This post is going to be different than last year’s goal post. Last year, I jumped straight in and recapped my goals for 2021, then made new ones for 2022. This year, I’ve decided I’m going to recap my 2022, mainly because I have a passion for yearly recaps that can’t be explained, but also because of how hard and inspiring and beautiful 2022 was for me. God used last year to grow me in such strange and wonderful ways. I started the year very optimistic and excited for what would unfold and ended the year older, wiser, and way more sentimental than I used to be.
So let’s recap the most beautiful year of my life.
TRIGGER WARNING: This post discusses suicide, self-harm, depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. If you feel that any of these topics will trigger you in any way, please don’t feel obligated to read. ❤ And you’re always welcome to skip past the recap and just read my goals. I won’t judge ❤

On this blog, I try to keep up a consistent façade. Well, okay, it’s technically not a “façade” per se, because this is exactly how I am in real life, but I basically live my life as a sarcastic side character. All throughout 2022, in all my posts (except the reflection posts, those are a little different), I’ve tried to stay this bubbly cinnamon roll with sarcasm that would greatly impress middle school Mia. I think I’ve been pretty good at that. In real life, however, I struggled a lot. I struggled in ways I’d never struggled before and never thought I would struggle. And it was so out of the blue, too. I came out of 2021 on a high from my newly discovered social confidence, something I’ve literally never had. I was finally gaining the courage to step outside my comfort zone and talk not only to girls, but to guys as well. (This is a big deal as I was always terrified of guys before.) I was learning to combat my anxiety in a healthy way.
It might have been a healthy way but it wasn’t the right way.
In February of 2022, God allowed Satan to break me.
And He used my brokenness to bring me back to Him.
Am I better now? No. None of us are “better”. But I’m not as broken as I was. I’m not aching. Lonely. Empty. Shattered. I’m simply me. A broken sinner with a Jesus-shaped hole in my heart. This year, it is my goal to never return to the same broken place Satan dragged me to in 2022. I know that, alone, I could never have clawed my way up from the hole I was dropped into. But I have a perfect Savior.
Goodness, what would I do without Him?
January





- I discovered Twenty-One Pilots music for the first time and promptly fell in love
- I received a glass dip pen that I’d ordered ages ago and wasted no time in making an absolute mess with the ink
- I started writing songs on the computer instead of by hand, which did wonders for my creativity
- I started texting with three of my church friends, one of which was my crush at the time
- I quickly got over said crush after finding out he was in a long-distance relationship with a girl in Maryland
- I started penpaling with said girl in Maryland
- We celebrated Christmas with the cousins
- Me and my sister got a new bookshelf for our room and my sister named it “Bill”
- I had multiple selfie photoshoots for no reason other than the fact that the phone I got for Christmas had a way better camera than my last one
- I drew the aforementioned crush and gave him the picture, much to his surprise (
I wonder if he still has it)
February



- I started wearing makeup
- I also stopped wearing makeup because it’s too much trouble to apply every morning
- I slapped a guy and, to this day, our friends still reference it
- I had my first suicidal thought, much to my shock
- I had my first panic attack moments after
- And I told nobody
- I met one of my dearest friends in person for the first time literally the next day
- One of our online friends committed suicide that same day and we found out a few days later
- I watched Encanto for the first time and promptly fell in love with everything about it (especially the soundtrack
and Camilo)
March



- My dad got bees
- My sister turned nine and had a birthday party, which is where my fabulous hat came from
- I finished the main plot of the third book in my series and started adding notes to it
- I started cutting myself
- I drew my best friend for her birthday and gave the picture to her (and to this day, it’s one of my favorite drawings)
- I told my other best friend what I was going through and long story short, she conspired with my sister to bring my parents’ attention to my deteriorating mental health
- My parents helped me get counseling from a lady at our church and she helped me put my feelings into words, which was huge
April


