In January, I couldn’t have imagined being where I am now as a person and a mother. Everything was (and often still is) too immediate and pressing to think so far into the future. But here we are, all still intact and with our eyes on 2024 and beyond.
This year I wrote 44 lists (if you count today’s), including 481 items, plus edited my husband’s guest post. My goal was 50 lists and 500 items, so I was less consistent than I would have liked. I am happy with the project as a whole and how I finished out, especially considering that I thought about quitting several times throughout the year.
For our last list of the year, we’re going to go with a classic wrap up: 10 lists that feel representative of the project as a whole. Without further ado:
10 Things That Worked in 2022 - January 5
I’m very curious to write this list for 2023 because I did not even think about many of the things on the 2022 list. That’s a large part of why I love reflective lists: as a person who naturally focuses on the present moment, I would forget everything if I did not write it down.
10 Hopeless Moments - February 9
I’d been wanting to write about my MIT experience for a long time - almost since it happened in fall of 2014 - but had never figured out how to do it. This hard list led into the next one, 10 Lessons Learned, as well as a more recent list, 10 Sparkly MIT Moments, that each helped me unpack and see this hard season in new light. I am so grateful.
10 Lessons in Motherhood - March 2
A writing project from my first full year of motherhood wouldn’t be complete without at least one post about it. I’d be interested to revisit this topic in the new year as well.
10 Fun Board Books - March 23
Book roundups will always be my favorite. I love sharing what I’m reading and this board book post was super fun because the books are so bright and colorful. We still read all these and have added a couple of new favorites: The Story of Ferdinand and Llama Llama Red Pajama.
28 Things Before 28 - May 18
I’ve made a birthday list before, but I don’t think I’ve ever completed so many of the items in so short a time frame! I was delighted to be able to check in around my half birthday and see that I had done 11 of the 28 things.
27 Moments to Remember - May 25
This post falls in a similar category to the earlier Things That Worked post. I am so deeply glad that I wrote it because there is no way I could have written it today and it showcases how our perception of events changes as they grow further away in time.
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Stress - June 1
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Kelly McGonigal’s research on stress is the most important thing I learned this year and has changed how I approach life and motherhood. Essentially, stress does not have to be bad for you and in fact can be quite healthy and generative.
10 Small Joys - June 22
I tried writing this list a couple of times before I succeeded. My brain doesn’t naturally look for what I now know are called glimmers and it was delightful and life-giving to list them out.
10 Paths to Friendship - July 6
What I learned this year about friendship hasn’t yet changed my life to the extent of what I learned about stress, but I feel that in the long term the shifts I made to my friendship mindset this year will have a surprisingly large impact.
10 Happy Houseplants - September 1
Showing off my houseplants wasn’t necessarily the most consequential piece of writing I’ll ever share, but getting them all happily repotted and sharing them was a small but weighty joy.
I hoped that this year’s lists project would give me some clarity into what my next writing project should be. I have a big ol’ idea rattling around in my head but it’s not clear enough to pick a starting date or announce yet. In the new year I might write a couple posts reflecting on 2023 since capturing memories were some of my favorite posts this past year, but beyond that I don’t have plans.
I’m deeply grateful for everyone who read this year’s lists and especially thankful to those of you who sent thoughtful replies. It’s been a treat to get to know you better and keep in touch across the distances. Thank you.
See you in the new year,
Love,
Amy