Let’s chat about celebrations. It’s early December in New York City, where I (Cole) am based, which means everything around me is festive. The celebrations of Hanukkah and Christmas are more prominently visual for the native New Yorkers, but I tend to notice that the celebrations of 2021 seem a little off. It doesn’t feel so much like it’s a big grandiose party this year. Sure the Macy’s Day Parade happened and caused trouble for my other holiday plans, but the energy of the city feels very internal. Maybe that’s just me.
I feel like I’m just grateful to be here at this point. Sort of tired and bogged down by everything that has happened since the Pandemic started. Grasping at straws sometimes when it comes to finding optimism through potential astrological transits, but overall just celebrating that I’ve made it this far. My year has felt pretty wild, especially for a 24-year-old, and I feel as though I have matured the most I have in my short time in this body.
Becoming self-employed, finding my own independence, becoming closer to myself spiritually, and so much more. I guess what I am trying to say is that I might not look the most festive this year, but I am okay with that because I am proud that I have found the capacity to channel my celebrations in a way that feels more authentic and organic given my growth. At the end of the day, being here writing this and reflecting on all that has happened to me is a celebration in itself. I am grateful. I am blessed. I am happy, and I am ready for 2022 and making it through another round of holidays.
Inspired By the 5 other Senses: Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, and Touch
Sight / Looking at or Reading: I’ve been reading this book about Saturn, and it is just the most enlightening thing in the world. Essentially, it has helped me better understand why Saturn is the way we overcompensate for our fears and how to better educate ourselves on how to deal with this planet. Yes, Saturn is still a bitch, but it isn’t as bad after reading Liz Greene’s book on it.
Sound/ Listening To: It’s wild but I delete my entire music library after Spotify wrapped comes out. This forces me to discover new music and I’ve been LOVING Lake Street Dive. Very bluesy, a little bit of folk, but very very much my vibes. My number 1 artist of 2021 was Kesha for those wondering, and yes I was in the top 0.01% of listeners.
Smell/ Breathing: I’m gonna keep it short and sweet but the smell of someone else I keep finding myself waking up next to. It’s been the best way to start some of my days.
Taste/ Eating: I made a gluten-free dairy-free mac n cheese the other day because I was under the weather. I normally try to eat super clean and super healthy so mac n cheese is something I avoid. It was so nice being able to have comfort food that was just super filling and reminded me of childhood.
Touch/ Practicing or Stone: I just got a new tattoo and I always love the feeling of the tattoo right after it is done. It is the purest essence of the art because it is fresh, the ink is new, and I have a new form of self-expression on my body.