I have a lot to be grateful for in 2022. It hasn't been the easiest year, but it has been one of the most rewarding, and I've grown a lot.
In the order that makes the most sense for storytelling, here's what I'm most thankful for this year:
My Previous Job
Although my last job eventually became toxic, it opened a lot of doors for me -- personally and professionally. It was the first time I got paid to write and a big part of the reason I was able to start calling myself a writer.
I also remember walking through the halls when I first started and feeling like I was finally that cool businesswoman strolling into corporate HQ.
Funny enough, I also learned that a super cool, corporate environment... isn't really for me.
My Savings Account
Working at my previous job also allowed me to experience financial security for the first time in my life.
I was able to save some money, which is one of the only reasons I felt like I could leave my job when it was time.
As much as everyone says, "money doesn't matter," it does. Money is a valuable resource, and unfortunately, one does need resources to do things.
My savings account has provided me with freedom, flexibility, and a much-needed safety net. I am extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to save.
The Courage to Quit
Quitting my job changed my life for the better and drastically improved my mental health. Making the decision was far from easy, but I am so glad I did it.
I still don't know where the courage to quit came from, but I am thankful for it every day!
My Physical and Mental Health
The last few years have not been easy for anyone, and my mental health hit a pretty significant low in 2021.
I never take good days for granted, and I am thankful for each and every one of them I have had this year. Slowly but surely, I'm getting to a place where I have more good days than bad days, which is awesome.
I'm also thankful for my physical health. I have made it through COVID, an abnormal Pap test, and a super gross throat infection (not without Rizzo, of course).
Our bodies are fragile, and health is never a sure thing.
PSA: If you have a cervix, please remember to attend your annual doctor's appointment and insist on a Pap test!
My Partner
Sharing your life with someone else is never easy, and relationships take a lot of work. I am so grateful that my boyfriend, Sam, has committed to doing that work with me.
Our relationship has grown so much this year, and Sam makes every day better. I am thankful for his support and good company.
It's nice to have an adventure buddy who is up for pretty much anything. Plus, he makes me laugh, and his curiosity is endlessly inspiring.
He's definitely going to tease me about this later, but I love him.
My Friends and Family
My friends and family have also given me a lot of love and support this year.
I am so fortunate to have my grandparents, my aunt, and my cousins nearby, and the whole gang had a great time celebrating Grandma's 80th birthday this fall. My mom also came to visit recently, and my cousin, Suzy, took all the photos on this website!
I also want to say thank you to my closest friends, Rebecca (pictured), Kyle, and Adanna, also known as the main reason I'm still sane. I've been friends with these beautiful humans for almost 10 years now, so I know they're not going anywhere.
Thanks for fielding every bad decision, breakdown, and off-the-wall text or phone call I threw at you this year. I'm so happy we got to celebrate our wins together, too.
In 2022, I had a great time with friends new and old, including my hiking pals, housemates, writer's group, and (former) coworkers.
I am beyond thankful for anyone who took me to Disneyland (thanks, Joleen!), hosted me in their home (thank you, Brooke!), introduced me to new experiences, or otherwise touched my life this year. Thank you thank you.
Getting Back Online
I all but stopped using social media in 2021, and it's been a blessing and a curse to be back. What I am really grateful for is the people who have reached out with comments, direct messages, and support.
Further, I am eternally indebted to literally anyone who reads my work.
Social media has been a great tool to promote my writing and get back in touch with old friends.
Whether you've reached out to say hello or sent your encouragement via a "like," thank you!
Seriously, getting a message from you makes my day.
The Artist's Way
For a long time, I felt like I was missing something I used to have, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.
I still don't know what, "it," was, but The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron helped me get it back.
Seriously, I recommend this book to everyone.
The tools in these pages helped me transform my life, and I still use many of them today.
Thank you to Julia Cameron and everyone who mentioned this book to me before I finally went out and bought it.
Therapy
The Artist's Way is kind of like therapy, but traditional therapy helped me a lot this year, too.
