Month: January 2024

You were insufferable

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

Another gem from my London trip. Since this post is a reflection of my evolution over the years, I thought it appropriate to distill my essence through this image. These delightful treats brought me so much joy [as did the company I was with]; ultimately, this is the energy I hope I can consistently give.

I was recently reflecting on who I was during internship, residency, and fellowship. You might be wondering, “What does that even mean?”

There was a period in my life where I staunchly believed that people do not change. You are fundamentally who you are. There then came an era where I was less sure of this assertion. I started to waver in my belief as I watched my parents evolve. I noticed that my friends showed up in different ways over the years and during life events. I reflected on my own journey and who I was. I wondered if, maybe, people could change.

I’ve now come back full circle in my belief that people have a fundamental foundation… but the way that it is presented and shows up changes with the situation.

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Every moment of the day need *not* be productive

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

Another gem from my one-day adventure out to Western MA – I finally got to explore The Clark. The impressionist room is breathtaking and if it weren’t for rain, I would have probably spent hours exploring the grounds.

I spent the majority of my life feeling the pressure to “hustle.” That productivity was equated with my worth. If I wasn’t productive, then what purpose do I serve?

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Setting 2024 intentions: listening, curiosity, being healthy-ish, creativity, and anxiety spirals

Amanda Xi

Today’s inane image of the day:

Posing in a thoughtful manner during my fall trip to London.

Last week, I reflected on 2023. As sort-of-promised, I decided to set some 2024 intentions. I think that every single day is a new opportunity to set and achieve goals; I don’t think we need a designated time of the year to do these things. I have short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term goals that I set and review on a semi-regular basis. But the idea of intentions feels like the right approach for 2024; they are touchy-feely types of ideas that I’d like to work toward in the new year. There is no checkbox for these items… they are lofty ideals that I hope I can remind myself to embody throughout the year. Maybe my 2024 reflections post will be assessing how these intentions came into play [or didn’t!]. Who knows. Maybe there will be silence on the blog for almost a year again [let’s hope not].

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