2022 in Review and Looking Forward
What a year! Incredible highs and stark lows. I graduated with my masters degree. My grandfather passed away. We ran a great campaign I'm very proud of. We didn't win.
2022 was filled with personal milestones, meaty failures, and plenty of meaningful moments. I danced and cried and spent too much time in front of a screen. I’ll try my best to synthesize and examine it all here, and to look ahead to 2023.
Big Events
I turned 27 last January, in the aftermath of a record Fairbanks snowfall. My partner and I celebrated 4 lovely years together. The start of the year was rich with cheer, and refreshingly peaceful.
School started soon after. I used the spring semester to finish up my Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of Alaska Southeast.
The final semester was tiring. Spring is always hard, and I was working full time and taking three classes. I had serious trouble sleeping and struggled with my mental health. My performance fell off a cliff. I’m not sure I’d attempt that pace - doing a full time job and a masters degree in a year and a half - again.
It probably stressed me out more that anything else I’ve done.
We also returned to the high school track and field season, where I helped coordinate volunteer officials across four local meets. I think it was my 5th or 6th year in the job, and (likely, hopefully) near my last.
I was glad to finish school and get to summer, where we had a laundry list of house repairs to complete ahead of one year of ownership in the fall.
In mid July, I decided to run for local office, with a short jaunt to Poland at the beginning of the campaign. We were not successful, but I made a wonderful group of new friends and mentors and had many opportunities to learn and grow.
Soon after the election my grandfather was hospitalized, and he ultimately passed away. I felt fortunate that I had had the chance to see and talk to him a few months before his death. My parents and I came to Poland for the funeral, saw family, and headed back.
A few weeks later my childhood cat passed away, too.
Re-Drinking
I stepped away from alcohol in 2018 and somewhere between Big Moments this fall, I started drinking again. I had stopped because I hadn’t liked who I was after too many drinks, which had begun to come too often and too easily.
This time seems better. I usually just do it sporadically, symbolically, and that’s been enough. We’ll see how it goes.
Small Moments
I was fortunate enough to have a year filled with small, wonderful moments, as important as the big ones.
My friend group returned more fully to in-person events and meet-ups, something I didn’t realize that I had so desperately missed. I’m not sure what I’d do without them…if I’d still be here or not. We played plenty of board games, hosted a summer bake-off, and re-joined weekly trivia sessions at the UAF Pub. I tired my hand at fat biking and contra dancing, and fell in love with both.
As of today I am solidly into a 255 day movement streak, meaning that I’ve met my fitness goals each day for over two thirds of the year in a row. The goals are relatively modest, but they keep me moving. I feel stronger and fitter than I have in a long time.
I was glad to have a little more time this year to relax, in between the Large Happenings. I re-read some childhood favorites, like Sabriel, played a non-overwhelming number of video games…and just sat around a little. It was nice.
Goals for Next Year
Many people have asked me if I’m going to run for office again.
I don’t know. It took a lot of me. I am leaning towards yes.
But I have a lot of other goals next year, too.
I recently joined both the Board of the North Star Community Foundation and the Borough Platting Board. The NSCF represents many smaller organizations in our Borough, includes groups such as Friends of Fox Springs, the Chena Tool Library, the Fairbanks Skatepark Coalition, and more. The Platting Board serves our Borough by determining issues around subdivisions and plats. It was an honor to be recommended by Mayor Ward for the position.
There are also interesting work opportunities at my day job at the Arctic Research Consortium of the US: opportunities to bring together and help synergize communities of researchers, Northern Communities, and community and citizen scientists.
I’m trying, too, to read more: much more! I’m looking to get through (and enjoy) 50 books in the next year.
On top of these broader goals, I’d like to have more of those special little moments. Strengthen relationships. Have fun.
So, we’ll see about the politics.
Thank you
Finally, I wanted to thank you, for reading this and for being a part of my life. I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with friends and family. I hope 2023 is kind. I’m looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Assorted Pictures