Identifying harmful patterns and understanding my emotions more thoroughly has made me a better person, and it has made coping with life a lot easier.
Acknowledging old wounds has also put me on a path toward healing, and I am grateful for all the healing I have done in 2022.
My Clients
From Coverage, Ink and IndieReader to Swing Education I am thankful for my clients.
Not only do they allow me to do meaningful work that I enjoy on my own terms, but they are also the reason I can pay my rent and eat!
I am grateful to each and every one of the people who have given me a chance this year, and I cannot wait to add even more clients to my roster in 2023.
Food
How cool is it that something we have to do to survive (eating) can bring us so much pleasure? Seriously, food is the best.
I am thankful for all the cooking and eating I have gotten to do this year and all the meals I have savored alone or shared with family and friends.
I feel lucky to have mastered a few new recipes and tried some amazing new restaurants, and I am always grateful for the staples in my diet (potatoes) and the ritual of mealtime.
Travel
Traveling is such a privilege, and it always makes the world feel big and bold and beautiful.
I am grateful for weekends away and the bigger trips I have gotten to take this year.
In particular, I enjoyed my birthday trip to Monterey, exploring Southern California with Sam's family, Spencer and Rie's wedding in Santa Barbara, my grandmother's 80th birthday in Palm Springs, and my trips to Puerto Vallarta and the East Coast.
Scuba Diving
I learned to scuba dive this year, and it's one of the coolest things I have ever done.
I am thankful for the opportunity to explore the underwater world, which feels so different from the one above the surface.
Acting Class
Speaking of trying new things, I took a few acting classes this year!
I am happy to do something just for fun -- and grateful for the ways acting has challenged and inspired me.
Being in front of the camera has given me a lot of confidence, and I am thankful for my acting studio and all the wonderful people I have met there. It feels good to perform!
Movies, Books, and Television
It has been an amazing year for horror movies, and I have seen some great films in 2022. Some favorites include The Menu, Bones and All, Pearl, and Bodies Bodies Bodies.
I've also watched some truly engrossing TV. The second season of "The White Lotus" is giving me life, and "Search Party" is one of the greatest shows to ever grace our screens. Also, "Ted Lasso" and "Severance." What did we do to get so lucky?
Making movies and TV is hard, so thanks to all the people who have been working their butts off to entertain us.
Writing books is also difficult, so I would be remiss if I didn't thank Cherise Wolas, Lily King, Antoine Wilson, and every other author whose work I have been enjoying this year.
I've had ridiculously good luck with books this year. Thank you to bookstores and fellow readers for your curation and recommendations.
In my humble opinion, good art - and sharing it - makes life work living.
New Opportunities
Finally, I am thankful for all the new opportunities I've had this year -- and everything I have planned for 2023.
There's a new adventure around every corner, and I could not be more grateful.
Hope
Okay, one more thing. I told you I had a lot to be thankful for in 2022!
If I had to choose just one thing to be grateful for, I am most thankful for hope.
Life can be exceptionally difficult, and the world often feels like it's on fire. Sometimes, it literally is on fire. Change is the only constant, and nothing is ever ever a guarantee.
Humanity's capacity for hope is what keeps us all going, and I'm just really happy that the world hasn't ended (yet) and we get to keep going for another year.
I am thankful for human resilience, love, and all the other wonderful things that our capacity for hope fuels.
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you have taken the time to read this blog, I am grateful for you!
Thank you so much for being a part of my journey and letting me be part of yours.
I hope you have the happiest Thanksgiving -- and that reading my story has helped you think about the things in life you are most grateful for.
It feels good to appreciate what we have, and in moments where it's hard to be thankful, we can just remember that this too shall pass.
I'd love to hear what you thought of my blog, and what you're thankful for this holiday season. I'm always happy to be a listening ear.
All you have to do is send me a message through my contact form, on Instagram, or at loganrosereadsandwrites at gmail dot com.
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