- I saw a cool bug
- We visited Georgia Southern’s wildlife center and the boys had a blast
- I started getting better (:
- I pressed some flowers and then completely forgot about them *facepalm*
- We sang for the Christian Women’s Club and I also played my ukulele
- I caught up on all my late assignments (finally)
- I discovered BookTok and became obsessed (as proved by the long TBR list in my journal)
- I started orchestrating the soundtrack of my musical
May

- I completed the first draft of my musical without orchestration
- I took the SAT (and almost froze to death)
- I slowly started overcoming my anxiety again
- I discovered my intense fear of cockroaches after having a panic attack at three in the morning when I saw one
- I successfully orchestrated 1/3 of the soundtrack
- Drama Camp started
June





- Drama Camp continued and finished mostly uneventfully and with way less drama than the year before
- We went on a trip to Kentucky with our youth group to visit the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter and I, of course, had a panic attack in the middle of the night *sighs*
- One of the guys got kicked out of Dillard’s because he was going up on the down escalator
- I also fell asleep on that guy’s shoulder because the ride up was exhausting LOL
- I started playing percussion on my church’s worship team
- I went book shopping despite having an already miles-long TBR
- I gained an obsession with watching Minecrafters freak out over the Warden
*nervous laugh* Ummm don’t ask XD - Technoblade died ):
July



- I got COVID
- I discovered Danny Gonzales’ videos and became obsessed with commentary YouTubers
- I played Minecraft Java Edition for the first time
- I finally finished school and had a week-long summer break before we started school for the next semester *facepalm*
- I discovered electro swing music and fell in love
- I rewrote my idea for the ending of my series
August


- We saw a double rainbow on the way home from church
- I rejoined YWW after a year of being away
- I redesigned my blog, which was long overdue
- I applied for work at Starbucks
- They ignored me
- I applied for work at a barbecue restaurant and was hired!
- I had an anxiety attack on my first day *sighs*
- I started plotting the next-to-last book in my series
- I listened to a good chunk of Imagine Dragons music and became re-obsessed
- I took a personality test that matches you to characters from a bunch of different franchises and I got all the cinnamon roll / airheaded characters which actually made me pretty happy LOL
- I was accidentally roped into the K-pop world by B2TSM (aka TwoSet Violin) and I’m still mad about it
- I came up with a backstory for my portal world
- Tinfoil Chef died ):
September



- I turned seventeen
- I watched Hamilton for the second time with my sisters
- My sister started gymnastics
- I went to a family reunion and sat in the rain
- I joined the YWW Minecraft server and built a base with my best friend
- I started working out and started regaining my confidence
- I got my driver’s license
- I finished the plot to the fourth book
- I caught a butterfly
- I became obsessed with aesthetic images on Pinterest
- YWW reached 1000 users!
- The queen died ):
October



- I regained my obsession with the Dream SMP after Dream’s face reveal
- I got my debit card
- I quit my job after having multiple breakdowns over it
- I officially finished plotting my five-book series after three years of work
- My siblings started bringing one of the kittens inside and we named her Lily
- Lily slept on my pillow with me
- I painted my siblings’ faces for Halloween
- I finished a sketchbook after two years of on-and-off arting
- I went through an intense obsession with Quotev DSMP personality tests
- I discovered I am rather adept at figuring out people’s Hogwarts houses just by looking at them, despite never reading the books or seeing the movies
November


- I wrote eight billion college essays
sheesh - I was accepted into Bob Jones University
- I won NaNoWriMo
- I visited my future college
- I got a Google account
- The YWW Minecraft server was hacked and several bases were destroyed
- I became a Sprint Guardian on YWW
- My favorite ornament fell off the tree and broke (of course, right after I imagined telling my future kids all about how much it means to me *facepalm*)
- Two of my cousins got engaged within days of each other
- I almost witnessed a wreck LOL
- I drove without my parents for the first time (unrelated to the above point XP)
- I discovered AJR and fell in love with their music
December







- I realized just how fleeting every moment is
- Lily fell asleep under the tree and discovered how cozy it was under there
- I started working at Claire’s and pierced two noses and 14 ears
- I acted in my last youth Christmas play
- I got YWW merch for Christmas
- Two of our goats had babies
- I played six air hockey matches in one day
- I rang in the new year with my sister
- My last Christmas as a child ❤

