Moved halfway across the world, among other things: 2024 Recap

Now that we’re almost at the end of 2024, it’s tiiiiiime (read that again in Mariah Carey’s voice) for my bi-annual chatty blog!! If you’ve been around long enough you’d have recognized the title <among other things>. But if you’re new, Hello! And Welcome! to the life update/ journal with me that literally no one asked for. BUT it’s a little tradition here at SmileOverSpilledMilk. Before I spill the tea, go and grab yourself a fun little drink and a notebook and pen (or pull up your notes app). Why? Cause we’re gonna reflect on 2024, share stories and prep for the new year. DuH?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ah! 2024! You know that feeling when you feel stuck and weighed down, but at the same time, you feel like something good is about to happen. Like the chaos before the calm? That’s my 2024 summed up for you. Now go ahead and describe your 2024 in one sentence..Go on I’ll wait. Done? Let’s go.🌟

So I went into the New Year determined to figure it out. Like literally! I spent the whole of January locked up in my room journaling and planning away. I didn’t talk to anyone unless I was spoken to, I spent the whole month trying to find the answers to where I wanted to go in life and how I would make it happen. (I’ll be making a video on that whole process of identifying who you are, setting goals, finding blocks and then vision boarding. So keep an eye out for that. Now coming back to my 2024.) What else happened this year? Hmm.. Let’s see. Sorted through and packed up everything we own and moved to a new place. Helped plan an entire home renovation. Got accepted to a uni in the UK. Found my tribe of sisters at NEP. Published my second poetry collection. Bed rotted A LOT!!! Doom scrolled A LOTT!! Packed up my whole existence into 3 suitcases and moved halfway across the world to go to uni for a second time and this time next to the sea! Met sooo many people, made new friends <3, checked a few things off my bucket list. Cried myself to sleep cause even though this is a dream come true, I still miss home and my family. Apologized to a chair, thanked a microwave, in true British fashion (Fun fact: I did this quite a bit back home as well lmao). Phew! That was a rollercoaster to say the least! Now it’s your turn, what were the highlights of your 2024? List everything the big wins, the small small wins, the losses, the tears, the joys.. everything!

This year for me has been a lot like walking on a tightrope between introspection and imploding! Seriously, there’s been so many times this year when I stopped to question if what I was doing was worthwhile if my choices were okay, and how it was affecting those around me. So much introspection that it often felt like I was really gonna implode. And that dear readers was the one main constant theme this year. What was your main constant theme this year?

OOh! And the lessons that being alone thousands of kilometers and multiple time zones away from family teaches you. Phew! I’ve stayed alone in another city before but not like this. Then I had my parents helping me figure things out and they were only 2 hours away. But being here in another country and doing everything by yourself. Truly truly humbles you. Like I had no idea just how high maintenance I really was, until I started maintaining myself. And my parents made it seem so easy, like how did they even deal with me on a daily basis? But in all fairness, I did have a handful of friends who were on this journey with me and I just want to say thank you guys for being so patient with me and my indecisiveness and everything else. So I guess what I am trying to hint at is: What were some of the lessons this year taught you? (Note it down even if you didn’t actually learn the lesson, you’ll thank me later) and What are you thankful for going into this New Year?

Also, there was this one thing that I practised consistently this year. And it’s called “5 seconds of peace”. This is a little something I picked up from a K-drama of all places. (In case you were wondering, it’s from the drama “My Liberation Notes”). So you basically just note down anything that made you feel human and gave you peace for as little as 5 seconds that day. Some of the things on my list this year were my fav boi – Cookie’s hugs >>, a cute little cloud in the sky, a small flower, taste of ice cream, how perfectly crisp my bread was, well you get the gist. What’s the point of all this? In our busy lives we usually forget to savour the tiny things in life that keep us grounded and sane. So this list essentially helps with that. Was there any such practice that kept you sane this year? Will you still be working on it next year?

Speaking of next year, let’s take a second to create a mantra/ a catchphrase for 2025! It’s basically a phrase or word that you will use as the main theme for the year. A reminder and a prayer that you will keep coming back to when you feel low or are happy and thankful. If you know me then, this is something I’ve been doing since 2020. And my mantra for 2024 was – “Hiraya” – which means fruit of one’s hopes, dreams and aspirations. Tbh, I actually didn’t actively remind myself of this catchphrase at all this year. In fact I set it as the catchphrase and sort of forgot about it. And yet it’s actually been the theme of this year for me. So I guess whether or not you use it, setting one really defines the arc of your year giving you a vague sense of direction. Let’s take a minute to set a mantra/catchphrase for 2025.

Ufff! That was a lot we unpacked and sorted through. Now give yourself a pat in the back and congratulate yourself for making it through yet another year🙌🏼. That’s it from me for now. Be sure to stay tuned for my video on getting your life together and go buy my book – Bits of Broken Poetry – click here. Bye for now. Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year✨

Until next time,

Let’s #growwiththeflow🌈

xVishrutha🌻

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