2024 In Review
My 2024 Art Picks and a look to 2025 Life Picks
I enjoy the process of reflection. Whether recounting the art I recently viewed or reviewing the lessons learned, I find it fulfilling. It is no surprise, then, that I love end-of-the-year wrap-ups. A self-review of my favorite pieces of art and lessons learned along the way—this is the blog post I most enjoy writing. Perhaps I should rephrase and say it was the blog post I most enjoyed writing. This year feels different.
Don’t worry—I still have my end-of-the-year wrap-ups below, but bear with me one moment…
I spent a lot of time in my head this year—too much time. As a result, when I sit down to write this recap blog post, my mind wanders into darker territory. The best moments of the year can’t seem to outweigh how I feel I let myself down. Overthinking became too close of a friend—a toxic friend—the kind that wouldn’t leave me alone. It makes me dream of alternate realities where I didn’t spend so much time in my head and got things done. It’s a tortuous circle.
It’s not just me I think about. It’s others too. I’ve been told I have high expectations of people, too high. I acknowledge this character flaw, but I also recognize that my high expectations of others stem from my high expectations of myself. Please don’t mistake this for an excuse. What do we call a truth that could be misinterpreted as an excuse? Maybe this is it for 2025: how to let go of expectations of other people… and yourself.
By God’s grace, I achieved several significant goals this year. My career in new home sales soared (to my deepest gratitude and surprise), I became President of COOP (even amidst hardship), and I was able to purchase my dream vehicle (pinch me). There is plenty to be grateful for. I had to lead in difficult circumstances, often forced to make decisions that felt wrong no matter the choice. I learned to be patient with myself; growth is never linear. Yet even so I still couldn’t get a grip- get out of my head. Perhaps this is where more patience should be exercised. I encourage you to do the same: be gentle with yourself. I’ll join you in the effort.
At the beginning of this year, I reflected on the reality that there are no brand-new, completely clean fresh starts. All of our lives are the product of yesterday’s decisions. This truth stayed with me throughout the year. There are no do-overs—only the choice to focus on the past or the future. I believe focusing too much on either is dangerous. So this year, in place of big goals or resolutions, I want to focus on the mundane. I want to zero in on the day-to-day habits that build a life. Wait, so then, this is the goal—the resolution if you will: to stay vigilantly focused on the single days of my life.
Pieces to the puzzle: gratitude will be practiced daily, and so will art. Reading will be less about how many books I have devoured and more about how much I have learned. Walking with Jesus will also look different, thank God, because it has to, or I won’t survive. And this blog—I want to return here more often. Returning here feels more and more like a return to myself. In a year where I almost lost myself; this may be the most valuable piece.
On to art!
In 2024 I read 24 books, watched 78 films, 21 television shows, 6 live theatre productions, and listened to a lot of music. Here are the stand-outs (in no order):
Books:
Film:
Television:
Theatre:
Music:
Thank you for your honesty and invitation, my friend. You continue to challenge me. With you in the fight, always in your corner.