Happy New Years!!
Or as the French say, Bonne Année!!
What?! A surprise extra blog post?! Two in one day!! I know what you’re thinking — this is too good to be true! Well, I was very busy this past week and meant to post my xmas and new year’s blog on Sunday, so really I’m just catching up. Enjoy the extra post <3 !!
2024 Recap
2024 was an insane, incredible and overwhelming year — one I will never forget. I am so grateful for everything that happened this year, and to all my friends and family who helped me to get through it! A special thank you to my family in the UK, who welcomed Jordan and me with open arms, let us stay with them, and showed us around their city, despite barely knowing me, or never having met me before. You have all truly shown me that family is always there for each other.
As part of my annual tradition, I wrote my “everything that happened this year” journal entry, and boy it was long. It took a solid three hours to write everything down, and took a total of seven pages in my notebook. Instead of boring you (and myself) with copying everything down, I’ve pulled together a highlight reel for you. Think of it as your Abby Salle 2024 Wrapped.
Wrote 36 posts for my Substack, and now have 87 subscribers!
Traveled to five countries this year, plus the British Virgin Islands
Said goodbye to my first “big girl” job with Raleigh Parks
Had bright pink hair for a few months
Read 26 books
Fostered a four week old kitten that Jordan found in the Chick Fil A drive through
Celebrated my parents 30 year wedding anniversary!!
Turned 23 in Brighton
Lived at a castle in Scotland for a month?!
Sold or donated the majority of my stuff and began living out of a single carry on suitcase
Mastered the public transport system in the UK
Met 11 of my family members that I had never met before
Drove on the left side of the road
Saw the Northern Lights
Stayed in almost every single city in England
Had Christmas dinner with a family in Italy, and watched the fireworks on New Year’s Eve in Paris?!
There are so many other little moments that made this year special, but these are the highlights. If you want to read about some of the other things that happened, check out my other blog posts — I have written down almost everything that has happened since the end of June.
Intentions for 2025
I’m beyond excited for everything 2025 has in store, and I’ve set a few goals and intentions for the new year. These are by no means strict rules, but instead ideas I want to keep in mind to promote a healthier, happier version of myself.
1. Read More
I hit a reading streak while staying at the castle and kept it up through the end of the year. I’d love to carry that momentum into 2025. My Goodreads goal is to read 35 books this year (add me @abbysalle!). I know my reading habits come in bursts, but I want to make the most of those periods and prioritize books over mindless scrolling on my phone.
2. Practice Mindful Movement
With all the traveling Jordan and I do, we’re already walking a ton, which is great exercise. I don’t feel the need to add strenuous workouts to my routine right now, but I want to incorporate more conscious movement—even just 20 minutes of yoga or pilates before bed. If and when life stabilizes a bit, I’d like to add running back into my routine.
3. Eat More Veggies!
I want to experiment with a wider variety of vegetables instead of sticking to the same ones available year-round. Not only will this help me get more nutrients, but it’ll also make cooking more exciting as I try new recipes. I am especially excited for this one after spending time eating in restaurants in Europe, where it feels near impossible to find a vegetable.
4. Learn French
One of my biggest goals is to gain proficiency in French. I want to eavesdrop at train stations and *actually* understand what people are saying instead of just guessing. With Jordan and me spending time in Morocco, where many people speak French. A big driver of this goal is it would be So cool to be bilingual.
5. Keep in Contact with Friends and Family
Life has been so busy, and by the end of the day, when I’m free (and exhausted), most of my friends and family are still working, or just wrapping up their workdays. I want to prioritize scheduling regular calls instead of relying on the “let’s see if someone’s free” approach, which hasn’t been super effective.
Wishing an amazing year to all my friends and family. I look forward to see how much we all grow this year.
xx abby