It’s that point of the 12 months! 2022 is almost over, my birthday is on the horizon, and I’m recapping the 12 months with some prime posts, stats, and what’s subsequent.
First up… New 12 months’s Eve is my birthday and Tom and I are going to have fun with my in-laws over some scrumptious fondue. It’s turn out to be a practice and one which I like and sit up for every year. Cheers to that!
However earlier than the celebrations begin, it’s time for this year-end wrap up publish. I like doing these “12 months in Evaluation” model posts and revel in studying ones from different bloggers. They assist me see the place I’ve been, what I’ve labored on, and replicate on targets and decisions I’ve made each personally and professionally.
Among the blogs I take pleasure in probably the most are ones the place along with nice content material, you additionally get to know the human behind the weblog, in order that’s the place I’m coming from right here. 😉
Earlier than I get into it, I hope you’re all having fun with the vacation season and it’s full of excellent eats and exquisite moments with family members. I spent Christmas within the U.S. for the primary time in a decade and it was good to be stateside with my dad and brother’s household.
Did 2022 go by for you in a flash or did it really feel sluggish? For me, it sort of felt like each. Let’s begin with January.
The primary couple of months of 2022 have been a blur, trying again, though within the second, it felt like time was standing nonetheless. We sadly mentioned goodbye to Dagny on March 5 and the months in between my mother’s dying and hers nearly 5 months to the day later felt like a dying march. Every day felt worse than the final.
As you realize, Dagny wasn’t a canine to us. She was our little one, a cherished member of the family, and my total world. She’s been by my aspect since Day 1 in France. You may search by her title in my search bar and also you’ll see she was a presence on Oui in France from the beginning. That’s her in my emblem even. Every part feels totally different now.
That 5-month interval of attempting to cope with each excessive grief from shedding my mother and the anticipatory grief of shedding Dagny was the toughest of my life and I don’t say that calmly. I talked about it just a little on this publish, however that interval is one thing I don’t wish to revisit and don’t even wish to take into consideration (though my thoughts wanders there usually).
It was a traumatic time for thus many causes. I take into consideration Dagny and my mother on a regular basis and attempt to give attention to the great instances. It’s a piece in progress.
Wow, writing that is more durable than I assumed it could be. Anyway, transferring on…
Shortly after Dagny handed away, I went to Florida to spend a while with my dad and get out of my home, which felt lonely and suffocating. With out her, it nonetheless does in loads of methods, however I attempt to distract myself. Can I do this ceaselessly?
Possibly that feeling will reduce in time. It nonetheless seems like one thing is lacking in all places I look. It’s laborious to stroll within the park. Her park, alone. I’m going anyway. I cry underneath my sun shades.
It’s all a part of the therapeutic course of.
Us in St. Sebastian
In Could, Tom and I took a household journey along with his dad and mom to St. Jean de Luz. We visited Biarritz for the primary time as effectively after which made our method over to St. Sebastian, Spain, whereas within the space. It was a distraction we would have liked and we selected it as a result of we had by no means been there earlier than with Dagny. It will have been insufferable to have revisited a spot within the wake of her passing the place we as soon as made reminiscences. We did one of the best we may.
Then over the summer time, Tom and I went to Disneyland Paris after which two phenomenal press journeys that have been phenomenal. One was with Costa Cruises to the Mediterranean in June and the opposite was to Norway with Holland America Line in July. The journeys have been the respite we would have liked and we completely loved and appreciated the alternatives. Take a look at the movies I made right here: Med and Norway.
The autumn was fairly uneventful however the spotlight of the 12 months for me was going to the U.S. to go to my dad, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew for the vacations. The Florida climate is rising on me. Positive beats “winter” in my space of France, which is 40s F and rain more often than not. It’s truly raining now.
Let’s transfer onto the weblog…
Wanting again on the weblog
2022 was my 10-year blogiversary. It was a 12 months of progress for the weblog and I couldn’t be happier about that! I like running a blog in the present day simply as a lot as I did after I began, so I sit up for bringing you extra content material in 2023.
I’ve developed so many expertise operating this website and that steady studying curve is thrilling to me.
Running a blog has at all times been a chilled and grounding power in my life and I like sharing a mixture of informational/private posts about life in France, French tradition and simply life on the whole. I’ll proceed to do extra of that.
Let’s speak numbers. I printed 44 new weblog posts (together with this one) in 2022. As traditional, most of my readers are positioned within the U.S. (48%) and are feminine (62%). France and the UK tie for second place, every taking a ten% chunk of my readership.
When it comes to age, 25% of you might be between 25-34 years outdated. 64% learn my website on a cell machine and of that, 62% go to Oui in France on their iPhone.
About 71% of my website’s visitors comes from search engines like google and yahoo. Social media accounts for about 16% of my whole visitors.
High 5 most-read posts of 2022:
When it comes to prime posts, listed here are the highest 5 most-read posts of 2022 (based mostly on web page views as reported by Google Analytics). Take into accout they’re the most-read posts of 2022 of all time, not essentially new posts written in 2022. Because it seems, none have been written this 12 months and the highest 4 acquired the vast majority of views from Google searches.
