#2023 reflections

[crowleyholmes]

hi there chris! since the new year is approaching rapidly, i wanted to ask my favorite creators (that includes you! i love your art!) how they look back on their 2023 tumblr year and which blogs made them happy to be here. i am very happy to follow you and hope you'll have a great 2024! 💘

Hiiii omg this is so sweet and means a lot to me, thank you! 🥺💕

I've been meaning to do a little end-of-the-year shoutout/love post for some of my favorite blogs, so I hope you don't mind if I use your ask as the perfect excuse!

I've had many fun years on tumblr, but this one has been extra special. Falling into the Good Omens fandom and meeting all of you amazing people has made this year so so SO much better than it otherwise would have been, so here are some special shoutouts (apologies, I'm sure this will get long, things like this tend to get away from me, so I'll put it under a read-more)

@majortomyourcurcuitsdead SASHA can you believe I was going to just send you an anon telling you that I think you're cool and leave it at that. Can you believe it. WELL thank Somebody you had your anon turned off and I had to expose myself in your dms because it feels like we just instantly connected about like 20 different things and haven't stopped talking since sskjdfhs anyway I'm so happy I met you you're so fun and so clever and so talented and so enthusiastic and I've only known you for like. What 2 months?? Ish? But I already love you so much <3

@lineffability !!! Line you are so *struggles to find words* you're just great is what you are okay. I feel like you are what happens when somebody takes a big cup and puts six shots of love, chaos, sunshine, talent, fun, and enthusiasm into it, generously sprinkles intelligence on top and gives it a good stir. I don't even remember how or when or why we started talking tbh? But your creativity is so inspiring, and some of my favorite tumblr-moments of this year have been 'yes-and'ing with you about one thing or another in a very >:3 manner hahah so! my point is! i love you lots <3

@dontbotheraziraphale Teeeedddd you're wonderful, I vented at you one time and then we talked for like 2 hours and at the end of that 1 conversation I already considered you a friend - and not just in that "tumblr mutuals who talk 1 time are my friends" kind of way but like. Genuinely. You're so kind and so fun and every time we talk it's such a good time ily a lot my bro my buddy my man <3

@crikey01 Tallulah HI I also completely forgot how we started talking but I remember connecting the dots that you were the one who painted those INSANE black and white and gold oil paintings and the way my jaw dropped like?? BRO you're so talented I admire you so much! And I love that we bonded over stopping each other from masochistically checking certain peoples' blogs... 😂 Anyway you're so sweet and fun and ily lots <3

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The list could probably go on but you four are the people I've talked to most on here and you're the tumblr chat boxes I never close but always just minimize and y'all better see this as the ultimate internet declaration of affection that it Clearly is >:D 💕

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And here are some more shout-outs because I just HAVE to.

Apologies, I know I've already tagged a bunch of you recently in a mutuals appreciation post but. This is my official thank-you-for-2023 post and I just have a lot of love for you all okay sorry feel free to ignore this <3

@rowan-ashtree (i'll text you back soon I promise I'm sorry I just haven't had the brain-space recently ssjkdfh) @crawley-fell (we've never talked but i love you from afar :')) @ineffabildaddy @llokilaufeyson @actual-changeling @saryasy @hyperfocusthusly @beccibarnes @rainbowcrowley @thesherrinfordfacility @goodoldfashionednightingale @wibbly-wobbly-blog @highlyillogicalandroid (i see your data obsession and i agree <3) @tortugay @foolishlovers @stargazing-crowley @gingiekittycat @weasleywrinkles @bildads-shoes @finleycannotdraw @bowtiepastabitch @heytherefluffy @samwwise @nocturnal-birb @athousandyearstime @angelsdiningattheritz @most-normal-eccles-cake-ignorer @jedthesecretdreamer @wraithee @hydrangeadangea @southfarthing @frodo-baggins @mobius-m-mobius

[qadarpriestress]

2023 is almost coming to an end, I guess it is the perfect opportunity to reflect on my pole dance journey I started in September. I started this journey with no expectation at all as I was coming out of a very stagnant and difficult period so I thought starting a new hobby would help with my mental health.

In retrospect, in the space of a couple of months, I have to admit it totally transformed my life both emotionally/spiritually as physically.

