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Bonjour, I'm Julia.

2024 Review

2024 brought numerous personal and professional changes, some planned and others unexpected, but all accepted with gratitude. I feel more aware of life, the passage of time and have grown more accepting of things beyond my control. Although my meditation practice has been inconsistent, my journaling has been a daily constant, and weekly therapy sessions have helped me better understand my inner workings.

I'm quietly excited about 2025 and the possibilities it holds. I stand at a juncture in my life, and am looking forward to seeing what new experiences, challenges, and growth next year will bring. 🌱

📅 Key Events of 2024

  • I started therapy for the first time, finding the right therapist after two attempts.
  • I skied in Zermatt, Switzerland—my first time back on skis since my knee injury.
  • My sister had a baby, making me a first-time aunt.
  • I visited Tenerife, Spain, during a company retreat.
  • I vacationed in Paris with my family. This was just before the Paris Olympics and the city was gleaming. I've never seen it look better.
  • I finally saw the Foo Fighters live in concert. 🤘🏻 I've been a fan for decades.
  • I earned Level 1 and Level 2 certifications from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), qualifying to sail a small boat.
  • I traveled to Albania for the first time.
  • I watched the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix live, followed by two weeks exploring Mexico City, Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido, and Sierra Norte.
  • I spent Christmas with family in Nantes, France.

🏆 Milestones

  • I ran the London Marathon after years of entering the ballot and deferring for a year due to my knee injury.
  • I practiced French every day throughout the year and can now hold basic conversations (CEFR A2 level).
  • I left my job of four years to take a break and give myself the space to think about my next steps.

💪 Challenges

  • I worked too much. If you've read my past reviews, you know this has been a recurring issue. 😅
  • I didn't spend as much time on my drum kit as I wanted. This was because I found myself lacking in motivation to practice by the end of the day. Reasons?
    1. Long working hours left little mental energy for drumming.
    2. I lacked a clear goal, which made it hard to stay driven.

🎓 Professional Growth

  • I pursued cosmology as a new year’s resolution, completing a University of Edinburgh course on Coursera and following my curiosity in the field.
  • Learning French became a major focus. I extended my Duolingo streak daily and took live lessons with Babbel Live for four months, reaching CEFR A2/B1.
  • I returned to mobile app development with React Native after a couple years off, which provided a refreshing change from web development.
  • I built my first basic browser game using Phaser 3, in collaboration with a friend.

🚀 Looking Forward

  • I spent far too much time at work (again 😅). I plan to set clearer boundaries in 2025. This also contributed to my decision to leave my job as I really needed to recalibrate and focus on what truly matters.
  • I’m grateful for the new countries I explored this year. I want to continue this in 2025, with a focus on awe-inspiring experiences. Specifically with this in mind, my first stop is Patagonia in January.
  • I want to establish clear drumming goals to stay motivated and practice consistently.
  • Having the ability to better communicate with my Francophone family (and strangers) has been rewarding. I’ll continue learning French and aim to reach B2 by the end of 2025.
  • I’ve invested time and resources into sailing this year, and I plan to build on that by spending more time on the water in various conditions.
  • I want to strengthen existing relationships and expand my social circle.

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