TW: Mentions of remedy trauma and self hurt.
I do know I often get this publish up on Christmas Eve however I simply haven’t been in a position to sustain with my previous schedule this yr; between the exhaustion from my erratic sleep schedule and my ADHD outdoing itself in fucking up my focus, writing has been taking loads of time and vitality. I nonetheless like it however all of the sudden it’s simply taking a lot effort, in all kinds, and that has massively slowed down my potential to complete something. However there was lots to be thankful for this yr and so I actually wished to get it down, regardless of how lengthy it took.
MUM – I do know I particularly checklist my Mum on my ‘Grateful’ lists however it by no means turns into much less true; I by no means turn into much less grateful. I discover extra causes with every year. The help she has given me this yr, in good occasions and in dangerous, has been superb: she made it doable for me to maneuver by means of the Autism canine course of, go to live shows, take up alternatives that I might by no means have been in a position to take part in in any other case. She’s supported me by means of meltdowns, the times that I couldn’t get away from bed, all the things I’ve wanted to make the music I’ve made this yr, serving to me to seek out the individuals who can help me in my psychological and bodily well being… I couldn’t do any of this with out her.
FAMILY – Not that I might ever name my household unsupportive however I really feel like there have been particular cases this yr which have felt new and completely different, within the context of the best way they help me: assist with making use of grants, assist with getting my educational paper prepared for publication, assist with the Autism Canines course of, assist with going to see Taylor Swift, assist with discovering a brand new therapist, even rescuing me after I’ve gotten stranded mid-meltdown… They hearken to me; they know when to push me after I want it and let me cease after I have to cease; they remind me to relaxation (one thing I’m notoriously again at). My well being, each bodily and psychological, has been so dangerous this yr that I’ve actually wanted them and that change has created extra change. The dynamic feels completely different than it has previously and, for essentially the most half, in a optimistic approach; there’s room for progress.
THE FAMILY OF CATS – The cats have been a bit distant since we bought Izzy. They discover Izzy a pest at the perfect of occasions and they also’ve stayed away from her and due to this fact us as Izzy is often with me and/or Mum. However over the previous couple of months, they’ve began to stray from their ‘protected house’ within the kitchen and additional into the home. They’re now sleeping in my room and the lounge and even asking for consideration, which appears like such a giant win. They nonetheless keep away from Izzy for essentially the most half as a result of she may be so excitable and unpredictable in her playfulness however we undoubtedly have progress from the start of the yr.
IZZY – Though she could be a little menace at occasions, I truthfully don’t know what I’d do with out Izzy in my life. I believe she might nicely have saved my life after we bought her final summer season and one way or the other I like her much more than I did then. I like her extra day-after-day. She’s a continuing presence – a continuing smooth, heat heartbeat – beside me and as bouncy and hyper and playful as she may be, she may be simply as mild and affectionate and delicate; each time I’m upset and even having a meltdown, she presses herself as near me as doable and even licks away my tears. All she desires to do is make it higher and though it’s hardly ever one thing she will have an effect on in any respect, her perception that she will and the hassle she places in could make me really feel no less than rather less terrible.
AUTISM DOGS – Whereas the method of working in direction of my Autism Help Canine, Daisy, and the anticipation (and, I’ll admit, anxiousness) of ready to see the way it all performs out when she arrives, it’s additionally been actually thrilling and such a studying curve. Although I swing backwards and forwards into varied large doubts, the workers have been unbelievable at reassuring me and, if it’s a sensible anxiousness, exhibiting me what to do to make me really feel extra assured. Daisy is totally beautiful and so desirous to please and really delicate to my wants already; I don’t know what I’m going to do if, mid-cry, I’ve two canine launching themselves at me… Izzy and Daisy are getting on higher however Izzy remains to be very possessive of me and I simply must hope that once they get to spend some vital time collectively (i.e. greater than ninety minutes at a time), they’ll discover it simpler to determine one another’s boundaries. So there’s loads of pleasure there, even when there’s additionally loads of anxiousness. And getting to satisfy so many canine has been so beautiful – as soon as there was even slightly of puppies!
