Another year is ending. As time passes, I cling more to each minute. Recounting my favorites is an exercise that always presents a chance to highlight and pay homage to the light in my life. Here is a short capsule of the gems I relished this past year:
Favorite Reads: I love those moments where my attention is dedicated to turning the pages of a book. As a story unfolds, my mind gravitates toward learning a particular character’s fate or the detailed description of a new place that becomes familiar with a writer’s choice of words or lyrical prose that creates a personal and emotional response. This is the power of a good piece of writing. I read many books this year, but if I had to pick a favorite, it is All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr – which is lyrical, poignant and encapsulates all the virtues of magnificent storytelling. It is a must read – a timeless novel for any year. For my inspirational, nonfiction read, I adored the advice and the words in Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Favorite Posts: This year I wrote two posts that meant something to me personally, essays reflecting my childhood as well as glimmers of my life now. In January of this year, my piece, “The Mother of the House” debuted in Brain, Child Magazine, a publication I’ve long admired. Last week, I published, “Why This Diwali-Observing Hindu Family Also Celebrates Christmas,” in The Washington Post. The response I received from this piece was overwhelming and filled me with gratitude.
Favorite Poem: Mary Oliver’s newest poetry collection, “Felicity” holds many gems I plan on revisiting. The line, “There is nothing more pathetic than caution when headlong might save a life, even, possibly, your own,” is one that resonated with me in the deepest way. I urge you to pick up any of Oliver’s poetry collections – I’ve always felt her words offer comfort in the dark and the light.
Favorite Trip: My family and I traveled to New York during the summertime. Strolling through Central Park, we observed painters, ballerinas and quiet corners filled with people either relaxing, people watching or eating street food. We enjoyed two Broadway shows, Matilda and The Book of Mormon. My daughter particularly loved visiting the Statue of Liberty. I will never forget her wonder when as the boat approached Lady Liberty. I thoroughly enjoyed the vibrance of New York and the melting pot of experiences we explored as we made our way through the city.
Favorite Concert: My daughter and I attended the Taylor Swift concert together. The audience beamed with mothers and daughters who felt little embarrassment swiveling their hips to Swift’s “Shake it Off.” For two solid hours, my daughter smiled and sang along, while I joined in her glee.
Favorite Movie: My husband is a movie buff and when there is a chance to catch a blockbuster film in the theater, we try to attend. This year, I enjoyed Inside Out. I am surprised I loved it so much (because I am generally not an animated film person), but I admired how sadness was highlighted in a positive way. The movie emphasized the importance of acknowledging all emotions and not necessarily labeling them as good or bad, but important. Last week, we watched Star Wars and I loved the battle between the dark and the light. Although I wasn’t a diehard Star Wars fan before watching the movie, the themes were ones which resonated with me.
Favorite Picture: I adore the smile, the crinkled nose and the sandwiched joy of my daughter in this photo. This is one of my favorite pics of 2015.
Image via Hayley McMackin
What were some of your 2015 favorites?
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
What we focus on expands, doesn’t it? Focusing on our highlights and favorites is indeed, a way to honor our life. I love how you put that. For Christmas I received a small navy blue leather bound journal that simply states, My Favorite Moment of the Day. I’m enjoying jotting each of those moments. Again – a matter of focus.
BTW – I adore the picture you posted too.
Thanks, Barb. I enjoy writing these posts because it pushes me to acknowledge the goodness in my year.
What a lovely gift – jotting down favorite moments of each day. Wishing you the best this holiday season and in 2016. xo
Thanks for this list, Rudri! I’m going to check out some of these faves. The year was such a whirlwind for me, I didn’t get much reading or movie-watching done. But I know I’ll catch up in 2016! (By the way, love the new design of your site!)
Jana,
I know 2016 will allow you to catch up on reading, writing and movie-watching. Always grateful to see you in my space. Love ya! xo
My friend, I am so proud of your continued dedication and passion to write and all that you have accomplished this year. You will achieve your goals and you will do it on your time with your grace. It’s all there for you!
Thanks so much, Ayala. Your support and kind words are always appreciated. I look forward to our friendship in the upcoming year. xo
This was great to go through the favorites. One my regrets is not getting Taylor Swift tickets. My daughters would have loved it. I would have loved it, too!
I am certain she will tour again. You and your daughters should catch her the next time!
It’s embarrassing to me that “All The Light We Cannot See” still remains one of my few book failures in life. I couldn’t do it. I want to do “Big Magic” next.
The NYC trip sounded so awesome.
Star Wars is my favorite of the year.
Those photos you had taken are so awesome! Such light and wonder!
NYC was great! We loved the food, diversity and of course, all of the people watching. Thanks for the compliments on the pictures. Appreciate it.
I hope you try to read All the Light We Cannot See again. Maybe a second or third time is the charm? I know you will love Big Magic.
I love this photo too! I’ve watched your growth as a writer from my distracted side of the world this year and am proud of all that you’ve done. I still need to catch up on your published essays.
I got several books this month and was going back and forth on All the Light You Cannot See. Reading your post here though I will definitely put it on my TR list. I didn’t have a very “accomplished” reading year, but a couple of stand-outs for me are (non-fiction) How to Raise an Adult and (fiction) Everything I Never Told You.
Happy new year, Rudri!
Cecilia,
Thanks so much for your generous praise. As you sent this comment, I was compiling my 2015 best book list (a post scheduled for tomorrow) and one of my favorite reads of this year was, Everything I Never Told You. Great debut novel. I will have to check out How to Raise an Adult. I look forward to conversing about books and life with you in 2016. Happy new year, C! xo
Those were two of my favorite books this year as well.
Love the photo!
Happy New Year to you and yours!