🎉2024🎉

New year yadda yadda #67

At the very moment this newsletter hit your inbox, I was jumping into the Atlantic ocean for my nearly-always-annual Polar Bear dip. (I did not hit send from the water, I scheduled it.)

Last year I even jumped in twice. That’s my head in the water, next to my friend Carolyn — who just became a new mom! What a difference a year can make.

I think of this dip as a way to reset the year and get me ready for what’s ahead. I feel jumping into a cold ocean looking incredibly pale is one of the scariest things a person can do, so it means things can only go up from there. It doesn’t always happen – I jumped into the ocean on Jan. 1, 2020, after all – but it is my intention.

Plus you get cool ocean views like this if you strap a GoPro to your body like I have in years past, which most of my neighbors still mock me for:

Last week I asked for readers to share something positive from the past year, and received so many thoughtful responses. I’ll share some of those in a bit, but first some news and links and the audio from the FAQ storytelling event a few months ago! 

→ I wrote about Mayor Adams’ sophomore year, and what could be ahead for him in 2024. [THE CITY]

→ Another look at Adams Year 2 [NYT]

→ Guards at the Floyd Bennett Field asylum seeker shelter snatched kids’ scooters on Christmas Eve [THE CITY]

→ Mayor Adams tells new NYPD grads that the City Council is out to get them with new bills aimed at transparency [NYDN]

The mayor rang in the new year with Gotham FC and Winnie Greco, an aide who is being investigated after THE CITY reported on ways she misused her government job — including an employee who said she made him oversee her kitchen renovation and a businessman who said she was offering entrance to Gracie Mansion events if they donated $10K to her non-profit -

https://twitter.com/katie_honan/status/1741804402481000691?s=46&t=UcITv8xJ8Fa2XuSw7LYYDQ

🎧LISTEN🎧

One day I’ll write a long think piece on my childhood obsession with “All My Children,” but until then you can listen to me tell the story of my personal realization at 13 inside the bathroom at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, where I was attending a fanfest for my beloved soap opera.

You can watch and listen here and then listen to the other installments here and here !

🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺🌼🌺

As I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed reading the responses to my request for something positive from 2023. Here are some of them! 

My friend and former colleague Leslie sent in about her office book club:

I’m in a book club at my office…All the members are from very different backgrounds and they’re about half my age, indeed they’re my kids’ ages, in their 20s and early 30s. We have great talks about books over French fries and wine. Their smarts, compassion and joie de vivre give me hope for the future. Plus they make me laugh.

My friend Michelle made me feel emotional:

Being reminded of the power of friendships in the down moments of life. The humor, comfort, kindness and loyalty found with friends when everything else seems to be going to hell is so healing and uplifting, and just rights the world again.

Friend and former colleague Jimmy reminded me that my 2024 resolution is to travel more:

I went to Germany on the fellowship! But more broadly, travel and just working less was great in 2023. We can all probably work less than we think we need to.

My friend Michael shared personal and professional accomplishments:

I unexpectedly got to anchor my first national evening news broadcast! (Editor’s note: HUGE deal and amazing job anchoring the CBS Evening News)

I forced myself to expand my horizons and try something I hate: fitness. And slowly, over the course of a few months, I found myself starting to like it a little!

Thanks to everyone who sent in their joy, even if they didn’t want it shared. I appreciate you all reading and I hope everyone has an amazing new year.