OLD FRIENDS AND NEW FRIENDS – My buddies and the love I’ve for them has been a constant thread all through this yr. I’ve spent loads of time, in actual life and over the video calls if journey was tough, with buddies from all completely different intervals of my life – one thing I really feel so extremely fortunate to have. I’m nonetheless buddies with my greatest buddy from secondary faculty, from sixth kind, from my BA, and my MA group of buddies; it’s one thing that makes me so emotional, that we’ve managed to keep up these friendships over all of this time, regardless of all the things that’s occurred in our lives, and choose up – just about – as if no time has handed. With the ability to share my life, hear about theirs, and hopefully help them as a lot as I’m in a position by means of powerful occasions is without doubt one of the best honours of my life and I can solely hope that I’ve been clear sufficient about how a lot they imply to me. Their circles have broadened my circle too and that’s additionally been actually beautiful.
And because of the wedding ceremony of a buddy from sixth kind (she, Lois, animated a beautiful music video for me and we’ve stored in contact sporadically through the years), I had the chance to see so many elderly buddies from sixth kind, a lot of whom I haven’t seen for years. Due to the pandemic, going to universities everywhere in the nation, touring and shifting overseas, we haven’t all been collectively for a extremely very long time so I used to be positively giddy to see so many elderly buddies. Life simply will get so busy and with everybody scattered throughout the nation and past, it hasn’t at all times been simple to remain in touch however, as I mentioned, it was an absolute pleasure to see everybody once more and I spent many of the night hugging one particular person or one other (aside from the stable twenty minutes of Taylor Swift music the place I danced so arduous that I practically died on the finish of it). There have been so many thrilling updates from all people and it was simply so good to be collectively once more. Hopefully it received’t be so long as final time earlier than we are able to hang around collectively once more.
I’ve additionally made a complete new group of buddies, attributable to becoming a member of a web-based poetry group. What was such an off-the-cuff determination has fully modified my life: my love of poetry and my creativity has grown exponentially however, extra importantly, I am keen on the opposite members of the group: they’re all so form and courageous and artistic they usually make me really feel understood and supported and protected. There’s loads of overlap in psychological sickness, neurodivergence, incapacity, and persistent sickness so we share loads of widespread floor and experiences so we’re help and floor and educate one another. Discovering them was an entire fluke and now I miss our writing classes if we bought greater than every week with out one; they got here into my life simply after I wanted them and I couldn’t be extra grateful.
NASHVILLE FRIENDS – It was SO beautiful to see my buddies in Nashville after I was on the market in late March. And by some fantastic cosmic timing, I occurred to be there the identical week that my buddy, Candi Carpenter, was releasing their debut album, Demonology (which is improbable). And since they had been additionally placing on a launch present – and afterparty – so a lot of their buddies and individuals who have turn into my buddies on-line had been all flocking to Nashville so I bought to see a great deal of beautiful individuals, some in particular person for the primary time. If it hadn’t been for that, I’m undecided I might’ve seen my buddy Kalie Shorr (who can also be an unbelievable songwriter and artist) so I used to be for very grateful for that and we had a blast at Candi’s launch present and even managed to slot in a espresso and a catch up whereas we had been each nonetheless on the town. In some methods I bought to see loads of Candi – at their launch present, on the afterparty, after which at one other present they had been taking part in later within the week – however they had been clearly very focussed on getting the album out (fully understandably) so we actually didn’t get a lot time in any respect to only hang around and catch up however it was so extremely particular to be at their present and have a good time the album after which be the tremendous annoying fan within the entrance row on the second gig. I might’ve been gutted to overlook that present: I’m fairly present it was among the best reveals I’ve ever been to. So the time I did get to see Candi was very valuable. And I additionally bought to see Caylan, my very oldest Nashville buddy, and we bought to have a extremely beautiful catch up and managed no less than one Pancake Pantry outing. Whereas my earlier Nashville journeys have been far more focussed on Tin Pan South, this journey ended up being far more focussed on my buddies, though I did handle to get to see a few of my Nashville faves, like Ingrid Andress.
