Favorite Things: 2022 Edition!
/Some of my favorite podcasts hold end-of-year episodes where the hosts discuss their favorite things of 2022, so I thought I’d throw my own list into the void! Often when I’m writing this blog, I ask myself, ‘does it really matter if I take the time to write about this?’ The more I write, the more I am believing that the answer is of course it matters. It matters because I am practicing writing. It matters because the act of writing on a specific topic helps me clarify my own thinking. It matters because writing about different topics helps me own my identity in a more concrete way. This is especially true when it comes to listing your favorite things of the year. Listing your favorite things gives you a chance to slow down and think back over the year and the moments that stand out. Recognizing something as a ‘favorite’ might also help give you clues about what truly gives you joy, comfort, happiness, or pleasure. If you’re more familiar with the types of things that bring you joy, you know what to look for when seeking future joy.
The categories I’m choosing here are inspired by some of my favorite podcasts. You can use these categories or come up with your own! So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite things from 2022:
Favorite Movie: Top Gun: Maverick. There are a couple of reasons I loved this movie. First, I remember going through a big Tom Cruise phase in college, watching many of his movies (The Firm and A Few Good Men are maybe my two favorites). I did like the original Top Gun movie, but I’ll say something that might be a spicy-take: I think the new Top Gun movie is better than the original. Top Gun: Maverick felt like a movie-theater movie to me, after a couple of years where going to the movie theater was a pretty rare occurrence. But I think the main reason this movie stood out to me was because of the way I was feeling when I went to see it, and because of the people with whom I watched it. I actually saw this movie twice. First, on a warm evening in late May, when summer was drawing near, and I had been a mom for about six weeks or so. I went to the movie theater to meet my mom, sister, and brother-in-law, leaving Jonathan at home with Peter. The feeling of being out on my own for the first time was a little scary but also totally life-giving. The second time I saw Top Gun: Maverick was on a date with Jonathan, our first after Peter had been born. This time it was late summer, and my parents came to our house to watch Peter. I remember dressing up, wearing earrings for the first time in a long time. The movie theater was pretty empty, and afterwards, Jonathan and I went to a local taco place to get take out. We drank a beer while we waited for our food, talking about the movie and Jonathan’s dream of getting a new motorcycle. Ultimately, I think I liked Top Gun: Maverick because it was a reminder. It helped me remember who I was in a small way. Who I was before becoming a mom, and that that person was still in me, even as I navigated a totally new identity.
Favorite Book: The Boston Girl, by Anita Diamant. This is a story about a young Jewish girl growing up in the first part of the 20th century. Addie, protagonist, goes through a lot of hard things in her young life, but through it all, she remains determined to educate herself, to be a good friend, and to appreciate the beauty of the world. I listened to this book on audio, and the narrator was amazing. I actually don’t know if I would have liked this book as much if I’d read it in hard copy. Listening to the narrator felt like I was sitting down with a beloved grandmother or great aunt and listening to her tell me stories about her life. I listened to The Boston Girl right up until the time Jonathan and I met Peter for the first time, and I think that Addie’s determination and optimism encouraged me to fight for those things in my own spirit during a really unknown and scary time.
Favorite Beauty Product: Henry Rose Perfumes. I’ve mentioned these in a previous post, so I won’t go into great detail. All I’ll say here is this: There is power in treating yourself to a small luxury every now and then, especially one that speaks to the sense of smell. I’ll be re-ordering a new sampler of Henry Rose Perfumes when my current set runs out.
Favorite Small Choice (that maybe wasn’t such a small choice): Cutting my hair. I could probably write a very long blog post about my hair struggles throughout my life. For now, I will simply say this: If your hair has been bugging you for a while, I give you permission to cut your hair (unless you are really determined to grow your hair–in that case, keep going, because it does get easier and you will get there). Sometimes I think a good haircut is the perfect way to step into a new season of life, and that’s what my haircut was for me. I loved my long hair, but I was also feeling really stuck, and cutting off about eight inches of hair was exactly what I needed to do. As Coco Chanel famously said, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.”
Favorite Purchase: These Old Navy Jeans. I have kind of hated wearing jeans for a few years now. I just always felt like the fabric was too stiff or constraining. I greatly preferred what my dear dad would call ‘slacks’--which is somewhat ironic, because as a teenager, my sisters and I hated it when my dad would suggest that we just put on ‘a nice pair of slacks’ when we complained that we didn’t know what to wear to school or church. I still love a good pair of slacks, but these jeans from Old Navy are just soft, stretchy, and roomy enough for my liking. They may not be the most flattering pair of pants, but these days comfort wins out in my book.
Favorite Memory: Two oceans. Ocean number one: The Atlantic off the coast of Florida, with my wonderful husband and our miracle little boy. Seeing the Atlantic rise into view with my baby strapped to my chest was a spark-of-God moment for me. I felt like I had come to the end of a very long wilderness. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. Ocean number two: The Pacific off the coast of Oregon, with my wonderful husband and our miracle little boy and family who had cheered for us and held us up during our journey to parenthood.
Favorite drink/food: Keurig coffee. I discovered Keurig coffee in Florida, when Jonathan and I were staying there with Peter waiting for word that we could officially travel home. Now, I know what you might be thinking: In the world of coffee, Keurig is probably not the best coffee. But it is hot and strong and simple, and that is absolutely the type of coffee I have needed during this first year of motherhood. At 5 a.m.,when I am trying my darndest to stretch myself to life, I am deeply grateful for the simple joy of our hand-me-down Keurig coffee maker.
Over to you! What were some of your favorite things from 2022? It’s not too late to look back and take stock. Leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks, as always for reading.
-Beth