Monday Musings: The Best Year of My Life

This has been the best year of my life so far. I’m not ashamed to flex that because, honestly, the last three years were terrible for me. I was lost for a while and didn’t know how to recover from the literal losses I experienced during the pandemic. I figuratively lost the plot; I didn’t know why I was doing what I was doing anymore. I felt powerless and left behind. But in 2024, I sorted myself out—and I can tell you the exact moment it happened.

In November 2023, my husband and I were in Chiang Mai for a journalism conference. Well, he was there to speak, and I was just there to hang out. I wasn’t even excited about the trip. In fact, I nearly backed out at the last minute, even though my ticket was already paid for. I knew little about Chiang Mai, and what I Googled sounded boring. But I went because, honestly, I didn’t have anything better to do, and hey, I’m not rich enough to throw away a plane ticket!

To my surprise, I ended up enjoying Chiang Mai so much that I went back just last month. It was a quick, rainy trip, but I loved the cooler weather and even managed to get some work done. I’m already planning my next visit.

But let me take you back to that November trip. The moment that shifted my perspective about where I was in life happened while James and I were in a car driving along the outer walls of the Old City. He was telling me about a woman from Myanmar he was mentoring as part of his conference responsibilities. She had started out writing about beauty, just like I did with Project Vanity, but over the years, she’d turned her website into a platform for women’s empowerment. She organized events and collaborations for her community—truly amazing work.

And then, the thought hit me, loud and clear: Why am I not doing that right now? I could, and I have before, but I stopped. Why did I stop?

As I reflected, I realized my excuses weren’t grounded in reality. They were rooted in my fear of failure, a fear that had only grown during the pandemic. The truth is, I already had everything I needed: domain expertise, access to a network, a supportive community, reputation, and even some capital. I had all the building blocks, probably even more than the woman James was mentoring. But I wasn’t doing anything with it. I had the power. I just didn’t believe I did.

That realization changed everything. In 2024, I began building momentum for both Project Vanity and my jewelry brand, Nobela. I’m also working on something new that’ll take another year to bring to life, but it’s exciting. For the first time in a long time, my path is so clear. I know how to connect the resources I have to my end goals, and I see exactly how to build from where I am.

Here’s the thing: none of this clarity would have been possible without the struggles I faced during the pandemic. It’s cliché, but it’s true. Yes, I’ve had easier, luckier years where success seemed effortless, but it’s rising from failure that’s made me stronger and more confident in myself. This new level of confidence is literally priceless to me.

Life is made up of so many small, forgettable moments, but every once in a while, something tiny sparks something big. If you’re feeling lost, as I was, I hope you hold on and find the moment where the path starts to make sense again. It’s out there. You just have to keep going.