ESCAPISM – Whereas there have been some actually nice days this yr, there have been nonetheless loads of dangerous ones and nonetheless loads of actually, actually horrible ones and I’m grateful for the escape that varied actions have given me. I didn’t learn a lot this yr – my ADHD, mind fog, problem concentrating, and so on was brutal this yr – however diving into movies and TV actually bought me by means of a few of the powerful occasions. Movie clever, A Quiet Place: Day One was so significantly better than I believed it might be, contemplating what number of occasions alien invasion movies have been accomplished and the truth that the primary characters weren’t in it; I believed the lens by means of which they advised the story was actually shifting. I additionally watched Becoming In and The Fallout and located each of these actually highly effective; they’re each the sorts of tales that we have to be telling and studying from as a result of they dig into actually large topics and don’t at all times observe the storyline you anticipate them to, which frequently makes them far more true to actual life. Oh, and I liked the latest movie from The Starvation Video games franchise, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (which I did really additionally learn). I actually didn’t anticipate to love it as a result of I actually wasn’t concerned with a narrative with Snow because the protagonist however I ended up discovering it fascinating and having fun with it greater than the unique trilogy by far; Rachel Zegler and Viola Davies had been, after all, additionally improbable and I believe it’s one of the vital lovely and visually attention-grabbing movies I’ve seen in a extremely very long time. (I additionally watched The Lure, which I like to recommend no person watch ever – it’s really superb how horrible a movie may be.) TV clever, I bought again into Legislation & Order: Particular Victims Unit, which was very nice as a result of I like Olivia however was so bored of the storyline and Elliot options after I kind of tuned out; I’ve been having fun with the latest sequence much more. I additionally liked the brand new season of The Lincoln Lawyer and the brand new season of Legal Minds: Evolution was higher than I ever imagined doable: I’m truthfully nonetheless obsessive about it – the character arcs, the appearing, the higher plot, the strings left untied – and I can’t anticipate the following one. I actually bought into No person Needs This, A Man on the Inside, and Black Doves (I’ve by no means seen Keira Knightly so good and I could by no means recover from the connection between her and Ben Whishaw’s characters) and I’m actually excited that every one three of them have been renewed for an additional season as a result of I simply need extra! I additionally actually loved Crimson Eye – which was on ITV and I believe was only a standalone sequence – with its superb forged, appearing, and storyline; it was actually compelling proper from the start and it was in a position to keep excessive stakes whereas nonetheless being intelligent and attention-grabbing and truly fairly shifting. And, after all, I discovered escape in music: I bought actually into each Beth McCarthy and Gracie Abrams due to their new releases this yr; I used to be and nonetheless am, after all, obsessive about Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poet’s Division; and one among my favorite individuals, Candi Carpenter, put out their debut album, Demonology, which I do know will keep as one among my favorite albums perpetually. Each Candi and one other of my favorite individuals, Kalie Shorr – each of whom I first met in Nashville – began Patreons to fund their sophomore albums and whereas the perks of subscribing are beautiful, attending to see these two albums come collectively is so freaking cool and I really feel like I’m studying a lot in regards to the album course of, from writing to manufacturing to artistic course and so forth. I extremely advocate checking them out and supporting them in the event you can. Candi’s is right here and Kalie’s is right here.
AMANDA TAPPING AND THE COMPANION – I’ve at all times liked Amanda Tapping – she’s been a hero of mine for greater than fifteen years now – and I used to be fortunate sufficient to satisfy her once more at Basingstoke Comedian Con this yr. It was a tricky few days – the occasion was very chaotic and there was an terrible heatwave – however I’ve so many particular reminiscences of the expertise. The panels had been actually attention-grabbing and the entire friends had been actually open and good-humoured regardless of the warmth and exhaustion. I used to be, as at all times, actually excited to see Amanda and attending to see Richard Dean Anderson was actually fantastic; I’d kind of forgotten how a lot I like him and Jack O’Neill. I used to be form of disenchanted that I hadn’t purchased a move to satisfy him however the queue was so lengthy that folks had been lacking different issues and I believe I might’ve handed out earlier than assembly him (having mentioned that, I did run into him within the hallway earlier than one among his panels and though he was barely in a position to cease shifting, he was actually candy). Speaking to Amanda once more was as beautiful because it at all times is (she is without doubt one of the kindest individuals I’ve ever met) and, though the meet and greet wasn’t what was promised, it was nonetheless actually particular. I additionally bought to satisfy the organisers and lots of members of The Companion, an organisation that celebrates sci-fi and fandom and one among their largest initiatives has been Embracing Psychological Well being as a Fandom with Amanda Tapping; it was so freaking beautiful to satisfy all of them in particular person for the primary time after having all the things be on-line for therefore lengthy. The Companion panel with Amanda was superb and actually shifting and I felt so fortunate to be there. I missed all of it as quickly as I bought within the automobile to go house however it was so particular and I can’t anticipate the following occasion, no matter and each time which may be.
