30 Questions
Hi guys, I’m starting 2022 with some great questions from Kendra Adachi who is the host of The Lazy Genius podcast (which I follow weekly) and author of the book The Lazy Genius Way (which I have read and often refer back to). She’s super fun to listen to and fun to read.
She says, “Let these questions breathe as they need to, answer them as thoughtfully or as quickly as you need to, and let the collection of answers lead you into the new year.”
Here is a list of questions to get me/you/us thinking: (I answer them at the end of this post if you are curious).
What is my favorite memory from last year?
What was the most restful thing I did?
What was the most energizing thing I did?
What am I glad I tried?
What relationship brought me joy?
What experience brought me joy?
What was my favorite place?
What was my favorite outfit?
What was my favorite book/show/movie?
What was my favorite part of the day?
What has changed in me that I’m proud of?
What made me laugh?
What was something that felt hard at the start of last year but is easier now?
What am I glad I finished?
What is something I’m really glad happened?
What did I miss?
Who did I miss?
What made me feel like myself?
What words would I use to describe last year?
What words would I use to describe myself last year?
What mattered most last year?
What didn’t matter as much as I thought it would?
What did I learn about myself last year?
How do I feel about myself after this last year?
How do I want to feel about myself next year?
What do I want to bring from last year into this year?
What do I think will matter this year?
What habits/rituals/rhythms do I hope for?
What do I want to finish? What do I want to start?
Based on last year, what advice would I give myself moving into this year?
“Answer some or all. Answer with long answers or just a few words.” -Kendra Adachi
In 2021, I got a new iPhone 12, and it has an incredible camera. I just had to share this picture. I love everything about it! July 2021.
1) What is my favorite memory from last year? Spending 10 days in a beach house in Oxnard, California with Tonio, Daphné, Django, my mama and daddy, my sister Chelsey, her husband Brett, their 3 kids Rowyn, Rowdy and Rocky, and my really good friend Crystal and her son Micah. It was magical.
Me, my sister Chelsey and friend Crystal with my niece Rowyn and our Daphné playing behind us in the water. Oxnard, California. June 2021.
2) What was the most restful thing I did? I set “down time” on my phone from 9:30pm to 7am, so I stop looking at my phone at night before bed and in the mornings right when I wake up. I now start my days with reading the Bible. This changed and changes (currently) the trajectory of my days for the better. I was inspired in the book The Liturgy of the Ordinary. This change only happened in November 2021, but I’m so excited to take it into 2022 with me.
3) What was the most energizing thing I did? Traveled by myself by bus to Torino, Italy to spend a week with my friend Denae in the Italian mountains. So refreshing and energizing.
Here we are in the Italian mountains with her sweet Great Dane named Lola. Being with an animal for 5 days was also super energizing for me. I just love animals. October 2021.
4) What am I glad I tried? I’m thankful I mustered up the courage to volunteer to be the president of the parent association at Django’s school. It’s terrifying and equally so rewarding that I’m showing up and having to rely on the Lord’s strength with all the unknowns of the French school system, French administration and the French language.
Here I am with other members of the parent association for the Christmas event I organized at Django’s school. December 2021.
5) What relationship brought me joy? Goodness, this question can’t be answered with one name only, so I give you my sister Chelsey, my friends Crystal, Leah, Julie and Denae. I love you girls. You’ve truly been with me through so much. Your friendships bless me beyond words. Thank you for investing so deeply in my life.
6) What experience brought me joy? Riding the Ferris wheel with my Daphné. It was a really precious moment. We both love heights and rides. I can’t wait until she’s older and we can ride the big roller coasters together! YAY!!!
You can see the city of Nice behind us. Pretty spectacular. Daphné gives it a thumbs up. December 2021.
7) What was my favorite place? Being at the beach in California with people I love. Being at the beach here in Nice with people I love.
This is the day after we arrived back in Nice after our trip to California. We have learned that the sea does wonders for jet lag. July 2021.
8) What was my favorite outfit? In warmer weather, shorts, tank and sandals. In colder weather, jeans, flannel and converse.
9) What was my favorite book/show/movie? Book : The Liturgy of the Ordinary. Show : Ted Lasso (me and Tonio watch this together). Movie : In The Heights. I’ll add podcast : The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.
10) What was my favorite part of the day? Early morning, waking up before everyone else. Getting my bearings in God’s Word and enjoying the sunrise through our living room window.
I took this picture on December 30th, 2021. The morning sky doesn’t look like this everyday, but when it does, I take a picture and praise God for His majesty.
11) What has changed in me that I’m proud of? I started asserting myself more and not being so afraid of conflict (daily growth in process until I die…haha!!!).
12) What made me laugh? Daphné and Django and their funny antics before bed.
13) What was something that felt hard at the start of last year but is easier now? Making food for our family. It’s still hard, but it’s a little easier than a year ago.
