2022 in Review
I’m not one prone to reflection, remembering and looking back. But I’ve found a nice rhythm of asking myself questions at the end of the year and I’m sharing the highlights here. I also asked folks on Instagram these questions, and am sharing a few of their answers below mine; I also added some thoughts/comments to their responses in parentheses.
I’d love to hear from you too! So drop a note in the comments with any of your responses to the following prompts.
Books I’m Glad I Read in 2022
(I have a newsletter devoted to books coming later this week)
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Anxious People by Frederick Backman
In Good Time by Jen Pollock Michel
Matrix by Lauren Groff
This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson
The Winners by Frederick Backman
Born Again This Way by Rachel Gilson
From Instagram….
Katie: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy
Hillary: Private Way by Ladette Randolph
Jana: Forgive by Tim Keller
Newsletters I Read Consistently Throughout the Year
The Dispatch from the fine folks at The Dispatch
The Morning from The New York Times
The Swipe Up from the Internet’s beloved Erin Moon.
From Instagram….
Ariel: Honestly (now Free Press) by Bari Weiss (I read this on and off!)
Andrea + Jenilyn: Post Script by Jen Michel (of course I love this one!)
Jenilyn: *Some Assembly Required Jon Inazu
TV Shows That Brought Me Joy
The Chosen
Derry Girls
Only Murders in the Building
Stranger Things
From Instagram…
Andrea and Hillary: Bad Sisters (I’m bingeing this show this week with Mike!)
Katy: Shetland
Kristen: Andor
Kelsey: All Creatures Great and Small
Something that Surprised Me
The joy of not rushing to the next thing and letting my right now life be enough right now. 2021 wore me down and out, so I just decided to let 2022 be and see what happened and not make effort to move to the next thing in life. This is not my inclination… I put a lot of stock in movement and even change for the sake of change.
But this year, when I found myself getting antsy in life or feeling compelled to seek out something bigger or different or seemingly better than what I have, I would repeat the mantra “it is enough” inspired by Matthew 10:24-25.
This habit of cultivating an “enough” attitude taught me much about contentment and “all that feeds my busy pride.” I had time to read, and dream, and pray. I’m closing the year not certain what this next year will hold but with a clearer vision rooted in contentment of what I/my family feel called to.
From Instagram…
Lindsay: The depth of grief after a close friend’s death + the love deepened for her family
Mary: made a new friend at a conference (that friend is me! Mary is one of my friends mentioned below)
Linda: I had more capacity for change than I thought had left in me this year
Brooklynne: How hard it is to be a working mom post pandemic
Chelsea: How I enjoy being a mother.
Emily: how many people I knew with the same big questions and doubts as myself.
(I love that Emily shared this because it highlighted something I’ve learned the past few years… questions and doubt grappled with in isolation can wreck the worst sort of turning in on oneself.)
Discoveries
I’m learned/am learning how to set myself up for success with budgeting.
From Instagram…
Anna: Fantasy novels (always here for reading for delight)
Kristen: Roasted red pepper hummus and naan… I know I’m behind the times! (this is a good reminder for me!!)
Katy: Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. Wow! (currently listening to this… loving it.)
Little Delights
Hot tea in the winter and homemade cold brew and simple syrup in the summer.
ASMR rooms for reading.
Building my Spotify playlists
From Instagram…
Lindsay: Sunday pm manicures at home with Olive and June polish while listening to an audiobook/podcast. (I might need to adopt this!)
Sarah: little moments with my toddler goddaughter. Watching her discover new things. (This is one of the joys of small people in our lives. Makes me think of this Instagram post)
Kristen: taking a baby and toddler on a cruise. Not as bad as I thought it would be!
Courtney: flying/traveling/vacationing with a 1 year old was better than expected
(I LOVE the two kids + travel posts!)
Something I’m Proud of Looking Back on the Year
Saying yes. In times of stress, I can quickly close myself out of a sense of self-preservation. I fear losing my resources (time, energy, emotions, etc.) and an easy way to preserve those resources is to keep other people at a distance. Sometimes, that’s needed to survive a hard season, but I can too easily make it a habit, and that habit has yielded bad fruit in my life.
In an effort to grow and change, I decided that this year I would “say yes to fun and others when it makes sense.” My Jazzercise studio is having a party after class and I’m free? Sure! A new friend offered to share a hotel room for a conference? Yes! Another friend offered to Zoom with me to help me process a few things on the work front? Please!
There were many, many “nos” this year too, but more times than not, those nos came from a place of humbly embracing my limits or thoughtful boundaries instead of self-protection.
From Instagram…
somehow, I lost folks’ answers to this question, so you’re stuck with my reflections.
Words That I Will Take With Me
“A flexible heart is a discerning heart.” —Ronald Rolheiser
“The teacher is here and is calling for you.” —Martha of Bethany to her sister, Mary. These words have guided me vocationally and relationally this year and make me thankful for the witness of Martha in the gospels.
“To whom will we go?” —Peter, to Jesus. I recently watched a YouTube video about prayer, and the speaker pointed out that God can heal with questions instead of answers. That’s the gift of Peter’s question in my life. In the midst of anger, doubt, grief and confusion over matters of faith and life, this question in one form or another, rises to the surface and steadies and sustains me.
From Instagram…
Andrea: “To this I hold / my hope is only Jesus / for my life / is wholly bound to his.”
Kristen: Run the mile you’re in. (this makes me think of my favorite Bluey episode!)
Linda: Abide
Courtney: Intentional. Space. Slow.
Something I Want To Learn
My sewing machine
The practice of keeping a Commonplace notebook
More about budgeting and growing in that area of my life
From Instagram…
Lindsay: I need to learn a good plan for housekeeping/cleaning so it doesn’t dominate my weekends.
Martha: Embracing what’s available.
Katy: Needlepoint
Emily: Foraging! Specifically the wolf berries and mushrooms w/in walking distance
Songs I played on repeat.
First off, the best idea Disney had was working with Lin Manuel Miranda to create stories and music for all of those kids of the millennials who love Hamilton. That said, I listened to A LOT of Moana and Encanto and I’m not sad. I’d say it’s because of my kids, but when I was on a solo trip this fall and popped on the Moana soundtrack while taking a walk, I had to realize that maybe I’m the one who this music is for, ha!
Why, WHY do I cry when Lin Manuel Miranda starts singing in this song?
And friends, I don’t think I’ve never not cried when listening to this song.
(I really love the way LMM’s music in Encanto and Moana grapples with themes of identity, family relationships, community and generational blessings/transgressions. A VAST improvement on the Little Mermaid of my generation’s childhood. But I digress.)
Moving to music not sung by animated characters…
I’m not really sure how many times I listened to these three songs this year, but the following songs will forever be linked with 2022 for me.
(my one small hangup with this song is the last verse. It goes: “I do not fear the final night / For death will be the door to life/ You take my hand and lead me through / For all my ways are known to You.”
Here’s how I sing it: “I might fear the final night / yet death will be the door to life / You’ll take my hand, you’ll lead me through / For all my ways are known to You.”)
From Instagram…
Martha: Satisfied In You from Sing Team and Encanto soundtrack
Mary: Drive Out the Darkness from The Porter’s Gate (this chorus was our Advent song with the kids when we lit candles this year.)
Courtney: Wood and Nails from The Porter’s Gate
That’s it, folks! Thanks for reading! Again, would love to hear from you in the comments, so drop a comment with some 2022 reflection if so inclined.
So thankful to have been the recipient of one of your “yeses”! (Is that the plural? Who knows!)
Love your reworking of that line in All My Ways Are Known to You! ❤️