I know I’m not alone when I think “wow, where did this year go?” Just because saying that sentiment this time of year has become cliché, doesn’t mean I’m not going to think it or it’s not going to feel true. It’s still hard to believe it’s the time of year to reflect back on the last twelve months and look ahead to the new year.
Ireland
There is one big highlight that leaps to mind when I think on the past year. This past fall, I took a trip that was a long time in the making! And not just this particular trip itself and the cities I visited, but even just visiting Ireland in general. It’s a country that has been in my top places to visit for as long as I can remember and it was magical. The people were so welcoming and charming, and the countryside was stunning. The libraries were beautiful and inspiring, and, well…it was an amazing trip. I was able to see the famed Book of Kells while touring Trinity College, and see Ireland’s first public library from 1707 (!).
Even visiting the famed Cliffs of Moher on a heavily misty morning was not disappointing. I may write more on this later, but the visit, to me, offered insight into Irish myths. With mist like that, I could certainly see how it might feel like one could step through them and into another world.
I already cannot wait to return to Ireland, though nothing is yet planned at the moment. There are still more places to explore on the island and I’m going to have to visit the Cliffs again so I can try for a sunny day, right?
Cooking
I like to cook, and regularly try new recipes (or return to old ones). But over the last few months I tried to be…more intentional about it. I’ve recently returned to some cookbooks I’ve had for years that I may pull out from time to time and select only one recipe. This time though, I kept it out and tried 1-2 each week (and plan to continue doing this). It’s helped me try recipes that I thought looked good but I put off for one reason another.
This has also made me more intentional with both meal prepping and my grocery list. I think about what I have planned for the week ahead and how many meals I may need – and so how many meals I may get from one recipe – and it’s cut down on food I’ve bought because it maybe looked good (or I had big plans for a recipe) and then didn’t use. And it feels good to be clearing out my refrigerator through cooking and eating that meal prep versus throwing out something uneaten/unused.
A Few Little Things
And then there were a few things I did this year that was just because I wanted to do them. The pumpkin village at the Dallas Arboretum looked amazing, and I made sure to get a visit in before a very busy fall. I went to the theater to see & Juliet, which was a fun way to spend a few hours. I also went to the symphony and also got one more musuem visit in Forth Worth in before the end of the year. There are a few more plays and symphonies I’m already looking forward to seeing in the new year. And of course, there was Shakespeare in the Park, a summer/fall tradition that I look forward to each year.
Life can get busy, but it’s so important to make the time for those things you want to do, even if it’s just a few hours.
