If this questionnaire were a person, it would be a legal adult now. Eighteen years ago, I found this questionnaire, and I’ve been filling it out every December since. 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003. Eight years ago, I decided I was going to add a few new questions every year from now on. The ones I added over the years are still marked with an *asterisk. I added one this year, and that one is marked with two **asterisks.
At some point in 2022, things started to feel a lot more “normal” again. Although post-pandemic normal turns out to be a lot less social and a lot more repetitious and consistent, I suppose. The silly thing is that as soon as things started feeling normal again, I caught covid at a super-spreader wedding and had a ridiculous cough for the next 12 weeks. I started traveling again this year — I took more flights than I have in a single year in a long time. Most of them were to NJ for weddings and funerals, but whatever. I took two vacations, plus a few weekend trips, so that was nice to start working travel back into my life this year. According to my Apple Watch, I only walked 1,314 miles this year, which is significantly less than last year. I blame dog training, covid, my Apple Watch dying at one point…but also just the fact that I got very busy at work and didn’t prioritize getting outside and exercising as much as I have the last few years. Work was busy, as usual, and all three companies are still on track, growing, and doing well.
Anyway, here’s my year in review.
What did you do in 2022 that you’d never done before? Had a tequila shot.
Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn’t make any. I do plan on re-starting my resolutions this year — I always get more done with a written-down list and the entire internet as an accountability buddy!
Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, one of my team members, Brittany gave birth to Dahlia in the summer!
Did anyone close to you die? Yes, my grandpa and my mom’s friend Betsy. 🙁
What countries did you visit? Just a bit of this one — western Virginia, Newport & Watch Hill in Rhode Island, and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
What would you like to have in 2023 that you lacked in 2022? Written-down goals.
What date from 2022 will remain etched upon your memory? August 10.
What was your biggest achievement of the year? Training Benny. He is lightyears better than he was this time last year! There were days back then that I thought I was going to have to send him to live on a farm because he was so reactive and mean to new people. He let one of the baristas at the coffee shop pet his head today!
What was your biggest failure? I let myself get super burned out at work. I’ve taken the past 9 days off to do nothing but get organized and re-set, and wow, did I need it.
Did you suffer illness or injury? I got covid in August, and I was still coughing in October! Also, Benny got sick in February with some digestive issues that lasted through the spring, and that was rough! I was cooking him ground turkey and rice for meals for weeks!
What was the best thing you bought? An e-collar for my dog. My new rain jacket. Foreign sunscreens!
Whose behavior merited celebration? Alexandra’s and Brittany’s for leading our team through so many projects this year, and for continuously improving the way we do things. My dog trainer, Gwen, for helping me with Benny. Andrea’s for buying her own farm and doing amazing things down in Chesapeake!
Where did most of your money go? Payroll, coffee beans, Fathom’s branding project, rent, vet bills, buying secondhand clothes on the internet and in consignment shops.
What did you get really, really, really excited about? Taking my mom to Ocean House for her birthday in August!
What song will always remind you of 2022? “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Jubel
Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier
Thinner or fatter? About the same
Richer or poorer? Richer
What do you wish you’d done more of? Hanging out with friends.
What do you wish you’d done less of? Zoom calls.
How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Christmas having a staycation at home with my dog. I was supposed to go to NJ, but my this time I cancelled at the last minute just because I was exhausted and didn’t feel like going. It was super cold here, so I hunkered down inside with my dog, eating snacks, watching Succession, reflecting, and making plans and a vision board for the new year. My parents came down on Monday, and I made dinner. On Tuesday we had lunch at The Atlantic and went to Busch Gardens for Christmas Town. On Wednesday, we had lunch at Gringo’s and went to Nauticus for Winter Fest. My mom brought me gluten-free Christmas cookies, and I just finished them up.
Did you fall in love in 2022? No.
Who were your best friends? Benny. If we’re talking people, then Vince, Jeff, plus my team–especially Alexandra, who I spent lots of time brainstorming, strategizing and solving problems with.
What thing did you do that was meaningful to others? I was a good leader and manager to my employees, and I treated them well throughout the year. In June, we rented a compound at the North End, and brought everyone together to work in person and have fun in VB and Norfolk for the week. It was our second annual Port of Call week, and we had a blast.
What was your favorite TV program? The Crown
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Yes. A dog trainer that was a total jerk to my dog back in February.
What was the best book you read? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Plus here are a few others I really enjoyed this year!
What was your greatest musical discovery? A guy named Eddie Berrang creates all the Whalebone Sunday morning Spotify playlists, and they are amazing.
*What was your favorite meal? Oh wow. I’ve been meal prepping lately, so I’ve cooked too many delicious meals to recall lately. The Chicken Francese with roasted potatoes and asparagus I prepared for belated Christmas dinner was pretty delicious. The Italian food my mom and I had in Newport back in August was yummy, too. But you know…breakfast at Ocean House with a copy of the Wall Street Journal and a view of the Block Island Sound may have been the best.
What did you want and get? To travel again!
What did you want and not get? You know, I can’t really think of anything.
*What did you not even realize you would ever want, but then decided you wanted and get? Regularly scheduled spa days every six weeks.
**What did you not want, but got anyway? Covid.
What was your favorite film of this year? Top Gun: Maverick. Of course.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 41. Jeff, Vince, John, and I all went to dinner at Eat!
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being more strategic in my businesses, rather than in the weeds. You know that old saying about working in the business instead of on the business? I’d really have loved more time working on the business.
What kept you sane? Walks, music, Benny, spa days, reading books, writing, vacations, taking long, relaxing baths.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I have no idea. But I recently listened to a podcast where Barbara Corcoran was interviewed, and she seems pretty awesome.
What political issue stirred you the most? Sustainability, specifically in the fashion industry. Also taxes.
*What mystery from 2022 was never solved? Why do some of the Salesforce screens have the “Cancel” button in the bottom righthand corner, and some have it in the bottom left? That’s just really confusing.
Who did you miss? My grandparents and all my cousins.
Who was the best new person you met this year? My dinner buddy, Danica.
*Did you start any new traditions this year? Maybe visiting Watch Hill each summer in August? I already have a trip planned for 2023, and it’s such a magical place!
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2022: I thrive on having alone time during the week. I need time to think through problems and create new ideas for the future. The few hours I spent working alone this year were some of the most productive I had. I also learned the value of writing down protocols. Protocols are a set of rules that guide your decision-making. I read about them in a book and started a list, and I refer back to it now whenever I am having trouble making a decision. Thanks to that list, I’m finally curing my own decision fatigue!
Quote that sums up your year: “Benny, go to your place.” ~Me
