to take this challenge and cry about it only once… if we’re being honest. I did what I could; I applied to jobs, spoke to contacts I’ve made over the years, and put in my best effort. It just wasn’t meant to be. So now, I’m back with my family for the time being, trying to get myself a job that will pay me anything above minimum wage. I can live cheaply, I proved that to myself last year. I just need to make an income again. If that requires me to be in the US for a few months, so be it. I’ve lived through worse.
4. Was That Fun?
31 days, 744 hours, 44.640 minutes. That’s all we got out of January 2025. Did you make the most of it? Did you create magic? Did you feel all the emotions? Did you do what you set out to do this month? Was That Fun? WTF, friend. I had fun. I also had moments that were not so fun. But I got through them. I made the most of it. I PMA-ed my way out of a mini-existential crisis brewing. I created magic where I didn’t think there could be. So, I feel prepared for February. Let’s do this.
