I don’t know what it is about January, but it truly feels like the longest month ever. In college, September was that month for me. I’d always scream-sing “wake me up when September ends” to my roommate because it felt like it dragged on forever and was usually a pretty miz month for some reason or another. Honestly, it wasn’t that bad, but I loved a good dramatic moment in college, so there you go.

Now, that dragged-out month for me, and likely many others, is January. 2024 started off hot for me, as in I had a fever during the holidays and a never-ending bout of the flu/bronchitis. While it did put a damper on the trip to Florida, it was great seeing my family for the first time since our wedding a year and a half ago—even if we did become bed-ridden and eventually got everyone sick. Thankfully, I was healthy just in time to meet my sweet niece and become a first-time aunt, and boy is she magical! We also spent a week in St. Louis and a week in South Bend before heading back home to LA for the first time in a month. Then, one of my best and oldest friends visited for a very uncharacteristically rainy weekend of long walks, hikes, and quintessential LA activities. Finally, I celebrated two of my newest friends turning 30 AND threw out our Christmas tree. How does this all fit into one month?!

It’s odd because while LA does feel like home in a sense, I mean, my physical house is here, it also feels like a crash pad because we go back and forth so much. It has definitely gotten better this past year, and I can finally say that I am happy here. A big part of that is that I’ve made some fantastic friends, and they helped immensely with yet another transition to a new city. While I have liked moving around often in the last 5+ years, it is comforting to have a solid community in one location.

In terms of goals, resolutions, and the fun pressure we all love to put on ourselves to mark a new year, I’ve started to shake some dust off on old hobbies/activities. I’m slowly writing again (clearly), taking up more Spanish lessons to prepare for my trip to Colombia, getting back into lifting and running, and restarting tennis lessons. I’m also going to be taking a pottery class soon. While I’m still on the hunt for a formal writing class, I feel good where I am right now all around, so I’m trying not to add too much to do to where it feels like a chore. I love my lists and especially ticking things off them, but I can make something I love to do — like walking or reading, yeah I’m looking at you Timbray/GoodReads—completely unenjoyable when I turn it into a daily task.

I had no real intention in writing this blog other than to hit my goal of writing once a month, so of course, it’s more of a life update and ramble, but that’s the content I like looking back on. So here’s to more friends, books, and things that feel good in 2024!