Reflections on 2019
Reflections on 2019
L I F E . S T Y L E D .
In an entirely characteristic way, the only way to share the heart of the sentiment I intend to, is to start somewhere completely different.
Through the end of 2019 I’ve been reading and just finished on December 31, The Screwtape Letters — a fictional series of letters written by C.S. Lewis depicting one side of correspondence from “your affectionate uncle, Screwtape,” to his demon nephew tasked with distracting, tormenting, and ultimately leading his designated human into the depths of hell. A twisted, yet oddly comforting look into good an evil, this book shed light on several topics of which I plan to focus on, ideally for the rest of my life.
My tattoo, my one, small, wrist tattoo, symbolizes… whatever I need it to symbolize. It’s on the inside of my wrist and meant for me to see and find comfort in whatever mantra has been chosen for that season of my life. I’ll leave it at that. As of today, and based off my most recent readings and reflections, my tattoo is a reminder to love your neighbor as yourself. Or, rather, “to love my neighbor as myself.”
The great thing about C.S. Lewis (and I’ll get to the point after this short one) is the clarity in his writings. Never boring or lecture-like, and yet some of the clearest writing I’ve had the pleasure to take in. I hadn’t understood “loving your neighbor as yourself” until I read The Screwtape Letters. Being happy for someone’s achievements as if they were my own; feeling the pain of someone’s heartache as if it were my own. How had that never been as clear to me as it was when I read Lewis’s words — twisted and contrived and deciphered through the voice of a demon?
Reflecting on the past year, I thought it’d be a much better, and frankly more interesting, endeavor to share some of the accomplishments of the people I had the pleasure of spending the year with, either close by or separated by distance alone.
A list of highlights rather than an all-encompassing account for the sake of finishing this post before 2021.
Atala landed a dream job and remains the only person I know who cannot ghost anyone, even after just one date.
Andrew pursued a role at work that sparked his creative interest enough to go out on his own endeavors after completing his project at work. Every single day he challenges himself and maintains a level a discipline we can all learn from.
Anne and Stan (my parents) sold their Los Angeles home and moved up to Lake Tahoe “full time.” They devote their time to family — parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren — as well as their friends and their communities. The worked hard to downsize and spared a lot of us the task of having to do it at some later date in the distant future.
Blake just published his first coffee table book of the photography he’s done over the past years. He captures the human form beautifully and is now sharing that with more than the digital world.
Elizabeth got engaged to an amazing man and was recently recognized and rewarded at work for rising to the occasion and taking on responsibility gracefully.
Marshall made leaps in his photography career — some of which he might recognize and some of which he might not. Creatively and internally he grew in amazing ways.
Monica also got engaged to an amazing man, and they just bought their first home (literally just bough it, like on December 31.) She also braved LASIK surgery and is glasses free.
Nico and his wife Shelby moved down to Austin and welcomed their first baby!
Sarah and her husband John have been exemplary in a marriage rooted in faith in God and trust in each other. Being loving parents and supporting each other’s personal and career goals, they have weathered a year that offered it’s fair share of ups and downs with grace.
The cliches got the better of me on that one.
Skyler made headway as a photographer, as an architect, and also as an actor, diving into new opportunities with conviction and enthusiasm.
And a small gallery of some of 2019’s highlights:
So there are just a few of the accomplishments and virtues I’m choosing to focus on as if they were my own — finding joy in the joy of my friends. Sympathy and patience — two things I need to work on, — and hopefully this post was a step in the right direction.
Please excuse any omissions. My family is huge. My friends are all amazing and extremely accomplished in every sense of the word. These are just some of the many many examples I could have shared.
Happy New Year,
Becca