2022 Goal Recap
Let’s recap last year’s goals, shall we?
WRITING:
1. REACH 100 FOLLOWERS ON MY BLOG ❌
Nope. I’ve kind of flatlined at 87 followers. But I’m grateful for every one of y’all ❤
2. FINISH PLOTTING MY FIVE-BOOK SERIES ✔
Success!! I’m so happy I managed to get this one done. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it when I made this goal but I definitely surprised myself!
3. REJOIN YWW ✔
Yep! I’m back for as long as possible!
4. KEEP UP WITH MY PENPALS ❌
Um. No. . . .
ART:
1. POST TWO OR THREE ART POSTS THIS YEAR ✔
I actually posted four! Two mail art posts, one of me making fun of my old art, and an art dump from my recently finished sketchbook!
2. KEEP UP WITH MY BULLET JOURNAL ✔
I didn’t bullet journal the whole year but it definitely came in handy during school months.
3. DRAW MY FRIENDS ❌
I only drew two ):
MUSIC:
1. LEARN 10 NEW SONGs ON THE PIANO ✔
I think I got this one? My sheet music binder is bursting at the seams anyhow LOL
2. WRITE 25 NEW SONGS ON PIANO OR UKULELE ❓
I have no idea because I STILL CAN’T FIND MY SONG NOTEBOOK. I’m so upset. I think I passed this goal but I have no actual idea.
3. LEARN A NEW INSTRUMENT ❌
Ahaha no.
4. GET VOICE LESSONS ❌
Also no, but I started lessons from my mom yesterday soooo. . . .
ACTING:
1. PERFORM IN AT LEAST ONE SHOW ✔
I was in two! One church show and one semi-professional show!
2. WRITE A NEW PLAY FOR MY SIBLINGS ❌
Um. No.
3. LEARN TO DANCE ✔
Technically, I had to learn the Charleston and how to waltz and stuff for Drama Camp. I’m still terrible at dancing but I guess this counts?
PERSONAL:
1. MEET AN ONLINE FRIEND IRL ✔
Technically, I met two! It was such a wonderful day and I made so many wonderful memories. They were only here for three hours but ahhh it was amazing.
2. EXPERIMENT WITH BEAUTY PRODUCTS ✔
I tried out makeup and a little bit of hair chalk and abandoned it instantly XD
3. GET A JOB ✔
Technically, I got two but I finished out the year just with the one at Claire’s.
4. GET MY DRIVER’S LICENSE ✔
Yep! I can’t get my full license until I turn eighteen but I have the next best thing.

And now for my goals for this year, 2023!!
Writing:
1. Finish My NaNo Novel (And Possibly Start the Next in the Series)
I’m literally so excited to finish the first draft. I know I sound like a broken record but this project has come such a long way and means so much to me.
2. Journal Every Day (Or At Least as Often as Possible)
I’ve decided that I want to journal as often as possible about any events in my life so I can remember everything that happens this year. After all, a lot can happen in a year and, Lord willing, a lot is going to happen this year.
3. Post Two Blog Posts a Month
This will definitely be harder to maintain when I go off to college but I’m tired of going so long in between posts. It’s depressing.
4. Try Out Book Reviews
I got a reading log from Amazon (here) and it is SO COOL. It has so much space to write my thoughts with various prompts. I want to read a lot more this year and I figured I could post reviews on my blog and just see how I like them. I’m not always a huge fan of reading book reviews but sometimes they’re nice. *shrugs*
Reading:
1. Find a Stlye of Annotating That Works for Me
I like the idea of annotating and I really want to enjoy it. I really enjoy writing my sarcastic comments in the margins so I’m sure I can find some kind of style that works for me. I got a bunch of different colors of sticky tabs for Christmas and I can’t wait to use them LOL
2. Read 50 Books (From My TBR, Not Like, Comic Collections LOL)
The other day, I counted all the books on my shelf that I haven’t read or haven’t read in awhile that I want to read and I came up with 48. o.0 I think I better get reading LOL
3. Regularly Read My Bible
I’m still trying to figure out what Bible study kind of thing I want to do but I do want to make an effort to read my Bible more. I saw a clip from a Ray Comfort sermon talking about how we should treat our Bible reading like we would food. Don’t eat until you read your Bible. I’m trying to remind myself of that LOL
Art:
1. Draw My Friend
I’ve wanted to draw him for awhile and he’s moving away in the summer so I guess this is a good time XD
2. Calligraph-ize a Bible Verse Every Week
I don’t think that’s a word. BUT, I’m memorizing a Bible verse every week and I’m lettering the verses I memorize! I definitely need practice but I think it’ll be fun.
3. Fanart!!
I figured I could just draw my favorite character from every book I read. Could be fun *shrugs*
Personal:
1. Officially Finish My College Application // Audition
It’s due in March!! Ahh!!
2. Actually Go to College LOL
It starts in August!! Ahh!!
3. Successfully Complete My Photo-A-Day
I’m doing this thing where I take a photo of myself every day and then I can see how I change over the year. I think it’ll be fun!
4. Buy a Laptop
I need one for college. I shall get one for college. I just need to get a little richer first LOL

