Reflecting on the New Year!

Jan 3

It is now three days into twenty twenty five (2025), and the reflections have been abundant.

I agree completely with the argument of not placing pressure on the event or on yourself, because life does not stop just for the ring of midnight and the bustle of excitement for a new cycle.

And truly, a lot of our adoration and devotion to this habit seems to be directly rooted in our capitalist system. The New year means a new you, a new set of fashion cycles, the ability to rebrand with national intention.

But is that not horrifically bleak?

It does not seem healthy to perpetuate these concepts (on a commodified scale) into our daily lives. Especially for the majority of us, who do not have access to high end self care products, the ability to afford a gym membership, and who largely have the same budget for food as they did just the month before.

But I understand stripping those commodities for what they symbolize, is perhaps what might create a foundation of hope for the upcoming year.

Like finding ways to fuel your body however makes you truly happiest, feel your best, or maybe through a fun new hobby like cooking! And maybe your new year is not food oriented at all!

I would like to get more inventive with my meals! Because of sensory, and financial, issues, it can become easy to have the same meals over and over again. This causes a depressive cloud, and non-grounded anxiety. My hope is that, by incorporating new ingredients, methods, and combinations, I’ll feel more in touch with my primal needs.. and wants!

My goals for this upcoming year are very simple and with little pressure.

I would like to provide more space for other people, and for that space to be one of unconditional love and support.

One of my most frustrating habits, is the tendency to shut down and shut out. To suddenly become acute and dissociated, to much remorse on my end. I hate feeling that way. I strongly dislike using energy for non beneficial purposes. Though obviously I recognize that, by simply being alive, that is inevitable. And that finding ways to cope with it is the best step to take.

I want to get better about taking action as well. I am planning on reducing my time on social media to much much much less.

I absolutely love the process of curating a post, but gosh is it draining. With how social media is set up, it never feels that cut and dry.

And it’s hard to want to express on the apps, out of internalized fear and anxiety. Which I largely attribute to being in a generation raised with the internet.

It is truly disheartening that having a website is not more accessible. This site is one of my largest expenses, and I budget the entire year in anticipation of the annual bill. I wish I could suggest having a website instead of a social media account, but it is truly difficult unless you have access to website building knowledge/tech peers, or are able to afford a domain.

Because I am jumping fully in this year, I want to completely completely COMPLETELY release anxiety about having a blog that I regularly post on, and articulate my thoughts and feelings.

I understand why I have this anxiety, but in order to become a better person, in order to become a better member of the community, I must release anxiety about myself. I do not want to reside in the forefront of my mind, I want only to be present in the body I am in.

so.. resolutions?

Okay, fine.

If I had to solidify my desires for this year, here are a few of my intentions.

Compliment more strangers again.
Go on more walks with my dog.
Cook more for my family/found family dinners.
Release the fear of hanging out with people. Not everyone has to like you, but you will find people who LOVE you. (And you LOVE them right back)
Less artificial stimulation. More reading, more writing, more dancing, more singing, more playing.
Volunteer more! Continue working with Thrive (go support them San Antonio!), and finding ways to show up for my community.
Walk dogs at the shelter, and make little portraits of them. In general, find ways to help the animals that need us.
Consume ONLY sustainable palm oil. Or try to get as close to it! Research palm oil and deforestation/devastation to several species. There is a palm oil scanning app that helps with this as well.
Have more intentional dates with my lover.
Be a bit less scared to leave the house! This one I struggle with a lot, but I hope that 2025 will be filled with trips to parks and spaces I feel safe in.
Get back to therapy.
Nourish passion. Internal and external.