Reviewing My 2024 ✨Failures✨

Looking back before walking forward. 🚶🏻‍♀️

Jan 14, 2025

You can’t just cannonball into the new year wearing a helmet and hope for the best. You have to first take a step back and reflect on the past year. This important step will give you a good running start before you do that graceful swan dive into the shark-infested pool.

Come close, my sweet summer child. Let me tell you about all the ways in which I failed in 2024 (and some other tidbits).

1. Bye bye bloggy

I alluded to this in my first post. I used to have a blog called Gallantly, gal, where I talked mostly about self-improvement and mental health. After a long hiatus, I pivoted to writing about books. After about seven years of owning the blog, I finally decided to shut it down near the end of last year. My heart wasn’t in it anymore. I wasn’t writing on it consistently. The financial investment wasn’t paying off.

It was time and it felt right. I called the time of death.

RIP blog. I hope some sketchy site doesn’t buy the domain for all the Lonely gals looking for company within a 50-mile radius.

2. DNFed

Remember how I mentioned writing about books on my blog? I do. I remember it like it was just a few lines ago. If my main 2025 goal is to fail often, my 2024 goal was to read 100 books. I wasn’t all or nothing about it, like I had to read 100 or I would be haunted by the ghosts of English teachers past. I set a high goal because I wanted to get as close to reaching it as possible. As long as I was reading a lot as consistently as possible, I was going to be happy.

In that way, I succeeded. In the literal 100 books way, I did not. I ended with 71 books out of 100. Not bad, though. Not bad at all.

3. You’re safe for now, Greta Gerwig

At one point in 2024, I got really into writing screenplays. I was going to finish at least one and sell it for seven figures. Did that happen? Clearly I’m writing this from my yacht right now.

No. I didn’t even finish one script, but I did get pretty close to wrapping up a first draft. This is just a reminder to be silly and dream big because why not? Things are only hard if you make them that way. It’s about the journey, not the destination. Delulu is the solulu. Take whichever platitude resonates with you.

4. Not my problem

You know what doesn’t count as failure? Things that are out of our control. Were you fired as a nanny because you left the infant to burn on the floor of all places? (It’s filthy down there—at least tuck the fireball baby into bed.) Look, that’s pretty legit. You effed up big time, my friend. Worse, you had neither style nor flair. But if I was laid off with my entire team? Not my fault.

Remember what lies within your realm of control before you label anything a failure. (Um, any recruiters out there?)

5. Crisis averted

It’d be wrong of me (cough, you could even say a failure) to end this post without counting my successes. 2024 was also a year of growth and healing. Was it magical? Yes. It was also painful as hell. You know what, I don’t know why it can’t be both. True magic is born from suffering, I suppose. Voldie gets it.

One of my major successes of 2024 was coming out of it alive. Hurrah! Otherwise, I returned to creative and personal writing, started two Substacks, crocheted teddy bear and froggy beanies, didn’t kill anyone (that I know of), and met some amazing people. None of this would have been possible without all those failures, and I’m very grateful for that.

6. What I’ve done so far

✅ write ~~an award-winning, multimillion-dollar screenplay~~ a Substack post

✅ buy ~~a yacht~~ luxury eggs

Look, things are in motion, don’t worry about it. They’re in slow motion, but they’re in motion, nonetheless. I’ll keep you updated, so subscribe and watch out for my bi-weekly newsletters! Yes, that is a threat!

Let me know about your own 2024 failures and successes below if you so wish.

Gallantly,