Thank You, 2023

As the new year approaches, this blog will be one of many social media posts taking the time to reflect on the year that has passed. There is no other time in life when you get such a sense of one chapter ending and another beginning, and so of course many of us take the time to reflect. Some of us get to delight in the joy that the year brought with it, others may be happy to see the back of it.

For me, it’s all a matter of perspective.

I tend to always look back on the previous year with fondness. That doesn’t mean that there won’t have been low moments, but it’s my personal preference to find silver linings and look for joy wherever I can.

I remember when 2015 became 2016, and I did the standard social media post celebrating the year that was, a (very well meaning) friend commented saying that 2016 was unlikely to top 2015 because it had been such an extraordinary year for me. I knew that message was given with good intentions, but I also thought “challenge accepted”. Why couldn’t the next year be just as good as the last? And since then, my perspective at the end of every year is that life continues to get better.

So, as I was reflecting on what 2023 meant for me, I wanted to immortalise it in words. That means that this blog is truly one that I have written for a very specific audience: me.

If you’re reading this, thank you for joining me for this little trip down memory lane. I’m so happy you’re here.

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The only word I can use to describe 2023 is extraordinary.

It has been a year of firsts and a year of milestones, and scattered in between those there have been countless small moments of joy and gratitude.

Early in the year I turned 30.

I know for many the entrance into a new decade can be daunting and even a little horrifying, but I’m grateful to say that wasn’t how I felt. Perhaps it had something to do with our upcoming wedding taking up most of my time and headspace, but truthfully, as I woke up on my birthday, I felt very calm about entering my thirties.

I feel that I had well and truly lived my twenties. I hadn’t wasted a minute. University was an absolute blast, and a time where I made some of the most incredible lifelong friends. The decisions I made as a student allowed me to fulfil my travelling dreams as I lived and worked abroad. I met the love of my life – what more do I need to say about that? We created extraordinary memories together, including moving countries during a pandemic, and then getting engaged.

They say your twenties are your years to be selfish, and I feel that I did that in the best way. I couldn’t have packed any more into those years, and I don’t have a single regret about them.

I was ready to turn 30. There was no big party to commemorate the event, but I still celebrated the only way I know how: with family, good friends, wine and plenty of food. I was, and still am, so excited to see what this new decade will hold for me.

Very soon after my birthday was the best day of my life: our wedding day.

After so much planning, details were finalised and we welcomed family and friends from near and far, including the UK and Australia. Thanks to the very non-summery weather there were many nervous moments as flights were cancelled/delayed/diverted, but eventually everyone made it in time for the big day.

Our wedding was utterly magical.

After weeks of rain, the sun came out. We were surrounded by so many of our family and best friends from all over the world; probably the only time in our lives all those people will be in one room. The day was simply perfect for so many reasons, but above all because I got to marry my best friend.

Then there was another big event to come for the year, and that was the build of our new home. While wrapped up in wedding fever, our little home was slowly but surely starting to become a reality.

But, as you probably know, there was a surprise waiting for us in between the wedding and the house.

A baby.

While my belly began to grow, our house began to look like a home and in August we officially became residents of Taranaki.

And so, we have ended the year in our new home, with Christmas looking different to normal but no less special.

Those big moments in the year were extraordinary, and certainly are the headlines of 2023. But we all know that in life the big moments are generally few and far between (we just happened to pack a few into 12 months). What makes up the majority of our lives is the smaller, more everyday moments. To me, they are equally as important, if not more so. Big events come and go, but so much joy lies in the everyday things, if you only just look.

So, as well as ticking off some big milestones this year, there were so many other wonderful moments that happened in between them. What follows isn’t an exhaustive list, but a little sample…

One of my closest friends welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. We attended many race meetings and watched countless more on TV. We bought a new (to us) car. Finally got to see Ed Sheeran in concert. Birthdays were celebrated, including my nephew’s first. We ventured up north for a lovely long weekend away. We went to many pub quizzes, sometimes winning, mostly not. We renovated furniture for our home. Many hours were spent on FaceTime to family and friends. We enjoyed the Netball and Rugby World Cups (mostly). On a professional level I saw a four-year project of mine come to fruition as I led the global implementation of it. I spent many hours in the kitchen, my happy place, making food for loved ones. I also, for the first time in quite a while, spent many hours writing, another happy place of mine.

I will forever treasure the headlines of 2023, but when I reflect on the year that was, what I value the most was the quality time spent with Gareth, our family, and friends.

I do think it’s important to be clear about something though. Having such an extraordinary year doesn’t come without its sacrifices and hard decisions. We had to miss the wedding of two of our dear friends. We couldn’t spend Christmas with either of our families. We made countless other tough, but private, decisions. And I wouldn’t get to drink half of the champagne that was gifted to me for my birthday. (Okay, so that last one wasn’t actually that tough).

Life is about give and take. I do believe that you can have your cake and eat it too, but you can’t have every flavour.

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2024 is set to be another big year, but in a very different way. It’s not a year I can plan all that much for, at least not every part of it. It’ll probably be more like getting into the rollercoaster, strapping myself in and enjoying the ride.

That’s more than okay with me. While I love to set goals and have targets to work towards in certain areas of my life, 2023 taught me that it’s important to leave a little room for magic too.

Before I sign off for the year, there’s one final thing I’d like to say. If 2023 wasn’t a wonderful year for you, and try as you might your perspective just isn’t swinging towards the positive, that’s okay. Life is full of peaks and valleys (see the image below), and just know that when you are in a valley, the peak will be your next destination. I hope 2024 brings you that peak, and you find plenty of joy along the way.  

That’s all for now,

Jordyn

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely of places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl

Chart from “The Code of the Extraordinary Mind,” by Vishen Lakhiani