a millisecond of a year
for good luck, for prosperity, for turning off all the notifications, back to eats next week
I truly don’t think there is a way to write about the new year without being at least a little cliche. Truly. All I have to say about 2024 is that I can’t seem to remember most of it, and it seems to have started yesterday and ended a few days ago. Strange, the passage of time. I spent the last few weeks throwing a ham party a la Alison Roman, doing the second go-round of steakhouse NYE (as well as celebrating my 29th birthday at an actual steakhouse), and lounging around without knowing what day it was. Went candlepin bowling, ate Empress oysters, and tried to do a rat-themed jigsaw puzzle with my dad but found my puzzling stamina not up to snuff and ended up just gathering all the pieces with rats on them for a rat store, from which all puzzlers needed to request rats. Time well spent.
Perhaps most (or least) cliche of all, I don’t find myself particularly drawn to resolutions. Maybe it’s my Sagittarius ways (astrology friends, please confirm) and my willingness to pick up a hobby or habit at a moment’s notice, but I think relying on January - arguably the worst month - to fix all your issues is putting the cart before the horse. As a contradiction, I still like dry January (esp. in light of the horrible news that the U.S. Surgeon General is confirming what we all can admit we knew - that alcohol is terrible for you). What can I say? I’m an enigma.
With absolutely no pomp and circumstance and certainly no authority, here are some things that I like to think about as I slog through January (again, the worst month).
If you find yourself grabbing your phone and opening Instagram subconsciously - might I suggest turning off every single notification on your phone? I read an incredibly functional book a few years ago about how to break up with your phone (linking the author’s substack about it here) and had the best time of my LIFE - and have since devolved. Turns out you don’t need to know everything that’s happening, all the time. And if people need to urgently get in touch with you - they will. Live a bit more peacefully. Go outside?
If you find yourself wanting to read more books - read books you actually like. I set a goal in 2024 to read 100 books but got promptly steamrolled by my 1L semester readings. Proudly - I still read 77. I firmly believe that the only way you will get anywhere near your reading goal is to not try and read the book that everyone thinks you should read. Read things you like, push yourself a little if you feel you’re in a deep rut, and don’t be afraid to toss the book after a few chapters if you’re bored out of your mind (sorry to everyone, but A Brief History of Seven Killings has done this to me like 14 times). This is reason number one billion why you should get a library card.
A non-exhaustive list of several favorites from this year to get you going. Admittedly, this could be seen as a list of things people think you should read. Sorry!
If you find yourself desperate for an island vacation but experiencing the arctic cold outbreak - ooooofffff - make tropical pie. This one is easy.
holiday side notes with no context
ok that’s it!! back to recipes next week. expect nourishing (hey - even I can’t ignore January for long). ttyl & luv ya <3 consider subscribing if you haven’t caught on yet: