trajectory of a life

It’s been an unsettling start to the new year, to say the least. When friends and coworkers ask how I’m doing, my response has been the same: my world is good, but everything else around us feels like it’s unraveling. Since January 20 (and even before), I’ve made a conscious effort to step back—reducing my time online, curating what I read and share, even cutting back on my beloved NPR to protect my nervous system from the relentless chaos.

I know my actions won’t change the state of the world, but they are necessary to safeguard my mental health. And I recognize that my ability to disengage, even temporarily, comes from a place of privilege—one that many don’t have. Still, the weight of it all is inescapable.

Instead of doom-scrolling and dwelling on the chaos, I’ve been redirecting my energy toward things that ground me. I’ve prioritized my health and well-being—spending more time with friends, strengthening new connections, and making space for gratitude. I’ve started my mornings with movement, a healthy breakfast, and a pause before the noise of the day takes over. Small acts of care, but ones that help me regain a sense of control.

January, typically a time for fresh starts and renewed hope, has felt more like being dragged backward into the worst parts of 2021—only somehow heavier, more disturbing. It truly feels like we are watching our democracy be dismantled one executive order at a time, as if we’re living in some surreal, nonsensical reality.

Writing these monthly review posts helps me shift my focus, even if only briefly, to the good—no matter how small. They remind me that even in the darkest moments, there is always something to be grateful for—even if it’s simply the quiet luxury of time to reflect.

January highlights & happenings

• finished puzzle
• completed Friends of SFACC board of director interviews
• joined Friends of SFACC events committee
• accepted to product advisory committee (work)
• annual mammogram
• saw and very much enjoyed Some Like It Hot (Broadway on Tour)
• attended intro meeting for Real Roots
• committed to rejoining book club with friend
• impromptu date night at Handroll Project
• monthly hike
• two dinners with friends
• attended Feeling Safe in Unstable Times workshop
• tried community college class, decided not right fit
• started with personal trainer + joined kick-ass new gym
• started each day with protein + veggie breakfast, stretching and water
• completed A New Years Journal Challenge with Isolation Journals
• began third year of five-year journal
• completed annual budget review + net-worth update + 2025 planning
• virtual time spent with good friends
• celebrated five years in San Francisco
• watched (TV): A Man on the Inside; Shrinking; Baby Reindeer; Golden Globes; Abbott Elementary; All Creatures Great and Small; Chef’s Table; Severance
• watched (movies): Conclave, A Real Pain
• read two books
• reflected on 2024 (blog post coming someday)
• active 29 days (45 miles walked/ran; 41 miles cycled
• one post on Trajectory of Life 
• continued daily Connections + Wordle + Mini Crossword + Strands

Open tabs

• Ever wonder why some people look like their dog?
• Nature captured on film
• What a fun way to document your year!
• Really enjoying the Three Rules podcast
• Wonderful resource to learn more about the capitalism
• That will never work
• Inspiration from the Japanese for a simpler life
• How the way we listen to music has changed
• For your to-read list
• The lost art of doing nothing with friends
• Really enjoyed this home tour (YouTube)
• What those companies pushing RTO don’t want you to know
• If you love the smell of rain . . .
• Your brain is lying to you
• How to survive being online
• A different kind of tapestry
• Floor time is a good thing
• How we spend our time over a lifetime