My 18 biggest takeaways from 2024, including the simplest way to romanticize your life

Plus, the beauty products that earned a permanent place in my makeup bag.

I wrote this post in the first week of January, reflecting on the past year and feeling grateful for a fresh start. But the last two weeks have been anything but smooth.

Instead of listing everything I want to change (that’s for me and my therapist to work through), here are a few lessons from last year that I’m carrying with me.

1. I’ve always felt slightly vulnerable sending invites to friends I'm not super close with, so I’d soften them with, 'But no worries if you can’t make it!' I’ve realized that’s not only unnecessary, but it also sends the wrong message, like I’m not as excited as I am. Now, I just send the invite and let them respond, no disclaimers.

2. While having drinks at our friends' house recently, they served our cocktails in frosty glasses straight from the freezer and it felt so luxurious, so naturally we now do the same.

3. Play classical music on weekend mornings. It's such a simple way to romanticize your life (bonus points if coffee and pastries are also included).

4. Do the things that scare you. I’ve been creating content online for almost two decades, but I still don’t think of myself as a ‘writer.’ This past summer, shortly after I started my newsletter, there was a lot of chatter about who deserves to be here, and it stirred up a lot of insecurities I thought I’d already dealt with. It’s so easy to doubt yourself and is something I work through daily. Push yourself to show up, even if it feels uncomfortable. And while you’re at it, make sure you’re lifting others up. There’s room for all of us.

   

   Behind the scenes of creating the name and logo for Fwd: from a friend.

5. Book the doctor’s appointment instead of spiraling through symptom searches for days.

6. Spend time wrapping gifts properly. I've been known to hand over unwrapped presents on more than one occasion (I blame my excitement and laziness) and I realize just how much it detracts from the recipient's experience.