1. 73 questions problem: I wrote this at Nantes airport just a few years in the past on my option to Haiti for work, sort of on a whim. I by no means imagined it could be such an enormous search time period and the best-performing publish on my total website!
2. Courting a French man ideas: That is an oldddd publish but it surely’s proof that a number of you on the market are searching for information on relationship a French man.
3. Finest Peloton instructors: Peloton offers me life, so seeing this publish doing effectively the place I share my ideas on all of the totally different instructors makes me actually blissful.
4. Information to tipping in France (don’t do it!): Tipping tradition in France is just not the identical as it’s within the U.S., and I break it down on this in style publish.
5. American habits I misplaced after I moved to France: Cultural variations are at all times a scorching subject. This enjoyable publish continues to carry out effectively on Pinterest.
Now for the highest 10 most-read posts printed in 2022 (not all time):
Many of those additionally secured their spot in my prime 10 because of folks looking on Google.
1. 250 Common French boy names in France from 1910 by means of in the present day: A lot of folks on the market are searching for information on French boys’ names. Completely satisfied to assist! 🙂
2. What foreign money does France use?: One other publish that introduced Googlers to my website and vital information to know, would possibly I add.
3. 250 Hottest French lady names you’ll wish to steal for your self!: Glad to see that this one wasn’t overlooked of my High 10.
4. Information to coach journey in France: Prepare journey in Europe is usually price efficient and quick. This publish tells you what you have to know.
5. Issues I by no means owned earlier than transferring to France: You guys favored this one and I feel curiosity led to the clicks.
6. 11 Shocking variations between French grocery shops & American ones: Grocery retailer content material at all times does effectively, so no surprises right here.
7. My picks for one of the best French market luggage & baskets: A flexible and useful French market bag is a necessity whether or not you reside in France or not.
8. Have you learnt these 10 American drugs & their French equivalents?: This publish is filled with sensible information and I’m relieved to see it on my checklist, because it’s the one which was probably the most time intensive out of all the things I printed in 2022.
9. What I’d do in a different way if I have been transferring to France in the present day: Hindsight is 20/20 and many you appreciated my perception right here (or may relate).
10. What’s an 8-day Mediterranean cruise like on Costa Cruises?: Costa isn’t tremendous well-known to American audiences and there’s not a ton of content material on the market in English, in order that’s why this publish made my checklist… and so blissful it did!
My faves
Listed below are two weblog posts you may need missed that weren’t fairly as in style however have been vital to me.
What 10 years of running a blog has taught me about life: A reflective publish that marked a decade of running a blog.
Cease believing these lies about French folks!: A little bit of a rant, this publish addresses one thing that has gotten underneath my pores and skin.
9 Issues French folks love that I’ve come to like too: An fascinating French tradition publish that I had enjoyable placing collectively.
YouTube
I’ve taken just a few weeks off from publishing content material on YouTube for the vacations however am actually pleased with the work I’ve put on this 12 months on my channel (you’ll be able to subscribe to Oui In France on YouTube right here). In whole, I printed 31 new movies (not together with shorts) and labored my method as much as about 81,000 subscribers.
This one was my prime performing video printed in 2022 with 67k views.
Again in 2021, I pushed actually laborious, too laborious, placing out a video or extra every week — a distraction from my grief — but it surely wasn’t a sustainable tempo. In 2022, I made it some extent to take a extra relaxed method and primarily made movies from my workplace, which felt extra manageable to me.
If I needed to choose three movies I’m probably the most happy with on my channel from 2022, I’d choose these:
It’s been 1 12 months since my mother died: This private replace was cathartic for me and continued the much-needed grief convo, one which I feel all too usually will get swept underneath the rug.
Norway cruise vlog: I take pleasure in making (and watching!) vlog-style journey movies and the surroundings in Norway was a number of the most lovely I’ve ever seen!
8 Extra issues you are able to do in France (however not the US!): I like doing enjoyable cultural comparisons and this one tops my checklist.
Additionally, I collabed with French Mornings with Elisa on a video on whether or not or not the French are conceited. Right here’s me talking French.
What’s subsequent?
Nonetheless engaged on that… One factor that’s for certain is that for 2023, I hope to proceed making movies at a extra relaxed tempo. Typically as creators, we will really feel like we’re on a endless hamster wheel and nearly like we’re slaves to the algorithm and even the creation course of on the whole.
It may be all-consuming and dangerous for one’s psychological well being, so I’m persevering with to choose out of the stress for 2023. It’s not wholesome for me to really feel like there’s a whip being cracked behind my again and pushing as laborious as I did in 2021.
I’d slightly give attention to making the content material I wish to make, at a tempo that feels proper for me right now in my life, and making connections with subscribers who perceive my standpoint and respect my content material than push myself towards burnout.
If you really feel stress — self imposed or from some other supply — it’s not an ideal feeling to have day in and time out. YouTube is just not my full-time job.
Fact be advised, as we method 2023, I don’t have a 6-month content material plan mapped out to the very second and am figuring it out little by little.