The power of not giving a damn and get loose : Pole dance helped me to stop caring about what others would think of me. Dancing in public is still considered as something weird according to society and I have noticed it is really difficult for many people to get entirely loose in public. However, pole dance taught me to get loose and move the way my body wants it. On top of that, you are highly encouraged to wear short and "revealing" clothes which actually helped me with feeling comfortable showing parts of my body in the studio.

The power of curiosity: Pole dance is still associated with something exclusively inappropriate. However, I don't think people understand the power of sensuality pole dance has. It demands a level of curiosity to debunk all the different misconceptions and stereotypes associated with pole dance. I have to admit, I didn't dare to tell people I started pole dance as I was afraid of all the misconceptions, but now truly I absolutely don't care about what people think or would say. Curiosity and experimenting will always bring you further in life, compared to judgement and the fear of the unknown. To sum up, pole dance opened myself up to the possibility of trying new things.

The power of persistence and not getting discouraged: As a beginner, pole dance may seem so technical as you have to learn all the beginner's moves and in all reality, pole dance is not an easy sport. I have to admit, I still don't feel like I am ready to go to the next level, which is perfectly okay, some people need more time to practice. But I feel like pole dance helped me realize that mastership requires discipline, persistence and mental strength.

The power of strength and flexibility : Not only did I gain mental strength, but I feel like I developed bodily strength and flexibility and I can't wait to see how I will progress

The power of dreams and the serpentine energy: According to certain dreams I had, I do believe pole dance helps you to connect to a specific serpentine- snake energy (which is very complex to explain and would require more than one post). I really feel like the moment you start to connect with a certain discipline, you start to receive intuitive downloads and dreams about it, which gives you the opportunity to delve deeper into the spiritual and metaphysical aspect of every single sport/activity/hobby.

The power of sensuality and the opening of your lower chakras: I started this journey with low libido and a very blocked sacral chakra. When one has a blocked sacral chakra, you experiment life from a rigid and closed off pov. Take into account that your sacral chakra is associated with water, a healthy sacral chakra will make you experience the flowing nature of life.

The power of trust: In the beginning, I associated pole dance with a dangerous sport. Obviously, it goes without saying that you should take precautions but pole dance encourages you to trust your body more, to trust others (your teacher) and your surroundings (building a connection with the pole dance bar and the safety mattresses requires time and trust).

Quite unexpectedly, pole dance also led me to connect more with my heart: Pole dance makes you feel seen and will therefore open yourself up to deeper layers of a specific level of vulnerability which feels so tender and liberating at the same time

[polutrope]

Writing Year Wrapped (2023)

Thank you for the tag and for creating this, @eilinelsghost!

An advisory off the bat that a few of these explore some themes and relationships that won't be for everyone (don't want Tumblr to censor me completely so sexu@l themes and inc3st lol).

3 Favorite Fics You've Written This Year

Scorched (E). Elrond/Maedhros, Elrond & Elros, past Maedhros/Maglor. Started as a quick fill to get a prompt from @i-am-a-lonely-visitor out of my head but then Maedhros was such an unreliable narrator that I needed to tell more of the story. I loved exploring this complicated entanglement from four very different perspectives and it gave me confidence to write more about this period.

Who By Fire (M). Amrod/Fingolfin. I broke new thematic barriers (for me, not for the fandom) and dug deep into two characters I hadn’t written much/at all before with this one, and I’m really pleased with how it turned out and how it was received. 

Everlasting Darkness (E) Eärendil/Maedhros, Elwing/Maglor. I feel like I’ve mentioned this one a lot, but I just think it’s so fun and absurd and pretty clever if I do say so myself. And hot. I’ve received a lot of great comments on it including that Anon who’s got Eärendil/Maedhros brainrot – sending you flowers.    

3 Fics That Stretched You the Most

If You Are the Healer (E) Maedhros/Maglor. I started this one-shot in December 2022 and didn’t finish it until February 2023 for @maedhrosmaglorweek, which is a long time for me to spend with a one-shot. I wanted to write something that would be credible to people (like me, when I started) who weren’t totally sold on the ship and that proved a real challenge, but based on some feedback I got I pulled it off.

And Love Grew (T) Elrond & Elros & Maglor. After two years of rotating this deeply complex relationship, I started my first foray into a long fic. I struggle a lot with (confidence about) writing an engaging plot and I came close to abandoning this endeavor because I couldn’t imagine exactly how everything would unfold so it felt reckless to start sharing it. Then I said “to heck with it!” and it was the right call. 

