2024 Wrapped
Musings on 2024
One of my favorite things about doing this yearly post is getting responses from friends and former colleagues I haven’t heard from in a while. I enjoy reconnecting even if it’s for a brief moment.
I don’t really have a plan or structure for this post, I rarely do. These are just free-flowing thoughts on 2024. Part of the reason I do this every year is because we get so caught up in the minutia of the mundane day-to-day that we forget to zoom out and reflect on all the good that we’ve experienced. That’s what I want to share.
In my 2023 year-end post, I wrote:
Sometimes it feels like we’re going through life aimlessly without a real plan. Surviving. That’s what my first year was. I don’t regret it - it’s OK to just survive and enjoy… for a short period. I’m approaching 2024 and my second year in NY with proper intentions to make the most of my time here.
And as I kick off the 2024 post, I can safely say I’ve made the most of my time here. At a high level, I grew in ways I couldn’t imagine. I settled into a new team at work. I lost 20 pounds. I shared incredible meals with friends & family. I discovered new music… I’m listening to this album as I write.
I stopped giving energy to relationships that weren’t serving me. I stopped giving energy to things that were out of my control. It’s easy to lose peace if you give too much energy to peoples drama, the news, etc. I put my energy into things I could control and ultimately found peace for the first time in 34 years.
I realized that I have always had problems with giving up control and relying on other people. This year forced me to drop that old-school mentality. 2024 emphasized the importance of community as a core value for me.
I didn’t realize this until my friend’s Diwali party where we all shared what we’re thankful for. It kind of clicked for me then… I’ve built a great little community here in New York that I can depend on. People have stepped up for me in so many different ways. Friends, neighbors, and colleagues. I don’t have family in NYC so having a community I can count on has been everything.
At the start of 2024, I was working with Nike at Meta. I moved over to the Signet & Abercrombie team in April and I was unsure about what was next but what I was sure about was that I had managers who believed in me and pushed me to be great. I’ve been really fortunate during my time at Meta. I’ve never had a career experience like this and I’m grateful for it everyday. Nothing is permanent, so I’m enjoying this ride.
I ended up taking a role on the Estee Lauder business in August. I got to visit the Meta Menlo Park office. For my day ones, you know the absolute grind it was to get to this point so I’m especially proud of this.
It’s always been a dream of mine to be in the luxury space and now I get to work with Estee Lauder, Tom Ford, Balmain, Jo Malone, Le Labo, and other brands every day. Brands that I’ve long respected and loved. I’m learning so much about skincare and luxury perfumes! I’m having the time of my life at work. I also smell amazing now. Currently wearing Jo Malone Cypress & Grapevine as my daily. My team (Cindy & Mikaela below) is a dream to work with. My clients are truly dope. What’s not to love?
Outside of work… damn. I started this section and looked through my camera roll to see the highlights. There hasn’t been much outside of work this year. I guess that’s what I neglected in 2024 and will improve on in 2025. But I did start seeing a nutritionist, got a trainer, went to counseling (and graduated?) and have consistently been under 200 pounds since March - a first for me in a decade. So outside of work, I’ve taken care of myself.
And then in my circle... I’ve loved seeing my friends flourish in their own way. New jobs, new cities, business growth, career changes, starting therapy and more. Four of my friends became fathers this year. It’s inspiring to see my friends flourish. It’s so easy to stay in a place of comfort - it takes courage to make drastic changes to improve your life.
On the morning of my 34th birthday (April 21st, add it to your calendars), my father called me and gave me some much needed perspective that I didn’t realize I needed. He said it occurred to him that morning that our family immigrated to America when he was 34 years old. That he, my mom and brother moved to a new country without knowing the language and earning something like ~$3/hr just for a fresh start. He reminded me that I’m already so far ahead of where he was at 34 and that life is just starting for me. “Don’t ever feel like you haven’t accomplished enough.” My father is the man I look up to the most so those words really resonated with me. It was the fuel that lit my fire this year. It’s never too late to start over. Your limitations are self-imposed and you can achieve anything you want in this life.
Every day you’ve seen me the past few months, I’ve been at the highest point of my life. Every day has been better than the last. That’s the energy I’m carrying into 2025.