reflections on 2024 from laurie simmons, emily sundberg, sophie lewis, and more
passersby on the year 2024
Last year we asked our community on Discord for their reflections on the year and the year ahead and we were moved by the answers that were shared.
And so we thought to open up that prompt to our wider community. Read below for reflections on the past year from Laurie Simmons,
, and Sophie Lewis, and more.We’d love to hear from you — what moved you this year? Did you see a passerby that made a lasting impression on you? Was there an interview that we published that resonated with you? What dominated your mind this year? Is there anything from 2024 that you will bring with you in the new year? Anything you’ll be leaving behind? Please comment on this post with your own reflections or share anonymously in our Discord.
Laurie Simmons
revisit our interview with the artist here
It’s a painful time for so many people for obvious reasons which means friendship and connection become extra important. I have to remember I can’t fix everything but I can focus on what’s important to me. I’m part of a group called FUTR (Families United for Trans Rights) 7 of the 10 trans political candidates we supported, including Sarah McBride, won their elections. Real change happens slowly and steadily. I have to remind myself of that.
Kathleen Sorbara
revisit our waking up with the vintage shop owner here
I was so focused on turning 30 that I didn’t realize I was leaving my 20s behind. Being 29 was the most hectic year of my life, and my twenties in general were really unstable and chaotic (but with the lows there were also highs!). Now that it’s over I feel ready for my next decade, almost like a new lease on life. I started working with a therapist a few months ago that has changed so much for me and the way I move through the world. It’s not lost on me that the majority of Americans cannot afford $400/week for out-of-network mental health services. My hope is that the profound lack of access to healthcare in our country will awaken people’s need for change.
Sophie Lewis
revisit our monthly recs with the author here
As this year closes, I am going to try to be brave enough, with others, to actually face the immensity of our grief. Perhaps we already knew that no one is coming to save us, but this year we were also forced to see that genocides are threaded through—well, more or less everything. In preparation for the new year, I would like to invite financial gifts to the Sameer Project, a Palestinian mutual aid (not charity) initiative, and also to CAW, a group of transfeminist writers cooperativizing their labor.
Virginia Chang
revisit our interview with the death doula here
If it is in your control and you can do something about it, do it.
If it is not in your control and there is nothing you can do, let it go.
Claire Rousay
revisit our life in 10 tracks with the musician here
Being perceived as “cool,” “in style,” or “on top of things” is overrated. Genuine creativity exists outside of trends. If you’re doing something thoughtful and true to you and it is rejected by pop culture, you’re truly ahead of the curve, not behind.
Dalia Al-Dujaili
revisit our monthly recs with the writer here
The genocide in Gaza is still happening, and we need to keep bringing our attention back to our brothers and sisters suffering in Palestine, Sudan, Congo, and Lebanon.
Sunny Shokrae
revisit our interview with the artist here
We are so lucky to be here, safe and warm, while so many are not. As the world burns around us it is so important to be rooted to yourself and mutual aid. More work at the local level and being present with the people you love.
Anne Gomez Rubin
revisit our camera roll with the teacher here
I end this year feeling grateful that it’s possible to completely blow up one’s life at 46 — it’s possible to redesign it all to the size of one’s specific contours. Like me, so many women I know are in the process of getting a divorce. I’m proud of all of us… There’s so much courage and bravery in leaving behind all that’s familiar in order to seek out something more bespoke!
Emily Sundberg
revisit our monthly recs with the writer here
My life changed so much over the last year — new friends, new job, new relationship with the public, and a new fiance. I would say I'm in awe of how much one can change their reality in a matter of months. This world and the ambitious people in it are so amazing.
Jasmyn Story
revisit our interview with the restorative justice facilitator here
This year has asked us to pause and bear witness to the piece of collective humanity we hold and to behold the pieces crucially held by others. As I close out this year, I aim to do so with the stillness that witnessing requires. I am calling in a hibernating winter season and end of year. Slow and steady will win this race; rest is a crucial stop on this journey.
Kaylan Rexer
revisit our interview with the mezcal brand founder here
This New Year’s Eve, I’ll be doing something simple yet meaningful, sharing a meal around a dinner table with people I care about. It’s a reminder of what truly matters, and it’s something I plan to do a lot more of in 2025.
I’m ready to step away from the wearisome corporate day-to-day and reconnect with the world around me. I think real change often starts with something as intimate as sitting across from someone you don’t know, sharing a conversation over a meal. My hope for the new year is to create more spaces where those moments of connection can happen.
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