A Love Letter to 2023
Dear 2023,
Thank you. You were filled with a lot of learning, new friends and stillness. I traveled very little, but I did a lot of living and the travel within myself was what I needed most. The 18” between my head and my heart is becoming, day by day, an increasingly shorter distance. What more can I ask for? While I always thought having a partner mattered for love, romance, completion and more, my true partner is myself. Instead of chasing work, love and validation - you brought me all of those things and life - naturally and effortlessly. I lived in Oaxaca for another 6 months, keeping promises to return. And I don’t think God and the universe are done with me being there, I know I’m not - I feel it. I am uncertain about what’s to come, but I am open and that’s all that matters. My world was filled with color, laughter, and lessons from my favorite small humans in the whole wide world. There were several new littles I learned from and I can only pray we will have more opportunities to grow together. I want to grow and serve, believing money will come in alignment with my heart. I was given the grace to return to NY and see my friends; to have time with my family where I was truly present and not distracted by emails, dings, and calls. It felt good to be with my family, perfectly imperfect - human and flawed - finding solutions and moving forward. There in is the definition of love. For yoga, the mental and physical challenge and learning to trust myself in new ways. An understanding that discipline is love and so is self-respect. To my teacher, new friends and some of the most supportive humans I have ever met - I am indebted. And while some people left, you let new ones in, and fixed relationships I longed to heal. You gave me the bravery I needed to keep showing up to myself in service of change and, well, service.
It has been so long since I’d written but I found myself sitting in front of my computer again writing stories, truths and day dreams which felt so familiar but so new. I held my breath as I read poems from a book a good friend sent me and remembered why I write.
One of my best friends had a baby and he stole a piece of my heart, rearranging and reigniting ideas of possibility and continued change. New life has a way of showing older life that we’re given so much time to build and do - so why ever stop? I have accepted my flaws and said goodbye to the parts of myself that had to leave if I ever wanted to experience the full breadth of life. I only want to look ahead. I don’t know what’s ahead. But I know today, on your final day, I am sated. My heart has been saved, again. I am full.
Love Always,
Tina