RIP 2024
As I was contemplating restarting this newsletter, I realized I hadn’t published a single issue in 2024. That’s probably for the best, because 2024 was not a very good year for me!
Still, I thought I should at least commemorate the year that was, so that you, my dear readers, would know what transpired this past year.
(Note: This was first posted on my Facebook wall a few days ago, so apologies if this isn’t new to you!)
2024 was a difficult year for me, but it was also a positive one. Let me explain.
Earlier this year, I left a job due to difficult circumstances. It was a decision I did not take lightly, but in reality, it was a long time coming. I am reminded of when our house flooded a few years ago. It was devastating, but it forced us to renovate and remodel, and today we have a much better house than before. I believe the same thing is happening with my career. I need to go through this period of loss and scarcity as I "remodel" my future.
In 2024, I applied to well over a hundred jobs (I stopped keeping track after around 200). I had 25 interviews, some of those with the same company. Some interviews were with large multimillion dollar corporations. Some interviews were with non-profits. Quite a lot were with media publications. I kept my options open, but I also played to my strengths. I already have 2-3 interviews set up for January, and I'm getting ready to apply to even more jobs in the coming weeks.
In 2024, I had to reassess what I wanted out of my life. I have a habit of clinging on to the past, because it gives me comfort. But now I know that the past is not now. It is not tomorrow. I can honor and respect and even have fond memories of the past, but I cannot go back to it, and I cannot bring it with me into the future.
In 2024, I tried new things. I joined two improv groups, and it was a joy. One was a short-form improv team, which was fun and goofy. One was a long-form improv team, which was somehow more fun and even goofier. I also got involved in a Shakespeare improv team, which is still in development. I've temporarily stopped my improv adventures for now because of a lack of funds, but I do plan to return to improv in the future.
In 2024, I played Dungeons and Dragons more than I ever have before. I played regular one-shots at Dogpatch Games with my husband, Brandon, who surprises me with how amazing he is at role play and characters. It shows that even after 19+ years of marriage, my partner can still surprise me, and that is wonderful. I also joined a longer D&D campaign, which has introduced me to new friends and new relationships that I hope to carry on to 2025 and beyond.
In 2024, I lost, I won, I grieved, I hoped, I cried, I laughed, I struggled, I triumphed. In 2024, I was a human being, and I survived.
May 2025 bring more of the good, and less of the bad.
End Notes
One of my 2025 intentions is to start publishing this newsletter more, especially as I start to move away from using social media platforms like Facebook as a means of communicating with the public. I hope to make this a weekly occurrence at the very least. I’m also thinking of starting a subscriber-only “inner circle” newsletter for more personal subjects, but I’m not sure about that just yet.
Also, as I mentioned above, I’m still very much looking for a job. If the spirit moves you, please check out my portfolio or my LinkedIn profile and share them with anyone who might be able to help.
In the meantime, feel free to reach out to me on Bluesky. As always, while this newsletter is free for you, it is not free for me. it would mean a lot to me if you paid for an optional monthly subscription to help offset hosting costs and to support my writing (literally if just three people subscribed, it would pay for my hosting costs). Thank you so much for your support!