24 For 24
The night sky on December 2nd, 2023. I had just stepped down the block from the Birdland Jazz Club after the singer, songwriter and trumpeter Bria Skonberg’s set. The lights of Hell’s Kitchen were aglow and so was the marquee for Monty Python’s “Spamalot”.
I know that I’m getting a bit ahead of myself with this post, as there’s still three weeks left to go in 2023.
As I’ve just had my thirty-eighth birthday, the holiday season is now in full swing.
And trust me, there will be time and space to close out this year with my next blog post.
But for now, I want to put the following list of ideas for the new year out into the universe.
As I listened to this week’s episode of the Happier With Gretchen Rubin podcast, she and her sister Elizabeth went over their 23 for 23 lists. A list of things that they wanted to do this year. I didn’t think to do one for myself as I have difficulty with setting resolutions and their likes each year.
With that in mind, I drew up my list of 24 things that I want to get done in 2024.
And so it will be…
24 for 24
1. Perform at another in person open mic
2. Make it past the probationary period at work
3. Find other interests besides writing
4. Get poetry book #2 off the ground
5. Join another multi author book
6. Take a long weekend trip before Croatia happens
7. Begin planning for the 2025 trip to Spain
8. Clear out the CD cabinet and the bookshelf
9. Attend more events with Closer
10. Upgrade my phone
11. Make more of an effort to connect with friends
12. Return to the Phineas Wright House
13. Attend more concerts
14. Wear my leather jacket more
15. Finish the three wines left in the Saraceni Wines box
16. Keep the expresso and cornetto routine on Monday going
17. Celebrate my birthday, Christmas and New Year’s
18. An in person Made To Do This reunion in NYC
19. Take a new photo of my sister and I
20. Freshen up the design in my room
21. Reduce the time spent scrolling on my devices
22. Book a Manhattan By Sail Golden Hour cruise
23. Find a way to stop the downward emotional spirals
24. Take better care of myself
Will this list be fully completed? That remains to be seen. But as someone that struggles to move forward with his life, I needed some semblance of goals to try and achieve in the year ahead.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season and I’ll be back on New Year’s Eve to see 2023 go gently into the good night.
On November 30th, I ended up walking to the New York Stock Exchange during my lunch break. The preparations for the tree lighting later that evening were just beginning. Even if it felt a bit on the warm side, the holiday spirit was in the air as the sun shone down at the intersection of Wall & Broad Streets.