WALKING AWAY FROM MY LAST THERAPIST – I wrote an extremely lengthy publish about this earlier within the yr however the brief model is that, at first of the yr, my therapist of the final couple of years traumatised me, triggered a meltdown, and in the end pushed me right into a dissociative state. I couldn’t return for over a month and whereas I attempted to have interaction along with her over a phased return (as a result of I felt too traumatised to even return into the room), she wouldn’t talk about it after which threatened to terminate remedy until I got here again. Truthfully, I by no means wished to see her once more at this level however I wished to know why she’d apparently turn into a totally completely different particular person from after I’d first met her. That session was an entire catastrophe however in a approach I’d by no means anticipated: she babbled like an fool, unable to justify any of her choices or causes for terminating remedy (which she was doing, whatever the earlier manipulation of terminating until I got here again). She accused me of threatening her livelihood by lacking classes (though she’d been absolutely conscious of the problem and she or he’d had discover for each session aside from one, after I’d thought I’d be capable of get there after which couldn’t) after which referred to my six-ish weeks of trauma-induced dissociation attributable to her actions as ‘an prolonged vacation.’ I had such a bodily response to that that I truthfully thought I used to be having some form of cardiac occasion: my coronary heart price had been so excessive all through the session and I’d been shaking like a leaf, unable to take deep breaths. She requested if she might come and sit subsequent to me and I truthfully don’t know what I might have accomplished if she had; I didn’t need her wherever close to me. However sooner or later in the course of the session, one thing modified for me: it was like shedding my pores and skin that I’d lengthy wanted to let go of and this new model of me had a brand new form of power, I suppose… the emotional power to push again rushed into my physique like much-needed oxygen. For each lie, I had proof in opposition to her; for each try to govern me, I known as her out; for each time she tried to make it my fault, I used to be in a position to volley the accusation again. Possibly seeing her had triggered the fury I felt and as quickly as I felt that, I used to be in a position to stand my floor and push again. Or perhaps it was absolutely the ridiculousness of her behaviour. I wasn’t going to let her get away with that. I did find yourself going to 1 ultimate session, to offer her a ultimate likelihood to elucidate, however she was simply as far and wide and midway by means of the session, the air simply went out of me and I left. I didn’t need something to do along with her for an additional minute and there was nothing she might say or do to vary that. It was a really traumatic expertise and I’m grateful for that in any respect; I’m past sick of horrible therapists who damage their purchasers greater than they assist them. However I’m actually grateful for the brand new particular person I grew into because of all of it, even when it took me some time to recognise it.
GETTING THE TATTOO BUG – After virtually fifteen years of wanting tattoos however different issues simply getting in the best way, I lastly bought my first tattoo… and my second… and my third… and on the time of penning this, I’ve six with plans for a lot of extra. I like having them and I like getting them, which is outwardly not that uncommon for individuals who have self harmed; I discover it oddly therapeutic and I undoubtedly get a rush from it. I’ve had one actually dangerous expertise with a tattoo artist discriminating in opposition to me and refusing me incapacity lodging, which was traumatic and has been taking on loads of my time and mind house to resolve. It’s not, as of but, resolved however I’m nonetheless engaged on it and I hope that there will probably be some progress quickly. However that incident apart, I’ve completely liked it and I’m trying ahead to determining which tattoos I’ll be getting subsequent…
AMAZING SHOWS, FROM BASEMENT BARS TO STADIUMS – I had a yr of wonderful live shows, from small songwriters’ circles (shout out to Tales in Tune) to Taylor Swift’s virtually 4 hour lengthy epic, The Eras Tour, at Wembley Stadium (shout out to Electrolyte Fastchews for retaining me alive). I bought to see a number of unbelievable songwriters at Tin Pan South in Nashville (together with my very long time fave, Ingrid Andress), in addition to my beloved Kalie Shorr and Candi Carpenter – it was so particular to have the ability to be within the room cheering for them, slightly than caught behind the display screen on a livestream. I bought to see Holly Humberstone for the primary time. I bought to see Bleachers twice, which I used to be significantly grateful for: the primary time I ‘noticed’ them, the accessibility workforce put me within the again row of the seating and, though the seats had been raised, everybody stood up and refused to sit down down when advised by safety so I wasn’t in a position to see a lot of something. I bought to see Maisie Peters twice as nicely, first opening for Taylor Swift (which was superior and so emotional that I cried by means of most of it) after which opening for Noah Kahan, who was additionally superb. I bought to see one among my tutors, Jonathan Whiskerd, play the launch gig of his gorgeous upcoming album, which was so particular, much more so as a result of I understand how a lot effort and time and care has gone into it. I bought to see Beth McCarthy headline Heaven, which was a lot enjoyable; I bought to see Halsey play a shock present at KOKO, performing a mixture of songs from their earlier albums and some new ones, The Nice Impersonator having not been launched but (that present was tremendous emotional); and I bought see Kelsea Ballerini play an unbelievable one night time solely present at The Roundhouse. It was an incredible yr for live shows and I’m undecided how 2025 might beat it however I do have a number of very cool ones lined up.
