My 2021 Year-End Review
I’m coming to you from my kitchen bar, in a moment of peace, in between far louder moments of my kids running around or fighting or asking for some snacks as we enter our 4th day of Christmas break. Everything is good, yep, we’re good.
A few days ago I looked back through photos from last year to remind myself of things I did. If you haven’t done this, you should. It’s so fun to reminisce, and it’s a great way to review both personal and business highlights. I love when others share their own highlights, it makes me feel like I’m right along with them cheering them on.
From a business perspective, this is a great activity because it’s a somewhat objective way of documenting what you’ve accomplished and one that’s not necessarily focused solely on finances. My brain sometimes likes to tell me that I haven’t done enough and I accomplished very little, but I look back at my photos and my planner and realize how much I actually did.
Let’s start with ART/BUSINESS highlights:
I created a ton of amazing artwork!!! And a lot of mediocre artwork too.
I released a gorgeous Greek Goddess Collection of abstracted figures painted in oil and cold wax. And had the best photoshoot celebrating the launch
I took the summer “off” and adventured with the kids, visited family, played outside a lot
GOT A STUDIO!!! This has been a long term dream and not one I anticipated coming to fruition so soon
Had my first solo art show installation in my studio for the release of a large collection of abstract paintings based on letters I’ve kept from middle school. The collection is called, “p.s. write back soon”
Created super fun stickers for Boombalattis as part of their Artist Series
Participated in a wonderful mastermind group with Sarah of Atwater Designs and made incredible friends
Took my first live figure drawing class at Cameron Art Museum and loved every minute of it
So cool, right?!! Seeing this list just makes me smile.
PERSONAL highlights:
Started 2021 with seeing a therapist and it was the best way to work through all the baggage of 2020
I ran a half marathon in the worst weather ever…imagine rain, 37 deg, 6:30am…feet soaked before the race even started because of the high standing water everywhere. Yeah…good times! The last half marathon I ran was in 2009, so this wasn’t the most ideal way to jump back into races, but I am still happy to have finished it.
Explored with my family…to the mountains, to new cities, new beaches, and our favorite farm in Boone
I turned 40 and celebrated with dear friends at an Escape Room and dinner out
Spent time near or on the water every month of the year!!!! Solo beach walks have been crucial to my mental well being
Joined Orange Theory and started taking boxing lessons with a great instructor named Harvey. Continuously reminding myself that movement and physical exertion is absolutely necessary in order for me to function well in other areas of life
Read 63 books!!!! In 2020 I set a goal to read 52 books, I ended the year with 53. This year I set a goal of 60, and I’m ending with 63. This has been a cool goal to reach, but I’d like to read less next year, so I don’t feel like I’m rushing through books. Here are a few of my favorite books for the year, you can also see the rest I’ve read on Goodreads:
The Water Dance by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path by Erin Loechner
Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do by Eve Rodsky (a literal game changer for our family and Ben’s understanding of the mental load primary caregivers carry)
What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer (a collection of poems that I really resonated with)
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (my #1 pick for the year…listen as audiobook if you can)
Thank you for friends for all the love and support this year. I am immensely grateful that I get to share in my love for art and life with you.
I don’t quite know what the next season will bring…but I do know it will involve stepping into many unknowns as I test out teaching classes and hosting events at the studio, as I experiment and play some more with art by exploring some of the ideas I have brewing in my brain, and as I continue to practice living out my values of joy, peace, community, and adventure.
With love,
Ella