Ciao, 2023!

Last year around this time, I read an article in the Wall Street Journal called, "The Bright Side of 2022" by Zachary Karabell. One line in particular stood out to me. "Much will continue to go tragically and spectacularly wrong, but that shouldn’t keep us recognizing and celebrating all that goes right." I think this year has been hallmarked by that line, and in that vein, I want to start this post differently than I normally do, with all that has gone right.

It was probably my best year ever professionally. I won awards. I spoke on panels. Life started to fall back into place. I felt surprised, loved and ready on my birthday. I traveled the most I probably ever have to horizons seen and unseen by me. Celebrated with old friends. Had lunch and dinner with new ones. Took care of the bees. Let love come quietly. Looked at the stars, watched fireworks, ate butter pecan ice cream, and stayed up late. Felt the strength of my body as I balanced my weight in crow pose, and celebrated new holiday traditions.

Still, the tragic and spectacularly wrong was there. We lost my grandad Michael at the end of September, he was a pillar in our family, and losing him has been one of the toughest things I've ever experienced. Nonetheless, my family rallied, and we did it together. Of course, there's also what's going on with our world every day that makes me lose faith more often than not. 

Then there are days where I'm singing Unwritten with my cousins at a dive bar in Brooklyn or I'm in the kitchen dancing to Orange Blood with the one that I love that reminds me that the heart of life is good. 

Still, I'm constantly being reminded that life is always changing and that we are always letting go of something. That's the tragic nature of life. Something has to end for another thing to begin. 

I don't know what to say about the new year ahead. I hope you find beauty in the madness. I hope for peace and a ceasefire. I hope that my grandmother regains some of her strength. I hope all these things for you.

 Yours Sincerely, Chanel

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