The whole Silmarillion Phrase Prompts series (mostly G, some T and M). It’s 20 ficlets so this is a big cheat, but I put this prompt list up to get myself through a creative slump and some of these were a real push to get out but I’m proud of completing all of them and writing so many different characters and situations. 

3 Favorite Lines Short Passages You've Written 

It was not well known among Tirion’s elite that the staid and formidable Nerwen Artanis Arafinwiel was as ambitious about the acquisition of lovers as she was about the acquisition of athletic and intellectual accolades. Because Artanis was decisive and efficient, eschewing the coquetry that normally preceded an act of pleasure, it was believed, by those she did not bed, that she was uninterested in such matters. As for those she did bed, the reverence and fear she inspired kept them from making any boasts about having breached the steely exterior of Arafinwë’s daughter — at which each believed him or herself to have been uniquely successful.

From Snakes and Ladders

He was so close now that Nolofinwë’s eyes had to dart about to take in the whole of his face. Nolofinwë inhaled deeply, attempting to gain control of the thundering of his pulse, and his nostrils were filled with the sweet scents of the anise and chamomile oil used to soothe Amrod’s pains. It only made his heart pound harder. “Telvo, what are you doing?” he asked. “Unkinging you.”

From Who By Fire

Since then, Maedhros has plotted the narrative of centuries building towards that boundary drawn. The tale of a liege devoted beyond reason to his lord, giving and giving until his spirit was as scorched as the lands he lost. They do not touch anymore, not even in violence. Maglor has no need of him. It is his foals, grazing upon his barren spirit, who have brought him back to life.

From Scorched

3 Characters You Enjoyed Writing (that surprised you)

Eärendil in Everlasting Darkness (E), Ungoliant’s Bane (G), and Beacon (E)

Galadriel in Snakes and Ladders (E) and Flight and Freedom (G)

Elrond in Scorched (E) and Stained Glass (G)

3 Unexpected Inspirations

Skipping because I can’t think of any that were unexpected. 

3 WIPs You're Excited About in the Upcoming Year

And Love Grew

Giving my OTP some love with more Daemags smut. Possibly “Kinks Through History”. 

I have a plan brewing for something meta-related that I’m not ready to disclose.

3 People Tagged to Share Theirs (if you want!)

@ettelene

@thelordofgifs

@meadowlarkx

[kimkaelyn]

kaelyn!! i am dropping by with some good music and new year wishes! 🎶🎉 thank you so much for being part of my 2023 🥹 i think you're so sweet!!

if i may ask!! 🥺 (pls feel free not to answer if uncomfy!!) how was 2023 for you? what’s a favourite thing (anything) you discovered this year? do you have any reflections from the past year? any resolutions for the next? 🥹

Oh my gosh, shotorus!!!! 🥹🥹🥹💗💗💗 thank you so much for your kind words. I am glad you were apart of my 2023 as well! Cheers to next year🥂

This is such a great question and it made me pause and think for a good while (I’m typing this out in my notes app lol) I haven’t reflected on my year yet so I’m doing it here.

I apologize for the length lmao.

Warning - mention of trauma (nothing graphic- literally just one line)

My 2023 was an interesting and exciting year, but also one of great challenges. Regardless, I am so proud of my accomplishments this year. I left my teen years behind and entered my twenties! Now I gotta figure out how to be an actual adult LMAO. On that note, I quit my toxic job of almost two years and was unemployed for a good two months until I started working at my current job. I traveled outside of the country for the first time. I spent 3 weeks in July with my Uncle traveling Europe. This trip was the highlight of my year for so so so so many reasons. It was also my first time leaving home and being separated from my parents for a long period of time.

Being away from home wasn’t as bad as I was scared it was going to be—I actually loved it. While on my trip, I learned so much about myself as a person and figured out what I want in life for myself. I actually learned how to think for myself instead of others this year, which is a big deal because I am always so worried about others that I never take the time to take care of myself.

On this trip, I had a lot of epiphanies. My family isn’t perfect—we have our issues like everyone else……but this year I actually started to sit down and start to unpack some of my unresolved childhood trauma. It’s nothing graphic, trust me, but let’s just say that my sister and I only had each other 90% of the time. My sister and I have started to actually talk about our experiences with one another and are slowly coming to terms with it and heal. I am so proud of this. We are making progress that should have started years ago, but it’s not too late. There is hope!

As for resolutions….i want to do better—by myself and others. I want to actually put myself first in some cases and do what’s best for me and my mental health instead of catering to others. Does that make me selfish? I don’t know….

