2024 reflection

2024 taught me how to be okay with change. I graduated college and moved back home, my boyfriend and I started dating long distance, my friends and I split up, and I was feeling anxious about the future.

In 2024, my boyfriend and I were faced with long distance. I went back home to the bay area after graduating while he stayed in LA working full-time. 

Now, 7 months into long distance taught me that long distance isn’t really long distance if your hearts are truly connected. I learned that love isn't stronger by being physically close to someone, but being emotionally attuned with your loved one. If your hearts are connected, you will feel like you are together no matter where you are in the world. You will feel just as safe, just as happy, just as strong as if you were with them physically. Long distance is about feeling each other’s love from far away whether it is sending doordash to your loved one or writing letters to express how you feel. It is about changing your love language or being okay with receiving another love language because of the distance. 

In 2024, I’ve made the most beautiful friends. Friends who challenge me, teach me or inspire me in their own way. I’ve realized that my friends all have their own unique talents that better me as a human being. I used to be angry at my no-filter, hyper, and random brain but now, I am more grateful than anything. My lively personality has given me genuine friends for life along with the ability to connect with others. I used to be afraid of talking to strangers or making a fool of myself, but I’ve realized that the more I put myself out there, it’s not as bad as it seems. 

So to all my darling friends, thank you for being in my life. I appreciate you so much. 

In 2024, i reconnected with many of my old friends. Friends from elementary school, friends from high school, childhood friends. Reconnecting with old friends from the past is like rekindling old parts of yourself. Each old person was close to you at one moment of your life and being with them reminds you of that stage of your life. They hold apart of you that you will never forget and being with them is like reliving a part of your past. It is a special feeling and I vow to keep in touch with those old friends. 

In 2024, I’ve read numerous books and I’ve come to one conclusion- the writers who use simple words to convey deep messages are the best writers. Authors have a unique ability to connect with people with words on paper. how can a piece of paper with simple words make someone feel so much? captivate them into the story and everything they see reminds them of the book? how can authors make me feel that the characters they create are my friends?

In 2024, I realized that books are the ultimate friends that won’t ever speak ill of you, books offer a portal into another persons life to escape your own reality. books can even make you feel loved, seen, adventurous, connected and warmth. how amazing are the people who are able to make one feel so much only with a paper and pen? 

I had a lot of trouble with loving my face because i would compare my face to the people on instagram. I wish i had freckles, I wish i had thicker eyebrows, fuller lips, bigger eyes, longer eyelashes, smaller waist, etc. in 2024, i came to appreciate my face because my face is my the face of my parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles and so on. My face carries the faces of the people who came before me and the people who love me. 

There are still countless of things I want to achieve in 2025. I want to explore the world, learn how to surf, read all sorts of books, learn to the play the piano. There are unlimited amount of things I want to do and I am so happy to be so young to be able to complete everything my heart desires. I am so excited to meet all the new people I will encounter this year, all the hugs I will share with my friends, family and boyfriend. I am so excited to read all the books I plan to read this year, all the new hobbies I will pick up, all the places I will explore and all the joy I will experience. This upcoming year, I hope to provide warmth, love, compassion, kindness, and joy to others around me even when I am having a bad day.