Lost in Thought Wrapped: 2022

Sometimes I feel like I have lived a million lives this year. I guess that is just being eighteen: trying out new things and seeing what may stick. I used to close my eyes and fantasize about how amazing it must be to be this age, but my imagination never stretched far enough to comprehend just how fulfilled my heart had been this year.

It's the time of year that all social media apps come out with yearly reviews. Everyone is posting their "Spotify Wrapped" and nobody is showing their Snapchat "Year in Reviews." Now there's also Goodread's "My Year in Books" and the BeReal recap to add to the mix, so I might as well write a blog post on my 2022 while we're at it. Think of this as a recap of the lessons that I learned this year, "Lost in Thought Wrapped" if you will.

Dear 2022, Thank you for allowing me to grow.

"Oh, you better slow down or I'll lose my mind

I have this bad habit of falling behind"

This year was split into drastically different eras only separated by a few months: high school and college; what was and what will be. On the brink of childhood and adulthood, I had so much going on, but in between it all I knew I had to find moments to take it all in before it was too late. I decided slowing down was the only answer. I started doing the little things that bring me joy that I never seem to make time for. Hiking became part of my routine as how reading became a priority. My guitar stopped accumulating dust and I started taking life day by day. Life became blissful again when I realized just how much I needed to slow it down and take a breath. Inhale love; exhale gratitude.

"Never regret

If it's good, it's wonderful

If it's bad, it's an experience"

This summer I was living on the threshold of two defining chapters in my life and while in it I took advantage of every opportunity that came my way. Saying "yes" is crucial to a life well lived and in 2022 I really did learn how to say it. I learned so much about myself by saying "yes" as it came with new friends, new experiences, and a whole bunch of new memories that I will never forget. I learned that I could turn my narrative around. I became a sociable and wise young woman through the lessons that embracing chaos taught me.

"Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is enough."

I had a lot of highly anticipated moments in 2022: prom, graduation, trips, concerts, and the start of college. Through these big events, and the importance of slowing down, I tried to find joy in the mundane instead of just living for the next good time, and I think I succeeded. The small moments that usually fall through the cracks are still prevalent in my mind as I prioritized my morning coffee time on the back deck. I made the time to read page after page while soaking up warm rays that so graciously grazed my skin. Graduating high school and climbing a mountain was amazing, but singing along to Taylor Swift with my best friend was also a core memory that I would never trade.

"Don't lose this moment searching for another."

The underlying theme of most of these lessons revolves around gratitude and 2022 really did make me so grateful for everything that surrounds me. In the second half of this year when my life really started to change, it was a whirlwind. I was picked up, spun around, and dropped down on earth over and over again, but it was kind of amazing. Starting college gave me more knowledge than ever all at once while also navigating making new friendships, forming routines, and managing it all which was a task in itself. This fall flew by while I was out having the time of my life and I want to thank this year for giving me everything I have ever wanted before it slips out from under me.

"How long is forever?

Sometimes, just one second"

Finding the calm in the chaos, flat waters during a storm, gave me the opportunity to realize I am exactly where I have always wanted to be. Once I settled down and found routines in my new life, everything seemed to fall right into place. I found a group of friends that make me lose track of time, got all A's in my courses, read twenty-four books, wrote what feels like even more, and made a million memories doing so. Just like that, I started living a balanced life.

"Let me fall if I must fall

The one I will become will catch me."

This was the year I made it. I put my trust in the universe and I made it. I am a writer, I read, I scribble down poetry on old Starbucks napkins in red ink, I write short stories in the mornings while I drink my coffee, I wear outfits that I used to save on Pinterest boards, and I go about my life with a smile across my face. I became a person I looked up to as a little kid and that is one of the best feelings I could have asked for this year.

Dear 2023, I look forward to attracting what is meant for me this year. I will step into my own power and use the lessons I learned in 2022 to shape a steady, happy, and rewarding year.

Thank you all for reading. Have a happy and healthy new year!

-Emma Claire