Inkpot Droplets | January 2024

Hello, dear newsletter readers! And welcome back to Inkpot Droplets, a newsletter I started last year as the fears of losing online spaces were rampant and then I promptly stopped writing anything because life was relentless, unkind and full of many things. I am really excited to revamp this newsletter. I talked about this over on the blog, too, but basically, I plan to use this newsletter as an insight to some of the more personal things: monthly wrap-ups, similar to what I did for a few months last year, but also some personal musings.

I used to write these personal posts over on the blog, but I'm discovering my brain likes to compartmentalize any aspect of my life that it can, so moving my blog as a bookish only content space feels right, right now. The type of content I wrote about in the past included mental health ramblings, financial stress breakdowns, state-of-the-world processing and things like that. For this year, Inkpot Droplets is still going to be guaranteed one post a month, wrapping up the content I've enjoyed, some general highlights from the month and just a "here's where I'm at" update. But, I'll also be sprinkling in some random ramblings. I am not sure how often this will happen, to be honest. I'd guess no more than a few times a month (and, if I notice I'm writing too much, I can always schedule them for future posts, so I'm not overwhelming your inboxes too much).

I hope this change is something you're cool with and are interested in. If so, I'm so glad you're here and hope you stick around! If it's not something you're interested in, I will not blame you at all for unsubscribing (and thank you for being here for the time you were).

So, that's sorta the "state of the newsletter," as it stands. For today, I figured I'd do some quickfire 2023 processing and some hopes for 2024!

2023 in Review

Like I mentioned earlier, 2023 was a bit trash for me, even if it had some good moments sprinkled in. Here's some general, just...moments that happened throughout.

• I escaped a toxic job after job searching for seven months​
• Discovered said toxic job actually reached levels of trauma and abuse that I'm still trying to heal from
• Really struggling living in a capitalistic hellscape
• Returned to therapy and found a therapist who has really helped me, even if learning to confront and heal from trauma (of multiple kinds) is fucking hard
• Slowly learning more about myself and my brain (neurodivergent; most likely ADHD, autistic in some ways?)
• Allowed myself to show up and honor myself more in more spaces (not just those I felt safe in)
• ​Turned 31​
• Still in love with my partner of 7-8 years (we can never remember how long lol)
• Played a lot of DnD with the best friends ever
• Started a writing group who is my saving grace
• Defended my thesis and graduated with my MFA​
• Wrote a third of a new novel
• Got a chest piece tattoo!
• Survived multiple pet emergencies and vet disasters (financially)
• Read some really good books
• Became utterly obsessed with Baldur's Gate 3
• Watched my partner reach almost 400 followers on Twitch!
• Proved my own strength to myself as I continued to take the pandemic very seriously, despite ridicule and gaslighting
• Continued to donate $20 every month to a different antiracist organization
• Learned how to be an aunt to both nieces
• Moving more and more to become an abolitionist, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist
• Continued to learn how to manage my spinal disability

Like I said, it was a mix of a year for me. I, for one, am so happy it's over and we're moving onto a near year.

2024 in Anticipations and Dreams

So, as I am wanton to do, I love looking at some hopes and dreams for the next year. It's harder to do the older I get, because you can't just ignore the obvious realities and how the turning of a new year is a construct and doesn't actually do anything. But dammit, the illusion of a fresh start is so damn intoxicating, so thanks for humoring me here.

If I'm frank, I don't think 2024 is going to be great year. We're starting the year off knowing it's an election year, most likely between candidates who are a criminal dreaming dictator who will continue to erase the rights of those I love and myself, or a genocide-enabling Zionist who campaigns on promises he can't keep. We're starting year five a pandemic left unchecked and rampant, where it becomes harder to protect yourself by the day. Inflation and greed are killing us. If I'm being realistic, it's going to be a hard, hard year.

But, it's realistic as well to believe in hope, to work towards change and to dream a better future is ahead of us. I'm choosing to do that, too. So while I anticipate it's going to be hard, and heartbreaking, and challenging, I'm dreaming, too. Here's a few of my more selfish, i.e., centered on my personal life, dreams I hope for in 2024.

• Continue to learn more about myself: what I stand far, how my brain works, how to accommodate myself and how to show up authentically
• Give up caring what others think and set down creating boundaries and choices based on those opinions and expectations
• Use the little money I have to support things, creators and businesses that align with my own values
• Support real artists and combat against A.I. and tech bros
• Learn to lessen guilt and heal from trauma
• More tattoos
• Prioritize things that are important to me, like my writing and my dreams
• Move away from a 8-5 job into a schedule that fits me better
• Get more artwork to decorate my space the way I like it (yes, I want all the BG3 fanart)
• Make some writing dreams come true
• Continue to find ways to live safely in a pandemic
• Be the best dog mom ever
• Go on more outdoor adventures

I have no idea what this new year will hold. I'm turning 32 in November, so this is my second-to-last year before becoming an adult, in Shire-reckoning. I'm hopeful to learn more about myself, to continue learning how to listen, accommodate and honor her. And I appreciate you being there as I figure out how to do so!

Thanks for Reading!

Thanks again for sticking around! I hope 2024 is a year that is much, much kinder to all of us, despite *gestures*. Feel free to respond and let me know how your own year has been, what your dreams are for the next and any ways I can support you. And, if you'd like to dabble in any of my other content, you can find it below:

• For book reviews, discussions and lists, check out my blog​
• For writing updates, discussions and big news (ongoing), check out my Patreon​
• My presence on my socials are sporadic and most likely will be into the new year, but you can find me on various ones here​

Until next,
Nicole

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