My 2023 favourites
Things I read, listened to, did and loved
💌 This month, paid subscribers received a behind-the-scenes look at how 2023 felt in my business, support in December’s Accountability Club and an honest podcast episode on how I tackle worries and fears as I get ready to launch my new group programme. I’d love to have you be part of our gentle community—upgrade your subscription here.
Paid subscribers received the first of 2023-reflection posts in their inboxes last week, in which I shared an honest look at the mental and emotional side of running my business in 2023.
But I also wanted to do another post, in which I share my favourites of 2023 with you in the broadest sense, from things I did, read, listened to and more.
If you regularly read this newsletter, I know you’ll love the paid posts, bonuses and community as well. Upgrade your subscription to become part of our slow and gentle community and get even more support, bonuses and strategies.
Your favourites
I’ll start with your favourites—the things that you read, shared and enjoyed the most (according to Substack stats, that is).
You loved reading about dealing with time scarcity and my six lessons from two years without social media. And you loved reading about all things Substack: from my announcement of the mini-course Social media for small business owners to 10 things I learned about growing paid subscriptions and my reflections on my first 6 months on Substack.
Two runners-up that are close to my heart and that you enjoyed too are my first post giving a behind-the-scenes look at my 2023 goals and numbers, and the one I wrote about what living with mental illness means for my business.
Over on my blog, a fairly off the cuff post I wrote about Substack (Substack 101: how to use and enjoy the platform) was a surprise hit, as was Should you move your newsletter to Substack. Both posts were written fairly spontaneously, so to see them do so well is amusing to me.
Reading, watching, listening, doing
📚I read a lot and find it nearly impossible to narrow down my full 2023 list (see here), but some favourites include Eleanor Catton’s novel *Birnam Wood* which is such a well-written literary thriller; a completely engrossing read about a crime set at a boarding school (I Have Some Questions For You); A Hunger by Ross Raisin, an original book about ambition and care; a novel with a twist following one house through the centuries (North Woods); and Tan Twan Eng’s heartbreaking and gorgeous The House of Doors.
Three of my non-fiction favourites of 2023 are
’s Why Women Grow, which is essentially gardening means feminism and which I found beautiful and empowering; Kate Clancy’s super-insightful Period, a scientific and anthropological take on periods; and Some of Us Just Fall by Polly Atkin, a beautiful memoir on living with chronic illness and challenging the nature cure (all book links are affiliate links).In June I discovered a new-to-me poem that now lives on my phone homescreen and, in printed form, framed in my study. Hannah Napier Rosenthal’s “Until I thought of myself as the sea” has become a poem to live by for me, especially this:
Calm and
rocky, wild and soft, still and powerful and vast
and more than any one thing.
📺 While I keep track of what I read, I don’t keep track of what I watch so I’m sure that I’ve forgot things I enjoyed. But this whimsical Korean show about an autistic attorney was a favourite of both J and I; I got back into Workin’ Moms when I watched the final season; and as ever return to old—even pretty old—favourites when I’m in need of comfort watching.
🎧 I’m always slightly apprehensive when Spotify sends me the songs I apparently listened to most, as it confirms how much my taste of music is solidly stuck in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2023 I listened to the sparrows quarrelling in the garden and this and this song on repeat (which, surprisingly, are from the 21st-century 😅).
I finally upgraded my home office by buying a really delightful mini keyboard and stylish mouse. At the beginning of the year I was doing a lot of yoga, but after an early-Autumn slump I fell back in love with Pilates, especially after discovering these online classes. Ironically, my monthly sea-swimming habit disintegrated over the summer, but I got back to it in the Autumn and am especially enjoying the comfort and ease of this mini-wetsuit.
In August I turned 40 and celebrated by spending 24 hours with J in this amazing hotel and gardens. In September, a friend and I spent most of a weekend at this hotel’s fairly hidden rooftop bar where we braved the heat and chatted all things life and business.
What are your 2023 favourites? Leave a comment to join the conversation.
I also throughly enjoyed growing this newsletter and the community around it—thank you for subscribing, reading and commenting. I’m looking forward to another year of writing and connecting and would love for you to join me. 💌
One of my favourite new projects is the Female Owned podcast—listen to the beginning of the second episode, on my wobbles and worries as I get ready to launch my new group programme Marketing without social media, here:
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Have a really good, calm end to your year. I look forward to connecting again in January—I’ll be in your inbox in mid-January with the launch of Marketing without social media and the usual free newsletter later that month.
Until next time xx
As always, if you would benefit from a paid subscription but are unable to afford it at the moment, send me a message and I’d be happy to compensate you.
Let’s work together in 2024
If you’re craving a slower, gentler and more profitable business, I’d love to support you. Over the past year, I’ve worked with female small business owners, freelancers and artists to restructure their days and week; create big picture plans; launch their Substack; brainstorm and plan new products and more.
Most of all, I help them feel a sense of clarity and empowerment in choosing to do business differently.
Send me a message or check out my website for ways of working together: from one-off sessions to flexible packages. I’d love to be by your side
My books are currently closed for 2023 but are reopening in mid-January. Feel free to book a chemistry call in the meantime.
