A Poem for 2022

[Listen to an audio version of this blog here.]

Every year, I write a poem in honor of that year. I’ve only been doing this since 2016, but it’s an interesting way to reflect on the past year, and to see my own evolution as a writer and as a person. When I was younger, my writing was tinged with anger and resentment. Now, especially over the past year, my writing has taken on a more subdued and understanding tone, and not necessarily on purpose. Once growth begins to happen, it’s difficult to stop, and with growth comes the understanding that most people are not evil, that holding onto grudges and resentment only deteriorates the person holding it, and that anger is the least powerful of all emotions. While anger can be motivating, it is not a motivation that lasts. There is much more nuance in empathy than there is in anger, and it’s much more fun to explore. I’ve also learned that anger is almost always a front for some other, deeper, more vulnerable emotion or pain.

This year will end in a matter of days, and we’ll all forget to write ’23 in the slot allocated for “year” in the forms at the dentists office. We’ll pause for a moment to say farewell or good riddance to the year that has past. Some of us will celebrate, and some of us won’t give a damn. January 1st is just another day, after all. But I hope you take a moment to pause and reflect on 2022, whatever it held, and wherever it…