Tranquility du Jour #623: 2023 Year in Review

In this week’s edition of Tranquility du Jour, I share my Year in Review. Hear my top 10 highlights, what went well, what didn't go so well, dreams for 2024, and more PLUS a variety of resources for you!

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Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. —Søren Kierkegaard

Hello dear reader. I hope you're finding a gentle landing spot in this new year.

Longtime blog readers may recall my “weeks in review” turned “months in review” turned "season in review" over the years. Now there's an annual Year in Review.

This reflection exercise allows me to stay accountable, set and review goals, celebrate, and note what needs adjustment.

Below is a list of my year’s experiences in no particular order. There's also a brief reflection and resources to support us moving into the new year.

To compile this information I reviewed my planner, monthly dreams, birthday exercise (here's mine from 2021), goodreads app, ballet class platforms, and photos. Needless to say, it's a process!

Consider your own 2023 list. Look for patterns, wins, challenges, boundaries, and those sweet moments in between. Although this year may have been challenging, you may just rediscover some gems when you compile your own Year in Review.

Oh, and here's an Instagram reel with heaps of photos from 2023.

Year's Experiences Top 10

Hosted 30+ Coterie events including an in-person tea party
Won 1st place for Les Sylphides in the International Adult Ballet Festival's Beginner Classical Category (more photos and Instagram reel)
Turned 50!
Celebrated Gizmo's 16th birthday with a DC staycation
Featured as Ms. December in a ballet calendar
Made simplification shifts (clothing line example)
Traveled to Paris twice (here's one trip and another)
Released the TDJ balletcore collection
Created Tranquility Salon monthly membership
Revealed my new book's cover (now I need to write it!)

More Experiences in Random Order

Had another hip surgery
Collaborated with amazing clients
Booked flights for postponed retreat in Borneo with Borneo Orangutan Survival
Went to Paris with Mama Wilson
Took 300+ ballet classes
Released the Tranquility Within: Mental Health Course
Performed in two group pieces at the International Adult Ballet Festival (one en pointe)
Released new Tea with Kimberly videos
Traveled to NYC for three private sessions with my teachers
Enjoyed 10 live jazz shows (four in NYC, one in Paris, five in DC)
Spent a weekend in NYC with my friend Jenn
Hosted my final pet loss support session and virtual retreats
Hours of physical therapy
Took a 16-week pointe class with Broche Ballet
Danced through 50+ private virtual lessons
Joined Kathryn Morgan and friends in NYC and Philly for ballet weekends
Made dozens of Pigs & Pugs Project micro-grants
Hosted one TDJ Style Pop-Up, the 600th Podcast Soiree, four virtual retreats, Pink Friday, and Fall Inspiration
Sent 250(ish) snail mail love notes
Released 26 podcast episodes
Sent 30 newsletter Love Notes
Received my first AARP snail mail, oh my!
Attended many therapy-related trainings
Enjoyed dozens of tea dates with friends
Celebrated 19 years with my partner Tim
Planned and launched Coterie 2024 (doors close 1/13)
Read only 18 of 40 books in Goodreads Reading Challenge (bought dozens more!)
Updated Living Tranquility: TDJ Tenets digital course
Worked with a beloved support team
Traveled between DC and WV dozens of times
Celebrated my dad's 80th in Oklahoma
Dabbled in more Instagram reels
Saw two Harry Styles shows in Paris
Donated 10K to charity—Pigs & Pugs Project, Borneo Orangutan Survival, 1% for the Planet

Reflection

What Worked Well for Me in 2023? Hosting the Coterie, trimming my offerings, full psychotherapy practice, a bit of travel, virtual private ballet sessions and group classes, second hip surgery, creating digital courses and the Salon, ate more salads (in wraps), hired amazing support, finalized a new book cover.

What Didn't Work for Me in 2023? Lack of mobility for a month after hip surgery, my therapist of nine years retired and booked a one-way ticket to Italy, I lost my signature ring (Tim found it five months later), reading was hard for some reason, challenges managing physical pain, not completing online courses, didn't create as much content as I'd hoped, didn't complete new book draft, exhausted often, excessive vet visits and senior pet needs, brain fog.

What Did I Learn About Myself Last Year? I need more rest and simplicity in my life.

How Did My Goals for 2023 Unfold? I achieved more than 3/4 of my Year’s Dreams list. Released 25 podcasts, created digital courses, had a meaningful 50th birthday, had the band around my femur removed, nurtured the Coterie, streamlined my website (thanks Mara!), gave a proud performance of Les Sylphides, and took trips to Paris. A few that I didn’t meet and are still on my radar: read 40 books, solid pirouettes at the barre and in the center, daily greens.

My 2024 Year’s Dreams: complete and release Advanced Tranquility book, healthy pugs, send monthly love notes (sign up here), new website, increase color on my plate and eat more veggies/whole foods, learn and perform a made-for-me ballet solo to La Vie en Roseat the International Adult Ballet Festival, get back en pointe consistently, nurture my Coterieloves and clients, incorporate more play and relaxation time, create an "Embrace Your Inner Parisienne" micro-course, finish a few e-courses I’ve signed up for, donate to support orangutans, pigs, and pugs, create AM writing time, create content for you (starting a Substack soon!).

Wrap-Up: Overall 2023 was an okay year. Ballet continued to be a dominate presence along with my therapy practice, the Coterie, and pug caregiving. I see this continuing into the new year and hope to make more space to write, cuddle pugs, and read fireside (or by twinkle light).

My word/theme for 2024 is attention. What about you? May 2024 be filled with time and space for what matters most to you! Bisous. x

Resources

40 New Year’s Resolutions Ideas
How to Create Your Personal Year End Review
22 Ways to Ensure 2022 is the Year You Supercharge Your Career
How to Make 2022 Your Best Financial Year Yet
22 of our Favorite Healthy Ways to Welcome 2022
5 Tips to Meet Your New Year’s Resolutions
My 2019 Year in Review
My 2020 Year in Review
My 2021 Year in Review
My 2022 Year in Review
Are New Year’s Resolutions Powerful or Pointless?
5 Science-Backed Strategies for Nailing Your New Year’s Resolutions
Pick Your Nudge Word
7 Daily Habits That'll Improve Your Mental Health
Tea with Kimberly Video on 6 Tips for the New Year
Ezra Klein Podcast on Attention