the story
The morning that Spotify Wrapped drops is one of my favorite little moments to reflect, because Lord knows it’s going to expose the whole theme of my year in a nutshell every single time. This year was no different. I scrolled through my personalized wrap-up thinking, “yup, definitely me,” satisfied that I’d gotten as far as I did without me being surprised (or mortified). I’d successfully kicked Drake down to the #2 spot in my top artists (the fact that I don’t even call myself a Drake fan and he’s that high up has always been crazy to me). Otherwise, things were pretty solid.
It was when I reached the Top Songs slide that I burst into the loudest cackle you’d probably ever hear from me before 8am. There it was, my life and mindset — summarized.
Analyze as you wish, but here’s my take and the only one that matters. A whole lotta bad bitch tracks to keep me hype as I built the foundation for my dream life, a throwback because I’m a creature of habit and still won’t put down Last Last after all this time, a twist on Girls Dem Sugar to replace the actual song that made my list last year, and at the tippy top a simple reminder: dodge that man, he ain’t the one.
“Be bold” was my simple yet effective intention for this year, which is probably why I listened to so many female rappers. The girlies get me into a ZONE and you really can’t tell me nothing after that. I pushed myself unbelievably hard and I needed the soundtrack to echo what type of time I was on. No games played, just straight going after what I wanted and trying not to get in my own way. 2023 was the best year I’ve had in so long, and it was because I protected my energy, bet on myself, and let the real me shine through.
So much happened this year that I can’t even begin to summarize in one newsletter, so instead I’m giving little gems from each aspect on my life that were instrumental in my success this year.
the lesson
On self-love. It’s always going to be a practice of patience. Learning how to be gentle with myself, especially when it came to validating my own emotions and experiences, was a hell of a journey that I am still on. Building trust in myself, my feelings, decisions I make, and validating my needs was such a huge part of opening my energy up to receive blessings.
On investing in my gifts. I put a lot into Bright-Eyed Joy this year, and if you know anything about being a creative it’s that half the battle is putting yourself out there. How much do you want it? Became a frequent question I’d ask myself anytime I’d procrastinate out of fear. Though there were definitely goals I didn’t hit this year, I did so many other things that would’ve been nothing but a concept straight out of my wildest dreams. Sometimes, it’s less about focusing on the goal itself and more about the time and dedication. The Universe will always lead you to where you’re meant to be.
On 9-5 work. The environment I’m in for 8+ hours a day will without fail influence my mood and how I feel about life. Not all of us have the luxury of getting paid to do something we really like, but at the very least, pay attention to the vibes you get off of people when you’re interviewing. Corporate is always going to corporate, it’s the people you have to spend day in and day out with that truly matter. I now have the luxury of not only working on something I love, but with people who are pretty dope, and I’ll never take that for granted after previous experiences.
On intentional community. If last year was all about expanding my community and social life, this year has taught me not to care so much about keeping everyone. Some people who you think will be around forever won’t be, and I’m so much more comfortable with the idea of allowing people to leave than I ever have been. Of course it hurts sometimes, and I absolutely held back tears after realizing someone might not hold me in the same position of friendship that I did with them. At the end of the day what you don’t want is anyone in your circle who doesn’t contribute the loving, supportive energy you deserve to have. Cry that shit out and keep it pushing.
On slowing down and making time for myself. I’m a Gemini queen, which means I like to have my hands in about fifty different activities, projects, and social gatherings all at once. It was really hard for me to take a break, even when my mind and body were begging me to chill tf out. I think the biggest misconception I had was that resting would keep me from my goals. It’s actually the opposite. Cutting things that were draining my energy and giving myself more downtime at the end of this year has actually helped me show up so much better in my life.
On love. Getting clear on what I wanted this year and not settling allowed for a certain level of peace that I loved so much and refused to give up. I stopped worrying about dating, focused on loving and healing the parts of me that were still in pain, made better choices because I trusted my own judgment, and honestly had a pretty chill love life. When the intention is to really heal, open your heart back up to receive love, and stop engaging in the n*ggas ain’t shit narrative, things start to unfold better than you could’ve ever imagined.
the light
Dream big, with any and everything you can imagine. Put it out there to the Universe, devote your energy to it, and watch what unfolds. My life changed so drastically in the second half of this year and so much of it had to do with shifting my mindset in order to allow in what was meant for me. I stepped into a whole new chapter that is every bit of my dream late 20s life and feels like so much more.
If I were to leave you with one thing at the end of this year, it’s that your perspective is everything. Your words and thoughts have power, and working to change your mindset will open so many more doors than you can ever imagine. Start off by working on how you feel, about yourself, your current blessings, and the environment around you. If you’re already clear on what your dreams and desires are, they tend to begin materializing soon after. Believe in yourself and believe in what’s possible. I promise, the work is worth it.
Thank you all for rocking with me this year, this newsletter has grown so much and I’m so grateful for each of you who choose to read! In the name of rest, I’ll be taking a month long break to relax and reflect. In the meantime, I’m always welcome to feedback and topics you’d like to hear about. See y’all in 2024 ❤️
my matcha moment 🍵
If you want to end the year with me IRL, I’m holding one last event on Sunday, December 17 at 12:30pm! Join myself and the Noelle Flow for Flow & Release, a theme-based movement experience that incorporates yoga, barre, and meditation. This session will be centered around the winter solstice, as an invitation to slow down, release things that are no longer serving us, and nourish our connection to the natural world. Tickets always go fast for these experiences, so make sure to grab yours here!