14) What am I glad I finished? Three years of anti-depressants in March 2021. I’m thankful to be in a very stable place psychologically right now. I have learned that my brain is fragile, and I may need to go back on them again one day. That’s now ok with me. I’m thankful I know my limitations and needs; it makes me a stronger person. I also finished all the books I started.
You can read the blog post about these books here.
15) What is something I’m really glad happened? We were able to travel to California in June 2021 after having had to cancel our trip in June 2020.
16) What did I miss? Being with my brother, my sister-in-law and their beautiful daughter.
17) Who did I miss? My brother.
Even though it’s a bit blurry, I just love this picture! It’s the last time I saw my brother and sister-in-law, and I can’t wait for the next time. Daphné was almost 2 in this photo. December 2016, 5 years ago.
18) What made me feel like myself? Writing letters. Writing blog posts. Taking baths.
19) What words would I use to describe last year? Survive then thrive. The beginning was survival, and starting in June with our trip to California, I felt like I started thriving.
20) What words would I use to describe myself last year? Tired. Inspired.
21) What mattered most last year? Being present with Tonio, Daphné and Django.
22) What didn’t matter as much as I thought it would? I had set a goal to run 30 times in 2021. Running for me meant 20-25 minutes. I successfully ran only 14 times, the last time being with my sister and friend Crystal along the beautiful white sandy beach in California in June. I thought I would be sad I didn’t accomplish this goal, but I’m pleased that it was only the beginning of me exercising more, but in different ways.
I thoroughly enjoyed my 14 runs in 2021, 13 of which happened on these pebbles along the Mediterranean Sea. April 2021.
23) What did I learn about myself last year? I learned that I’m a very capable person. This sounds a bit pompous, I know. This is an honest reflection on how I have been able to thrive as an American in France. It has not been easy, but I’m really proud of myself. Last year, I organized two big events, one at church and one at Django’s school. It was all in French, juggling over 50 people and communication. They both went well, and I’m so thankful.
24) How do I feel about myself after this last year? I feel that I did a good job being a wife and mama, showing up for my people, even though I didn’t do it perfectly for sure.
25) How do I want to feel about myself next year? I want to feel like I chose to engage in my family and relationships and that I chose joy. I also want to feel physically stronger.
26) What do I want to bring from last year into this year? Chats with my sister on the phone. We face timed a whole bunch through 2020 and 2021. I just would love for that to continue. Daphné and Rowyn, my niece, have become best buddies. And it’s adorable to watch Django and my nephew Rowdy converse. I also want to continue going to gym classes this year.
Thanks to the blessing of technology, namely face time and whatsapp, Daphné and her cousin Rowyn have grown as friends, and they were SO excited to be with each other for 6 weeks last summer! June 2021.
27) What do I think will matter this year? Engaging in life by asserting myself more and taking care of my body, so I can better take care of my people.
28) What habits/rituals/rhythms do I hope for? Daily Bible reading. Praying throughout the day with the kids, spontaneous prayer, just enjoying talking with our Creator. Washing my face in the morning and at night.
29) What do I want to finish? What do I want to start? Finish : Sending out all the Christmas/New Year’s cards from December 2021. I’m almost done! Start : Enneagram podcast in French.
We’ve sent out over 100 of these photos, and I still have a small list left. Papi Pierre took this great picture (November 2021), and my friend Crystal did the hand lettering. She has beautiful art to sell at Sea + Sparrow.
30) Based on last year, what advice would I give myself moving into this year? ~Lindsey, you always function better when you wake up, read and get ready before everyone else wakes up - so do it, even when 6am seems too early. You’ll thank yourself. ~Don’t do a load of laundry the day before inviting people over, thus creating extra work for yourself in having to rush to fold it all or in trying to clumsily and awkwardly move the drying rack into the bedroom. ~If you feel crummy in the mornings, you probably forgot to wash your face, so go do it. ~Try to visit the sea whenever you have the chance in order to get some grounding. It always breathes a little life into your soul. ~Don’t do screens before bed. Your eyes always hurt, and you often sleep poorly. I know you won’t obey me 100% on this one (as I see you’re typing this blog post until 9pm at night….caught you…ha!). ~Have fun with your husband always and enjoy every moment with the 2 smaller Petrignani people. They are tiring, but oh, so worth it!
I love my little bucket heads. March 2021.
Bravo! You made it to the end! If you’re like me, you might look at this “reflecting” and think, that’s cool for her, or I don’t really have much to reflect on, or my reflecting won’t be like hers… I never realized how empowering it is to sit down and actually answer questions like these. It has taken me 3 days. Take your time. Process. Learn from the past. Make the present and future that much brighter.
I love this verse : “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” -Proverbs 31:25
We have no need to fear the future, but we should fear ignoring the lessons we learned in the past. Cheers to growth in 2022!
Love Linz