TAYLOR SWIFT AND THE ERAS TOUR – Taylor Swift often makes her approach onto my grateful lists, for one motive or one other, and this yr I’ve so many causes to be pleased about her. The paper that I wrote on her lyric writing and introduced at what I imagine was the primary Taylor Swift centric convention, Taylor Swift Examine Day 2021, is about to be printed (I did an interview about it right here), which is so thrilling! She launched her latest album, The Tortured Poets Division, which I like and really feel like I’ve realized a lot from, from a songwriting perspective; I like it a lot that I bought a tattoo of a lyric from ‘The Black Canine.’ I endlessly loved following The Eras Tour on-line and discussing every night time and every night time’s mashup on Tumblr. After which attending to go… Attending to go to The Eras Tour was completely magical; I’ll always remember how particular it felt to be there, to expertise these reveals with the fantastic individuals I bought to go together with. I used to be so fortunate to have the ability to go a number of occasions however essentially the most particular a part of that was the truth that I had so many buddies who wished to go and wished to go together with me, their resident Swiftie buddy: as a youngster I used to be bullied and harassed relentlessly for loving Taylor so to have extra buddies eager to go together with me than there have been reveals in London (not that I went to each present in London) was so therapeutic for my youthful self. The present was past unbelievable, I had a lot enjoyable with my buddies (and, after all, my Mum – we’ve been to many Taylor reveals collectively), and I bought to witness essentially the most lovely mashups and particular friends, together with Paramore as an opener, the reside debut of ‘The Black Canine,’ the primary Eras Tour efficiency of ‘I Did One thing Dangerous,’ Maisie Peters as an opener, the mash up of ‘Change’ and ‘Lengthy Stay,’ Jack Antonoff as a particular visitor, and the primary ever reside efficiency of ‘Florida!!!’ WITH Florence + The Machine. I’ll truthfully by no means recover from the experiences I had. The trouble it took to go to the reveals required virtually a month of restoration time and it took over every week earlier than I used to be in a position to make coherent sentences however it was so fully value it. I’m undecided there’ll ever be one other live performance expertise like The Eras Tour however then that is Taylor Swift we’re speaking about so who is aware of…
HALSEY – I’ve liked Halsey for years and I’ve at all times felt her music very deeply; there are a number of odd little parallels in our lives (we had been really born on the identical day, just a few hours aside) which have at all times made her music really feel prefer it’s deeply private simply to me, though I do know there’s a thriving fandom on the market who I’m certain really feel the identical approach. I discovered it fairly tough to listen to that they had been going by means of actually tough well being stuff, partly as a result of I used to be additionally going by means of tough well being stuff, so it was a giant reduction once they began doing reveals once more. I used to be ridiculously fortunate and managed to get a ticket to see them reside at KOKO, simply earlier than The Nice Impersonator got here out, and it was simply so magical to see them carry out reside once more (I final noticed Halsey reside on The Manic Tour at The O2 Area in 2020) and never simply reside however reside at a brilliant small, intimate venue. After they teared up, I might really see the shine of their eyes as a result of that’s how small the venue was; being at such a small present – simply them and us – felt like a extremely particular second of reconnection. It was an unbelievable present, as I’ve at all times identified Halsey reveals to be, and see them so comfy onstage and so moved to be in entrance of a crowd (and a crowd of followers who had been so thrilled to be there) was actually shifting (and, as I mentioned, actually reassuring). I bought to listen to songs I by no means thought I’d hear reside because of the Love + Energy Tour having been a US solely tour: I used to be so excited after I realised that something was up for grabs and it was a panoramic expertise to listen to songs like ‘1121’ and ‘honey’ reside. It was additionally among the best gigs, accessibility clever, that I’ve ever been to, from the venue to the workers to the opposite followers; that meant lots to me. After which, after all, there’s the brand new album, The Nice Impersonator, which is unbelievable. It’s so uncooked, so shifting and so highly effective, and it’s been crafted so fastidiously and fantastically; the tales, throughout the higher story, that Halsey is telling are so detailed and delicate and the manufacturing is so different and expressive. I’m simply obsessive about it. However the rawness of it additionally makes it painful to hearken to. Listening to it, I felt like so lots of the songs might’ve been about me to a sure extent as a result of I associated to them so deeply; it’s a tough hear and it does really feel like an excavation of each wound however I additionally felt so seen and so understood, which is so uncommon. All the songs really feel so valuable to me (‘Lifetime of the Spider (Draft)’ and the ‘Letter to God’ trio particularly so) and it’ll at all times be an extremely particular album to me. I learn one overview that summed it up rather well: “This isn’t album designed to be a chart-topper; it’s a masterclass within the methods we use artwork to outlive – which is to say, a masterclass in honesty.” I believe that is so true, for the album, for Halsey as an artist, and for the best way I really feel about songwriting as an artist myself.
