22 Lessons from 2022 + The Best of 2022
“A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living.” –Virginia Woolf
Dear reader,
The year is almost over, and I’m grateful for the rollercoaster ride. This final newsletter of the year celebrates the year that was, and holds space for reflection and recommendations.
Thank you for reading, and being a part of this journey.
22 Lessons from 2022
Nature is a portal into oneself. Spend more time in it.
A good kiss can turn a bad day around.
Remember to take a step back during a crisis. Reframing the perspective and (re)writing your own narrative is essential for growth.
You’ll figure it out. -S
Take life one day at a time.
Don’t cry over spilled milk. Clean up the mess and move on. The past isn’t worth messing up your present or future for. It’s gone, and ain’t coming back.
Make time to sit in the sun every morning. You end up sleeping better. - M
Mental health problems don’t just go away. Stop emotional dumping on people who care about you and get a therapist already.
Hold on to the people who see you as who you are and help you embrace your authentic self. Life’s too short to put on a farce. Be real.
Learn to make that one favorite dish your mother cooks for you. Write down the recipe for posterity. Prepare it for yourself on a bad day and feel at home.
You may have 127574 things to do today but you won’t get anything done unless you prioritise, prioritise, prioritise.
Embracing uncertainty is like dancing with life. It’s all about moving one step at a time, leading or being led, and finding your footing when the time comes.
The universe works in mysterious ways. Leave room for mystery in your life.
Asking for help does not make you less than. It only makes you human.
Carry your own water bottle around and fill it as you go. Plastic is evil.
Notion is the best tool ever. It’s changed my life. (Here’s a Free Weekly Tracker Template to get you started)
Have a balanced diet in life, be it in terms of nutrition, the company you keep or what you watch / read / listen to.
Live intentionally, and don’t let distractions take you away from your chosen path. Strive for a choice-based identity and existence.
Nobody asked for your unsolicited advice.
Love and let love.
You do not need to be a poet to lead a poetic life.
You are enough.
P.S. What lessons would you add to this list? Let me know :)
The Best of 2022
Best Films I saw
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood
Licorice Pizza
Turning Red
Best TV Shows
Man vs. Bee
Thermae Romae Novae
The Patient
The Bear
A League of Their Own
Our Flag Means Death
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Best Books I Read
Gifts from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
The Justicemakers Zine by Agami (I happened to co-create this one, and read it some 60 times this year) :)
A parting thought
Ira Glass on The Creative Process:
"Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, and I really wish somebody had told this to me.
All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But it's like there is this gap. For the first couple years that you're making stuff, what you're making isn't so good. It’s not that great. It’s trying to be good, it has ambition to be good, but it’s not that good.
But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is good enough that you can tell that what you're making is kind of a disappointment to you. A lot of people never get past that phase. They quit.
Everybody I know who does interesting, creative work they went through years where they had really good taste and they could tell that what they were making wasn't as good as they wanted it to be. They knew it fell short. Everybody goes through that. And if you are just starting out or if you are still in this phase, you gotta know it's normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Do a huge volume of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week or every month you know you're going to finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you're going to catch up and close that gap. And the work you're making will be as good as your ambitions.
I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It takes a while. It’s gonna take you a while. It’s normal to take a while. You just have to fight your way through that."
That’s all, folks! Wishing you a great year ahead.
See you soon, 2023. Be good! 🤞
Love and gentleness,
Rohini
👍🏼
Happy new year Rohini x