a 2023 retrospective
a mini tier ranking + more lists
I was going to do a full-on tier ranking like I did for 2022, but it just wasn’t coming to me this year. That format last year felt right, when 2022 was a year of escaping the house, putting that pent-up energy and motivation that was lingering from quarantine into action. It felt right to talk extensively about the things I loved, falling in love with the world again and everything it had to offer.
This year feels a little different. Through everything, there was an undercurrent of “oh…how do I maintain existing in this world, as we now know it?” Outside was no longer novel anymore, and I found myself thinking about what it means to be a person in this world and where I’m meant to go from here.
Needless to say, it’s been a year of rumination. When it came down to writing a tier ranking, there were only three things I could really think of—none of them being music or TV shows or hobbies I primarily wrote about last year (but there are end-of-year lists at the end of this post xx).
So I present:
a mini tier ranking of 2023
Bottom Tier
‘Not Political’
This specifically refers to the Hinge feature to set your political leaning and how one of the choices is ‘Not Political’. There’s no ability to explain yourself more outside of those limited options, so given the already judgemental mindset I have approaching a dating app, I just go on such a mental rant about this whenever I see someone label themselves as such.
Like, what do you mean you don’t care about politics, and subsequently, the world around you? Existing is political! When we are born, we come into a world that treats us in specific ways based on our personhood. Art and technology and public spaces are all making societal statements. Existence is resistance! This year in particular, there is a heightened awareness that apathy and neutrality gets us nowhere.
Anyway, this may just all be semantics—maybe they mean not political in a sense of how it seems like the government doesn’t care about or represent them. Or not wanting to focus on these topics on a dating app because it is so bleak. Regardless, I cannot relate and always swipe left.
Mid Tier
Making “content,” or whatever
It’s been an existential dilemma since the invention of social media, that line between what is for yourself and what is for social media. “Do it for the vine” became a catchphrase for a reason.
As an Online™ person who works in social, I’m just forever fascinated by all this, how you choose to depict yourself on these public forums. This idea that your life is content for you to share for some benefit, whether it’s monetary or egotistical.
I actually love posting with this sense of self-awareness. Like yes, of course I’m crafting a certain aesthetic! What do you mean you want me to “be real”? For complete strangers to consume? No! The internet doesn’t deserve to see the real me!
This mindset guides the way I consume and post. With this self-awareness, I don’t have to go on the spiral of all-social-media-is-fake. I already know that, so I can just enjoy the content as it is, without thinking, “Oh, this is how I should live my life!” Who knows what’s happening behind-the-scenes. Yesterday, I sat on the subway and watched someone pretend to sleep as someone else recorded them for their vlog. Like cool. Go for it!
But this is mid-tier for that fine line between sharing life and exploiting life for the “content.” Making content can be fun and creative. It can be used as a means of connection, as a start of a conversation. It can showcase your interests and personality. It also doesn’t have to be that deep and just be silly and goofy. I love creating a silly little bit solely for a 30-second video that gets posted onto my Instagram story!
Sometimes, it isn’t that though. I often think about how strangers will now just record other strangers, project some notion onto them, and post it. It gets picked up and it lives on here forever, a seemingly truthful statement that’s not true.
There’s something sinister about the extent people go to capture something because it’s “good content.” Not for the memory and for creativity, but for the sole purpose of adding to this public persona they’re crafting, even at the expense of others around them.
tl;dr I love making and consuming content, but it’s not fun when people overstep boundaries for content that will go “viral,” and this is kind of just a long-winded and subtle way to complain that a sea of cameras does ruin the concert experience :/
Top Tier
Therapy
I wish I had a Therapy Wrapped. My therapist and I have tackled some big topics this year! Some of that discussion has led to action, things I never would’ve done years ago because I was too scared. But then, I did it this year and I was like, “Ohhh, I am capable of doing hard things and the result is worth it.”
It’s gratifying to reflect on how much I’ve grown and how I continue to grow into myself. More recognizing and unlearning toxic thought patterns in the next year!!! (One of my therapist’s biggest tips is to just take a deep breath and step away. And she’s soooo right.)
Now? It’s time for lists.
ICYMI, My Favorite Things I’ve Written This Year
I Liked A Lot of New Music Releases But These Are The Ones I Always Searched For
Things That Brought Joy or Convenience To My Life That May or May Not Be Niche
AMTS True Beauty Glitter Eyeshadow
bb.q Chicken (the one on 32nd street)
BDG Logan Buckle Baggy Boyfriend Jean
Canada Dry Ginger Ale
Libby App
Mintia Breeze Mints - Crystal Silver
Muji Glue Tape (may be discontinued in the US, which incredibly devastating if true)
New Balance 530s
Pokémon Go Plus+
A YouTube Premium Subscription
Content I Consumed That I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About Afterwards
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
Mike’s Mic: “An appropriately unhinged recap of LOST (Season 1)”
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Thank you for reading! I have no promises for next year, but surely this will continue, right? Have a good new year <3
You can read my previous post here: November Wrapped.
You can find me on Twitter here and Instagram here. If you enjoyed this, please share with others (maybe a specific part if something resonated) and subscribe if you haven’t yet.