My overall goal is to get accepted into university and get started on my future—on my own two feet and not relying on others, at least for now. I want to be independent for the first time in my life. I’m TERRIFIED, but I know that I will be okay.

I have a great support system—I got all of y’all here, my family, my boyfriend, and my irl friends. I am so thankful to all of you, even if we don’t talk much and only interact by liking each others posts. Meeting my mutuals on here has been a highlight of my year, and I am so happy to go into the New Year with you all. Regardless of if you live nearby or on the other side of the word, I am super thankful to each and everyone of you. I cannot put it into words. I love you all and I pray that you are blessed in 2024

💗🫶🏻✨

[crowleyholmes]

Top 3 posts of 2023

I saw @chernozemm's top 10 post (which. jesus christ that's some fantastic art go LOOK AT THIS <3 (and cherno I hope you don't mind!)) and got curious about my own so here's my top 3 of 2023 :D

#1 [X] - Crowley on the Bentley

This was one of the first good omens drawings I posted and I was so shocked at the love it received I'm still so ;u; whenever I look at some of the comments and tags on it <3

#2 [X] - The hug comic (click on X for the full comic <3)

GOD I spent so much time on this but I think it was worth it in the end, and it's hilarious how I can tell how I improved from the first panels I worked on to the last ones I finished :D

#3 [X] - Picnic at the Park

This one marked the end of a bad art-block, where I just sat myself down and said okay, listen. It doesn't have to be good. You just have to finish something. And you have to enjoy the process. Whether it turns out looking good or not is secondary. Just draw and have fun. And it ended up being one of my favorite drawings I did this year :')

[crowleyholmes]

2 & 22 🥰

Aaaahh Lily hi, thank you! :D

2: Album of the year?

Oh man. I think I'm going to have to be basic and say Hozier's Unreal Unearth 😂 I don't really like live concerts that much (the combination of loud and crowded tends to give me horrible headaches haha) but this man and this album made me go to a concert so I would be lying if I said it wasn't my album of the year <3

22: Favorite place you visited this year?

Ohhhh!!! Well. If I don't have to be too specific, that's easy! My partner and I went to Ireland this summer and I LOVE Ireland so I was soo happy to go! He's never been before so I got to show him all my favorite places which was just super fun :D We rented a little camper van and did a (half-)round trip, going from Dublin to Galway and then up north and along the coast back to Dublin and we visited sooo many amazing places it's hard to pick a favorite... But we both really loved Derry, and Newgrange, and the Slieve Liag cliffs <3

[motherlymagick]

🌟✨ Reflecting on 2023: Embracing Resilience and Transformation 🌟✨

Two of Cups (reversed)

I find myself reflecting on the rollercoaster of emotions and challenges that defined the past twelve months. Saying goodbye to 2023 feels like shedding an old skin, leaving behind a chapter of my life that tested my resilience, strength, and ability to adapt in ways I never thought possible.

Heartbreak marked the beginning of the year, as I navigated through the storm of the hardest breakup I have ever experienced. The pain was palpable, and the wounds ran deep. But little did I know, this emotional earthquake was just the precursor to a year of transformation and self-discovery.

In the midst of the chaos, a ray of light emerged – the birth of my son. Becoming a single mother overnight catapulted me into a new realm of responsibility, love, and challenges. The shift from maiden to mother happened in an instant, and with it came a profound sense of purpose and an unbreakable bond with my little one.

Life demanded more than just emotional resilience; it required a physical relocation. I had to uproot my life and move three hours away, leaving behind familiar surroundings and the comfort of routine. Starting over in a new place as someone I didn't recognize proved to be a daunting task. The echoes of change reverberated through every aspect of my existence.

The journey of self-discovery became my compass in this unfamiliar terrain. I sought solace in the unknown, hoping to find fragments of myself that got lost in the chaos of the year. It was a process of unraveling, peeling back layers to reveal the core of who I am and who I want to become.

In the midst of reflection, I turned to the tarot for guidance. The card that surfaced, the Two of Cups reversed, mirrored the complexity of my experiences. In its inverted state, it spoke of imbalances, disconnection, and the need to realign with oneself. This resonated deeply with the narrative of my year – a tale of disconnection, transformation, and the ongoing quest for internal harmony.