To Be Read
This is just for me but y’all are welcome to read the books that I want to read this year!
- Gone With the Wind ~ Margaret Mitchell
- The Wingfeather Saga ~ Andrew Peterson
- On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
- North! Or Be Eaten
- The Monster in the Hollows
- The Warden and the Wolf King
- Wingfeather Tales
- The Impossible Quest ~ Kate Forsyth
- Escape From Wolfhaven Castle
- Wolves of the Witchwood
- The Beast of Blackmoor Bog
- The Drowned Kingdom
- Battle of the Heroes
- The Unblemished Trilogy ~ Sara Ella
- Unblemished
- Unraveling
- Unbreakable
- The Curious Realities ~ Sara Ella
- The Wonderland Trials
- To Kill a Kingdom ~ Alexandra Christo
- The Penderwicks ~ Jeanne Birdsall
- The Penderwicks
- The Selection Series~ Kiera Cass
- The Selection
- A Winter’s Promise ~ Christelle Dabos
- Crown and Jewel ~ Jeri Massi
- Stargirl ~ Jerry Spinelli
- The Lunar Chronicles ~ Marissa Meyer (I’ve read the first two books)
- Cress
- Winter
- Stars Alone
- Fairest
- Warriors ~ Erin Hunter
- Into the Wild
- Fire and Ice
- Forest of Secrets
- Rising Storm
- A Dangerous Path
- The Darkest Hour
- Heirs of Neverland Duology ~ Kara Swanson
- Dust
- Shadow
- Death of a Cozy Writer ~ G. M. Malliet
- Alexander Hamilton, American ~ Richard Brookhiser (this is not a schoolbook and I don’t have to explain myself to anyone 🙃)
- Millie’s Fiery Trial ~ Martha Finley // Mission City Press
- The Ice Curse ~ Theia Grace
- The Hunger Games ~ Suzanne Collins
- The Hunger Games
- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay
- Dear Stranger ~ Meg Mullins
- The Girl Who Could See ~ Kara Swanson
- Outlining Your Novel ~ K. M. Weiland
- Once Upon a Broken Heart ~ Stephanie Garber
- Jesus Freaks ~ dc Talk
- Vol. I
- Vol. II
- Shadow and Bone ~ Leigh Bardugo
- Do Hard Things ~ Alex and Brett Harris

And there we have it! A recap of my 2022, a recap of my 2022 goals, and my goals for 2023!! 2022 was such an amazing year. I didn’t love every second but I am so so thankful for everything that happened. The good, the bad, and the in-between. Everything that happened shaped me into a beautiful person and has done so much for my empathy and writing skills, funnily enough. I can’t wait to see where 2023 takes me and what God does for me ❤
I hope you guys have an amazing year and see God’s hands in everything.
Love,

🎵Life Changes by Thomas Rhett (it perfectly mirrors everything that happened last year, I think)🎵