The Year of!
Manifesting themes of 2025.
Okay, so somehow, it is still the month of January 2025; not January 2026. Hard to believe - I know we are all over it, no matter where you live in the US. Everything is frozen, grey, dark, dirty, or on fire and that is just physically speaking.
Regardless, I am still thinking about the new year. I’ve been doing my best to just GET THROUGH this month. I tell my goals that they will have to wait until things thaw out a little. And these really are not goals - they are more themes if you will (I refuse to use the word eras for obvious reasons). What are our lives, if not narratives with broad themes interspersed? So 2025 will be…
The year of the album.
Last year, according to Spotify wrapped, I listened to 792.48333 hours of music (about a month of music), but I’d like to do it one better, and rather than listen to the same probably 1000 songs I play over and over every year only to have them battle it out for top obsession of the year - I thought I’d be more strategic in my listening habits.
I know Spotify has its issues (hey, I go to shows and buy merch still) but the incredible thing exists that it is somehow legal to listen to pretty much whatever you want whenever for a small monthly fee. Growing up that luxury didn’t exist. If I wanted to hear a song or artist I either had to find a way to buy the album/song, download it, rip it from a friend’s library, or even tape it off of the radio. It was a lot of work - and now I think I just take for granted the vast expanse of music that is available 24/7/365.
So this year, we are playing the FULL ALBUM. Appreciate not just the song, but the whole landscape that a record can create. I started a playlist and plan to spin one album a day while drinking coffee/getting my ducks in the row 8:30-9:30am-ish. You know how it goes.
The year of beans.
For a long time, I didn’t consume many beans - very sad, I know. During my time dabbling in the Paleo/Whole 30/clean eating world of the early 2010s, I learned about beans having something called “lectins” or “anti-nutrients” and thus were not stable or safe to consume. Humans didn’t evolve to eat beans, they would say! That is why you fart, duh! Or somehow the beans caused you to have the ever-popular (self) diagnosis of leaky gut. Either way, I was off beans and didn’t miss them that much outside of maybe hummus and re-fried.
But lately, and in the past 5 years since dumping most of the Paleo dogma in favor of just eating stuff I like, I’ve rediscovered my love for beans, especially when well-prepared. Beans are also still cheap and hopefully remain that way this year. The soluble fiber they provide is also an area of interest to me now that I am 40 and have to think about things like cholesterol numbers. So this year, beans are back, baby!
The year of decaf (the decaffeinated year?)
For Christmas, I received a Garmin watch, and with it, I’ve been tracking my sleep for the first time, maybe ever. I don’t know how accurate smartwatches are in tracking sleep cycles, but I noticed that I was not getting much REM sleep, maybe 60 to 90 minutes when 120 was a better target. I immediately dug into the podcast archives and devoured all I could on sleep from sleep experts; the consensus seemed to be alcohol fucks your sleep up and of course, caffeine.
Now I love coffee so much that I am not above drinking a full 34-fluid French press every day. Things I would give up before coffee include sugar, booze, social media, tea, long showers, and other consumables of a similar nature. But I actually think my problem isn’t the coffee but the caffeine. So, even though I thought I’d be dead before this - I may have to switch to decaffeinated coffee. Probably the most 40-year-old thing I’ve ever said to date. I’ve been having half-caf (no one makes a good half-caf bean by the way) in the mornings and decaf green tea at night. I still get joy out of the ritual. Sleep has been improving. Stay tuned for my inevitable straightedge transformation brought to you by Garmin and Dr. Peter Attia.
The year of living in a house.
No, not buying one, just living on one. Austin and I signed a lease and moved in March. We’re masochists, moving so much but realistically,y Austin doesn’t like our neighbors (again!), and I am jonesing for a new running route/walkable neighborhood. We found a place, and the owners seem great - they bought the place this summer but are moving back to Oregon to be closer to elevation I imagine. We will have a useable backyard, garage, and finished basement. Excited to be in a new place but cautious of my excitement as well. 👟
The year of buying records (again.)
In 2012-16, records were purchased by me and others, and my collection grew. The act fell out of favor with me recently, but this year I want to bring it back. Austin owns a new turn table, and it is a fun hobby that I enjoy - more the search for it. Similar to thrifting, buying records have the same energy. It is about the rare find in a discount bin. The act creates the joy as much as the actual item found.
The year of inviting people over.
See: Moving into a house with space for others to sit and share time in it. Backyard fires in the summer 2025. RSVP now!
The year of going for it.
A theme for all time. I limit my belief in myself and how far I can actually go. So this year - we’re tacking on the extra mile, we’re sending the text, we’re reaching out for the reach out, we’re asking so we can receive, we’re trying new things even if it is just once, and we’re saying it is okay to suck at stuff. Last week, I went to an oil painting class that was humbling to say the least - but we did it. It was fun? Gotta build momentum and use it for the next 11 months.
Cheers.