Goodbye Instagram Hello Real Life: A Year to Remember

2024: A year end review

Here we are at the end of another year, I’m saying the same thing I always say…”where did the time go”. It seems that as we get older time moves faster. Unfair.

I’ve been savoring an end of the year audit (thanks for the idea

Tatyana Sussex

!) by going through my calendar and photos to get a more detailed picture of how I truly spent my time over the last 12 months. My two intentions for the year - and really life in general - were to spend time with family and friends and spend more time in a creative practice.

It was a GREAT year. I did indeed make many memories with family and friends. Whale watching, trips to the desert with my favorite ladies, weekly walks with good friends, birthday parties, Sunday family walks to town for coffee, learning how to enjoy empty-nesting with my husband (date nights!), and two big ones: a wedding and a college drop-off.

At the risk of sounding like an Instagram highlight reel, I had some not-so-great moments too. Our favorite Aunt passed away on January 1st (so like her), I missed my Dad and my dog, our kiddos had some struggles, we moved a special uncle into assisted living, we moved another relative into memory care, and of course my anxiety inducing every 4 month cancer scans (still stable).

It’s life ya’ know?

Gosh, if we don’t have the bad how do we get to appreciate the good?

Did I spend time learning how to relax and create? I thought I was although it wasn’t how I’d imagined. I wanted to draw, paint, and write but what I found myself doing was posting on Instagram and calling that “creative”. I suppose it was - I had to learn how to edit video, how to take a good picture in the best lighting, and how to say what I wanted to say in just a few words (NOT my strong suit, haha).

It was fun. Until it wasn’t.

I was on my phone ALL THE TIME.

I hated it.

And with 2,600 followers and plenty of engagement (barf), I felt lonely.

I missed looking people in the eye. I missed actual conversations. I missed genuine connection.

And so I left. I deleted the apps (IG and FB) from my phone, the plan was to take a break through the holidays.

But you guys, I may not go back.

My brain is SO HAPPY. Happier than it’s been in a long time.

I have more thoughts about this break from social media that I’ll continue in another post. There’s A LOT to unpack.

For now, I’ll keep writing in this very random newsletter (thanks for sticking with me!) and hope we can connect in person or at the very least through email. I miss you:)

I’m wishing you the absolute best of everything in the new year.

K. Be good. Or don’t.

xo