Emma Josephine

2022 was a year of major change for me — from beginning my working girl era, moving to the city of dreams, and having the opportunity to be in the presence of so many successful people. Here is a list of milestones, places, people, and moments from this year that made my heart so grateful.

1. Ten Years with My Besties

It’s been a whole decade since I met my two best friends on the first day at my new school. We’ve been through thick and thin together, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have these two girls by my side.

2. PureWow Articles

Ever since I discovered my passion for editorial, it’s been a dream of mine to have an article published on a major site. Here are the pieces I wrote for PureWow.

3. Los Angeles Vacation

Can you believe this beach and wellness loving blonde had never been to LA before this year? (Me either.) Tbh, I feel like I embody both the NYC hustler and LA wellness girly archetypes pretty well, so in the future I may live bicoastal so I can have the best of both worlds.

4. Hugs

Do you sometimes forget how good hugs feel? Take a moment to pause and honor them, whether it’s a meaningful hug with a loved one, an embrace with a partner, or even a hug to a stranger. (Yes, I give hugs to strangers!) They're also an instant serotonin boost!

5. Getting a Full-Time Job

I knew the post-grad job search probably wouldn’t be a walk in the park, and it certainly took a tremendous amount of patience and hard work to land a full-time job. But, with persistence and valuable connections, I was able to begin a career that I love so much, and also get to work with an amazing team of people that feel like my best friends!

6. Being a Podcast Guest

Although I'm certainly not the best speaker, I loved the experience of meeting new friends and being on their podcasts. I also loved interviewing people for my blog.

7. Life Advice

In addition to being the coolest sister one could ever ask for, Gwen is also my therapist and gives the best advice. Additionally, my family and best friends have a way of telling me exactly what I need to hear, when I need to hear it — which is something I’m endlessly grateful for.

8. Being Able to Help Others

This year, I’ve had the honor of doing informational interviews, and have also given numerous introductions. Although this isn’t groundbreaking, it amazes me because I was in that spot less than a year ago. I’m always more than happy to share advice to help others achieve their goals, because it meant the world to me when my mentors helped me.

9. Concerts

Concerts bring a sense of euphoria and connection that few other things come close to providing.

10. Surprise Puppy Love

This is so random, but allow me to explain. One late night when I was checking into a hotel, a french bulldog and a pitbull mastiff suddenly ran around the corner towards me. As you can imagine, I squealed with joy. They were cuddling me and giving me the most adorable puppy kisses. This wasn’t a hallucination, just a happy surprise!

11. Vacations on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket

Summer memories I’ll cherish forever.

12. Getting My Headstand

As an aspiring yogi, this is a fundamental pose that took a few months for me to learn. With lots of practice, I finally did it!

13. Feeling Confident and Strong In My Body

I want to preface this by saying that if you struggle with weight or body confidence issues, you’re not alone. After recovering from an eating disorder, I was still feeling insecure in my athletic, naturally muscular body. But this year, I've been focusing on acceptance, and have felt stronger and more confident than ever before. I’ve also been consistently maintaining my health, which is something I struggled with before. Of course it’s a continuous process, but this year I’ve made significant strides in my long term mental and physical health.

14. Meeting Trainers

I always love getting to chat with the workout instructors after a class. I like getting to know them personally and asking them questions about the exercises and form. They always give such valuable tips that I use in my workouts, whether I'm in studio or at home.