As I bid farewell to 2023, I carry with me the lessons etched into the fabric of each challenge. The scars, both visible and invisible, serve as a testament to my strength and resilience. While the year tested the limits of my endurance, it also ushered in a new version of myself – one forged in the crucible of adversity, emerging stronger and more self-aware.

So here's to saying goodbye and good riddance to a year that was relentless in its trials. As the clock resets, I welcome the dawn of a new chapter, carrying the wisdom gained from the hardships of 2023 into the promise of a brighter, more empowered future.

[deesmenagerie]

The 2023 'Year in Review' trends hit differently when you lived two distinct lives this year.

I usually avoid Instagram trends-- not because I have anything against them, but because I'm usually too lazy to pull together something worth putting online in a timely manner. But this year, I decided that it would be worth doing. So I took some time to go through all of my photos for 2023, and wow.

It started off innocent enough-- pictures of Lilly being ostensibly cute, and nature pictures that, at best, would give you a vague impression of what season it is in New England. But not too far into scrolling I came across photos of Chris and me at Frozen Fenway with Sam and Peter, and I was shook.

I SWEAR we went to Frozen Fenway with Sam and Peter like, a couple of years ago. NOT within this calendar year!!! It has taken me some time to reconcile the fact that yes, January 2023 feels like it was eons ago, and no, my grasp on time is... tenuous at best. And that's because 2023 has to be divided into two distinct eras-- before injury and after injury.

Before my injury, I skiied twice, visited Amherst, visited Montreal, got my wisdom teeth removed, saw a superbloom at Joshua Tree, saw a comedy show and a live podcast show, planned and executed a bachelorette party and bridal shower, visited my brother down in Florida, attended two weddings (and was a MOH at one), and had one of my artworks displayed at a local gallery in Cambridge.

Whew!

From January to July, I had a busy, exciting year, and August through December promised more of the same, with another wedding, an October visit from Shane, and another two trips booked.

Then, on August 3rd, I tore my MCL and fractured my tibia, and the entire trajectory of my life shifted. I stopped working and went on long-term disability, got surgery, and spent the remainder of the year focused on one singular goal-- recovery.

My injury was devastating. I won't sugar coat it. I said goodbye to my mobility and independence, only to fight tooth and nail to get them back. I experienced more physical pain than I ever have, and I also knocked on death's door for the first time in my life. It was a dark time, and it took a lot out of me, and I'm still on the road to recovery.

But despite this disruption, life went on, and the second half of 2023 was filled with lots of rehab walks, local adventures, time with friends, and plenty of time focusing on my extensive personal projects. All things considered, handling this injury was not the most difficult thing I've ever done (looking at you, grad school).

Heading into 2024, I feel like a phoenix rising from the ashes. In all of the photos before my injury, I see myself, but I no longer recognize myself in her. I am someone new, someone different, someone who's evolved from the destruction of my old life.

2023 had hands, but I'm a tough bitch, and she didn't break me. This year was one of major change and major growth. I learned a lot of lessons, and I'm gonna share them here.

Do your best to stay present. Fixating on the future is sure to give you anxiety, make you frustrated about where you are now, and bring a sense of dissatisfaction to your life. Stagnating in the past is sure to depress you, and make you yearn for how things used to be. But in the present, there are no problems, only situations to handle, or experiences to have. Staying in the present got me through the early days of my injury, when my mobility was completely gone. Thanks, Eckhart Tolle :)

Live every moment to its fullest. You never know when life is going to throw you a curveball (or a broken leg). Soak deeply in the good experiences, be patient with the difficult ones, and enjoy the transit time between experiences. It's all life, and you only have one of them. Live it!

Motion is lotion. It takes an alarmingly short period of time to lose your strength and range of motion, and an exhaustingly long period of time and concerted effort to get it back. Find a way to incorporate movement in your life every day. It's worth it.

Your perspective makes your reality. One of the most important things you can do to make your life better is maintain a positive perspective. Your perspective makes your reality. If you're always looking for problems, there will be plenty to find. If you see the worst in people, they'll show you their claws. But if you stay positive, look on the bright side, and stay relentlessly optimistic, life WILL be easier.

Trust your gut. You've made your decisions for a reason. Don't let others convince you out of doing what's best for you. ESPECIALLY when it comes to your health.

Never underestimate the power of a good walkie. Not only is it so good for your body, but it's so good for your brain, too. I don't need to explain this one. Go for a walk!!!

Anyways. Thanks for the memories 2023, but I'm ready to move on. Let's see what 2024 has in store!