TRYING SOMATIC THERAPY – I wanted a break after the traumatic finish to my final relationship with a therapist however I nonetheless actually wanted assist. I’ve reached some extent the place I don’t suppose discuss remedy can do a lot for neurodivergence and trauma associated points (though I do suppose it may be useful for working by means of sure issues – I’m nonetheless in touch with a chat therapist I belief for after I do want that kind of help) so I began performing some analysis and ended up on the lookout for a somatic therapist. I managed to seek out one actually shut by and I’ve had three classes along with her up to now and I actually like her; we get alongside rather well and she or he simply will get me. I can’t actually clarify it however I do suppose I really feel completely different and I might advocate it to everybody, neurodivergent or neurotypical (I’ve already particularly recommended it to a number of individuals in my life, if solely to get the brief time period reduction I felt after the primary session). We’re all carrying loads of trauma today, particularly after the pandemic and with all the things occurring on the earth, and the magic of it appears to be flying beneath the radar. I’m nervous to let my hopes get too excessive however I’m cautiously optimistic about how I’d really feel after extra classes within the new yr.
NEW WORKING RELATIONSHIPS – This yr I’ve met and labored with some actually superb those that have made me so excited for my upcoming music releases. Up up to now, it’s just about been me, Richard Marc, and my Mum making issues occur (and, after all, Josh of Sprogglet Research who at all times does a improbable job of blending and mastering my tracks). However this yr, I’ve met some fantastic individuals who actually get me and get my music and, for the primary time, I really feel like I’ve music trade professionals (ones who I didn’t already know) who imagine in me and who’re keen about what I’m keen about and which means a lot to me. I don’t need to say an excessive amount of but, since I haven’t made any official bulletins about new music, however I’m so grateful to Tahnee and now Abi for all the things they’ve accomplished up to now and for all the things we’ve got deliberate. I’ve additionally labored with some very cool photographers this yr. In Nashville, I labored with Katie-Mac Pictures and she or he had some concepts that, even now, I’m obsessive about; I solely want we’d had longer to discover them (and that the logistics hadn’t been so irritating). I did a shoot with Fraser MacKenzie, which was actually enjoyable; as a result of we didn’t have a selected plan in thoughts, we had been simply in a position to improvise and see what labored and that was actually cool. I’m studying a lot by means of all of those experiences and so I’m actually grateful for all of them. After which, after all, I lastly set to work with Tom, who I’ve been chatting to for YEARS at this level: we’ve been speaking about doing the art work for this challenge ever since I got here up with the thought and regardless of the pandemic and my well being points and our busy lives, we lastly did it and it’s SO GOOD. I’m SO excited for individuals to see it; I’m completely obsessed. I even have to offer Richard his personal particular shout out for the entire time and work and care that he’s poured into this challenge with me to make this new music; he has been my musical accomplice for over ten years now and I couldn’t do all of it with out him. Making artwork with him is like making magic and our classes collectively are a few of my very favorite occasions. They, like our friendship, really feel like anchors in my life and I can’t wait to create extra stuff within the new yr.
So I managed to complete it! It’s nonetheless 2024. Simply. I do need to get my unfinished 2024 (and 2023 – oops) posts up in time however I’ve been so arduous on myself about it and that hasn’t gotten them completed or been good for me so I’m attempting to only take my time and slowly get them accomplished. Anyway. As I mentioned, though it’s been a tricky yr, there was lots to be thankful for and oh my god, do I really feel grateful. I can’t think about how any yr might ever be like this yr however who is aware of what subsequent yr will convey, good and dangerous.