2023 The year that was
What did you do in 2023 that you'd never done before?
Went up a mountain by a chair lift by myself.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I read this text in the beginning of the year…in 2023, I hope you find time to be happy, not just strong and I found it something to be striving for and by the end of the year, well... at first I thought that I might have a new form of anxiety because I had this feeling inside of me that I've never ever experienced before, but after some reflection I came to identify the feeling as genuine happiness. I love my friends, I love to talk to them, I love how they keep in touch even when I fail to, I love that they plan for us to take trips and hang out. I like my brother, we didn’t use to be friends, we didn’t even say Hi to each other when we were younger but now he calls me just to chat about whatever and his children are my family. I love my apartment, sure there are cracks in the walls and I’m very much lacking one bathtub but ohh the view, everyday I’m taken aback by the view, no matter if it’s raining, a snowstorm or a starry night with the moon lightning up my kitchen. I love my things, I can walk around in my home and just look at all my stuff that I’ve bought from all over and smile. I love that I have the possibility to travel and see all the places that I want to see and do all the things that I want to do, from riding my MTB down a mountain to soak in a bathtub in a hotel room. And my job…yeah it’s quite outdated and a real fixer upper of a workplace but, it’s my job to make it better… which means that I’m doing my actual dream job! I wanted to work with exactly what I’m doing and have the freedom that I have. So yeah… I’m so fucking happy it’s insane.
Did anyone close to you have a baby?
Yes, you.
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing new but my body hurts just as much this year as last.
What countries did you visit?
I went to Budapest with my new friend, to Copenhagen with PE, to Lofoten with Mel, to London to see Bear’s Den and then back again with my niece.
What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?
A body that isn’t hurting.
What date from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There wasn't one that stood out.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not giving up on life when I was in unbelievable pain and couldn’t sleep for weeks.
What was your biggest failure?
Not working out more.
What's your biggest regret?
Not working out more.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A body that wasn’t hurting.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Yours!
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My answer from last year is a bit on point. What made me sad was that what she said was so far from the truth and it made me question the past ten years of our friendship because how it is possible for my so-called best friend to have such a false perception?
Who did you miss?
The boy.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
Where did most of your money go?
Petrol to get to work.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Gayboysbooks!
What was the best thing you bought?
All the books.
What did you want and got?
My new MTB.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
That weekend we went to a legostore and I bought two new sets, then we had a pizza party. I didn’t do anything at all on the actual day though, I turned 39.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Working out.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Scrolling on Instagram.
Did you fall in love in 2023?
No.
How many one-night stands?
Zero.
What was your favorite TV program?
There wasn’t that much to watch this year… But ‘ve watched Fellow Travelers these last few weeks and it started of really hot.
What was the best book you read?
Alphas like us. It made me feel all the felings,I thought I knew what was going to happen but then it took this other turn and another and another and I just love Farrow so so much!
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Harry Styles.
What was the best advertisement?
I haven’t seen any.
What was the best movie you watched?
My policeman, not just because of Harry Styles.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Harry Styles.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?
I was trying to figure it out, I was too overdressed when I wore my dresses to my new job and it’s a struggle to find comfortable pants.
What kept you sane?
I liked talking to you.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023:
It’s ok for me to be content with where I am in my life right now. I haven’t failed because I’m not living in NY or working for an international organization... especially since I don’t want to live abroad and my current job is actually my dream job.
What song will always remind you of 2023?
Harry Styles - Matilda
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
You were riding your bike to the sound of "It's No Big Deal"
And you're trying to lift off the ground on those old two wheels
Nothing about the way that you were treated ever seemed especially alarming 'til now
So you tie up your hair and you smile like it's no big deal
Matilda, you talk of the pain like it's all alright
But I know that you feel like a piece of you's dead inside
You showed me a power that is strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days
It's none of my business, but it's just been on my mind
You can see the world, following the seasons
Anywhere you go, you don't need a reason
'Cause they never showed you love
You don't have to be sorry for doing it on your own
Oh, there's a long way to go
I don't believe that time will change your mind
In other words
I know they won't hurt you anymore as long as you can let them go
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
You can start a family who will always show you love
You don't have to be sorry for doing it on your own
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
You can start a family who will always show you love
You don't have to be sorry, no
Went up a mountain by a chair lift by myself.
Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I read this text in the beginning of the year…in 2023, I hope you find time to be happy, not just strong and I found it something to be striving for and by the end of the year, well... at first I thought that I might have a new form of anxiety because I had this feeling inside of me that I've never ever experienced before, but after some reflection I came to identify the feeling as genuine happiness. I love my friends, I love to talk to them, I love how they keep in touch even when I fail to, I love that they plan for us to take trips and hang out. I like my brother, we didn’t use to be friends, we didn’t even say Hi to each other when we were younger but now he calls me just to chat about whatever and his children are my family. I love my apartment, sure there are cracks in the walls and I’m very much lacking one bathtub but ohh the view, everyday I’m taken aback by the view, no matter if it’s raining, a snowstorm or a starry night with the moon lightning up my kitchen. I love my things, I can walk around in my home and just look at all my stuff that I’ve bought from all over and smile. I love that I have the possibility to travel and see all the places that I want to see and do all the things that I want to do, from riding my MTB down a mountain to soak in a bathtub in a hotel room. And my job…yeah it’s quite outdated and a real fixer upper of a workplace but, it’s my job to make it better… which means that I’m doing my actual dream job! I wanted to work with exactly what I’m doing and have the freedom that I have. So yeah… I’m so fucking happy it’s insane.
Did anyone close to you have a baby?
Yes, you.
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing new but my body hurts just as much this year as last.
What countries did you visit?
I went to Budapest with my new friend, to Copenhagen with PE, to Lofoten with Mel, to London to see Bear’s Den and then back again with my niece.
What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?
A body that isn’t hurting.
What date from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There wasn't one that stood out.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not giving up on life when I was in unbelievable pain and couldn’t sleep for weeks.
What was your biggest failure?
Not working out more.
What's your biggest regret?
Not working out more.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A body that wasn’t hurting.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
Yours!
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My answer from last year is a bit on point. What made me sad was that what she said was so far from the truth and it made me question the past ten years of our friendship because how it is possible for my so-called best friend to have such a false perception?
Who did you miss?
The boy.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
Where did most of your money go?
Petrol to get to work.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Gayboysbooks!
What was the best thing you bought?
All the books.
What did you want and got?
My new MTB.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
That weekend we went to a legostore and I bought two new sets, then we had a pizza party. I didn’t do anything at all on the actual day though, I turned 39.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Working out.
What do you wish you'd done less of?
Scrolling on Instagram.
Did you fall in love in 2023?
No.
How many one-night stands?
Zero.
What was your favorite TV program?
There wasn’t that much to watch this year… But ‘ve watched Fellow Travelers these last few weeks and it started of really hot.
What was the best book you read?
Alphas like us. It made me feel all the felings,I thought I knew what was going to happen but then it took this other turn and another and another and I just love Farrow so so much!
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Harry Styles.
What was the best advertisement?
I haven’t seen any.
What was the best movie you watched?
My policeman, not just because of Harry Styles.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Harry Styles.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2023?
I was trying to figure it out, I was too overdressed when I wore my dresses to my new job and it’s a struggle to find comfortable pants.
What kept you sane?
I liked talking to you.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023:
It’s ok for me to be content with where I am in my life right now. I haven’t failed because I’m not living in NY or working for an international organization... especially since I don’t want to live abroad and my current job is actually my dream job.
What song will always remind you of 2023?
Harry Styles - Matilda
Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
You were riding your bike to the sound of "It's No Big Deal"
And you're trying to lift off the ground on those old two wheels
Nothing about the way that you were treated ever seemed especially alarming 'til now
So you tie up your hair and you smile like it's no big deal
Matilda, you talk of the pain like it's all alright
But I know that you feel like a piece of you's dead inside
You showed me a power that is strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days
It's none of my business, but it's just been on my mind
You can see the world, following the seasons
Anywhere you go, you don't need a reason
'Cause they never showed you love
You don't have to be sorry for doing it on your own
Oh, there's a long way to go
I don't believe that time will change your mind
In other words
I know they won't hurt you anymore as long as you can let them go
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
You can start a family who will always show you love
You don't have to be sorry for doing it on your own
You can let it go
You can throw a party full of everyone you know
You can start a family who will always show you love
You don't have to be sorry, no