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things I want more more more of in 2025, and some thoughts on closing out 2024
As I close out my 2024 year and look forward to 2025, I realize I’m due for a refresh on how I reflect. For years now, moving into a new year has been an organized, consistent, list-making activity, which, despite the sterility of this description, actually served me well. I started this approach in 2016 when I turned 30—at the beginning of the year, I set five specific goals in six areas of my life: health/fitness, finance, relationships (romantic, platonic, and family), career, spiritual/enriching, and travel.
This year, though, the universe handed me an IRL lesson on the old best laid plans adage. Meaning that, I’m less inclined to make a laundry list of hyper specific best laid plans. I’m opting instead to dream a little more. I want to infuse some fun and whimsy to this process, and a wish list seems more appropriate. Specifically, a list of things of which I want more more more. Because, at the end of this year, my best laid, worst laid, hastily laid, meticulously laid, jokingly laid, lovingly laid, excitedly laid plans will most definitely go awry, to some degree, and that might just be the point.
So, in lieu of the categorized, organized, perfect little list, here’s my stream-of-consciousness, somewhat contradictory, messy (and still perfect) list for 2025…
In 2025, I want more more more…
slow mornings sipping a perfectly made cup of coffee, snuggled with a book or journal
Saturday afternoons spent lazing with the turntable playing my favorite vinyl
spontaneous picnics with my girlfriends, including indoor picnics (lol, so like dinner parties)
reasons to put together An Outfit, even if last minute. actually it may be best for these to be impromptu because I overcommitted myself so much in 2024 (lesson learned, okay?)
movies in the movie theater with buttered popcorn
floor cushions in my living room for perusing art/coffee table books and drinking red wine
intellectual discussions about Taylor Swift lyrics, especially on folklore, evermore, and TTPD
late night ice cream scooped with a scooper. häagen-dazs strawberry is the current favorite
long walks without some place to be; sometimes with headphones in, listening to a podcast, audiobook, or music
couch hangs with couch friends sipping wine and eating burrata and potato chips in your ugly sweats—you know the ones—not the ‘cute, could wear in public’ kind; the ‘there is a stain from the cheese from last night’s pizza, maybe?’ kind
live music. full stop
BIRDS
challenging books, fun books, make-me-question-my-beliefs books, cook books, art books, biographies (anyone recommend bios about sofia coppola or the Olsen twins/family?); so really just…MORE BOOKS
personal days resting, being gentle, being slow; maybe sleeping in, or maybe just strolling Home Goods with a latte
making the mundane FUN, like having a ‘clean out the basement party’ with a good bottle of wine and a bangin’ playlist
love notes to my loved ones
wearing the things that make me feel happy, comfortable, sexy, and free, sometimes falling outside traditional beauty norms, and sometimes leaning into them
being petty even if politeness is expected
being kind even if pettiness is warranted
refining my boundaries and being brave in defending them
A note on closing out a year
Since year end of 2020, I’ve been using ’s “five lists” (check out her incredible Substack, for more).1 I won’t be sharing the substance with the world, but I will share the list with you. I will also tell you that the more honest and raw and vulnerable I am with myself, the more value I’ve gleaned from them. I will stretch in them, work on my answers over the course of several days (even into the new year!!), and use them to really dig in and check in with myself. It’s hard work, but it’s also a satisfying and fun way to set the tone for a new year.
In place of resolutions, journal your way into the New Year with five lists.
What in the last year are you proud of?
What did this year leave you yearning for?
What’s causing you anxiety?
What resources, skills, and practices can you rely on in the coming year?
What are your wildest, most harebrained ideas and dreams?
TELL ME EVERYTHING
How do you close out your year? How do you look forward to the next year? Do you do this at the new year or on your birthday or both? Are there any special rituals you do this time of year?
Happy holidays, friends!
Thank you Lindsey and Stevie for those wonderful online sessions you put on mid-pandemic. I still use so much of what you lovelies brought to the table.