I roughly know what forms of movies I wish to make, however I trip in my head. I at all times mentioned the vast majority of movies on my channel would NOT be speaking head movies (me speaking to the digicam from house on a specific subject) as a result of I may make that sort of content material within the U.S. I don’t should be in France to make speaking head movies.
What units me aside is that I truly dwell in France and wish to present what life is like out and about from my standpoint. I’ve gotten away from that and the vast majority of my content material is me in my home.
I beloved doing my behind the scenes at a chocolate store for you and a day with a Vouvray wine producer (whipped out the drone and all the things!). However movies like which are tremendous time consuming and costly (assistant, gear rental, journey prices, and so forth.) they usually don’t at all times do effectively.
Let me provide you with an instance. I beloved making my Beillevaire collection for you guys and regardless of it being probably the most excessive funds collection on my channel, it carried out actually poorly which sucked the wind out of my sails (and pockets).
When you’re curious, that video earned me $23.24 TOTAL because it was printed. I spent a ton greater than that making the video and it’s not sustainable to maintain doing that. That was a tough lesson to be taught.
I put many of the cash I make from advert income again into my channel and whereas YouTube is just not my full-time job as I discussed, it’s a part of how I earn a residing. I should be on the plus aspect, on the very least.
One thing I’m engaged on is discovering the proper mixture of speaking head vs. out and about movies that is smart for my artistic aspect, power ranges, location, and funds.
Anyway, simply speaking out loud. No matter I resolve, you’ll proceed to see me on YouTube with new content material in 2023.
For extra YouTube ideas, take a look at this publish about what it’s prefer to have a video go viral and what I like and hate about having a YouTube channel.
Private
Right here we’re in Jersey, Channel Islands, in November of 2019.
Ah, 2022, let’s be actual. I can’t say I’m sorry to see you go. It was a tough 12 months. I received’t sugarcoat that or provide you with some nonsense about how superb each second of the 12 months was simply to maintain this area palatable. Not my model.
Positive, I had some enjoyable instances — lots of them! — however actual life comes with actual loss. I really feel like we’ve been by means of the wringer in 2021 and 2022.
Dropping Dagny on March 5 of this 12 months was heartbreaking and the devastation, trauma, and compounded grief was sadly an enormous a part of my 2022. I hope that as we transfer into 2023, Tom and I can discover peace little by little and discover consolation as we get additional away from the losses.
But it surely’s a course of and never a straightforward one. This vacation season was the primary with out each my mother and Dagny and tomorrow is my first birthday in 11 years with out Dagny. Particular days are the worst, from a grief perspective.
As a delicate particular person, I really feel it’s hitting me particularly laborious.
Proper after my mother died, I noticed this grief graphic beneath on Instagram that depicts a ball of grief in a jar. Whereas I understood what it was saying then, I didn’t actually perceive how that may very well be the case. Now I absolutely perceive.
The grief doesn’t go away or get smaller. Time helps you get far from the searing ache so it’s not debilitating, but it surely’s nonetheless there. I do know we’re all totally different, however I don’t assume the grief will ever go away. I assume that’s a great factor, in a way.
I naively thought the grief would fade, however that’s not the way it works.
Thanks
Subsequent up is a very powerful a part of this publish. I wish to say thanks… and a really particular because of these of you who’ve learn my grief content material this 12 months (even if you happen to’ve by no means commented) and to these of you who’ve made it this far, almost 3,000 phrases in. 😉
These posts concerning the shocking elements of grief I didn’t count on, how I’m making a diamond from my mother’s ashes, an replace on the 1-year mark after my mother died, and 11 issues that helped me cope with grief have been extraordinarily private to me. It means rather a lot that you simply took day trip of your day to learn these particular posts.
If I’ve realized something from shedding 4 family members in slightly fast succession, it’s that life is tough and all of us carry burdens, irrespective of how cheery or put-together or profitable we could seem.
I’ve additionally realized that one of the best ways to honor these now not right here is to dwell life to the fullest extent attainable. That appears totally different for every of us. I do know it’s not at all times straightforward to tug ourselves up and out of our personal heads (or black holes), however above all, I’m so grateful for all the great in my life and the individuals who love me and I like again.
Household picture from the 90s in easier instances
Having assist is an incredible factor and I don’t know the place I’d be with out it.
Additionally, all of the joyful moments appear to imply extra. It brings me a lot pleasure to proceed to work on Oui In France, wherever it takes me. Realizing you’re proper there to assist what I do right here actually means the world. Thanks. When you’re interested by easy methods to assist a weblog (without cost!), learn this.
My birthday is New 12 months’s Eve as I mentioned within the intro and Tom and I can be going to Portugal for the primary time in January for an extended weekend to have fun. We’re each actually trying ahead to that.
Later within the 12 months, we’re honoring my mother by happening a visit with my dad that she at all times needed to take. We’re going to Alaska! However past that, we’re simply taking 2023 because it comes. No massive plans.
Anyway, let me go away it there. I hope 2023 is filled with peace, pleasure, and love for you and people you maintain shut. Wishing you all one of the best now and at all times.
Thanks once more for being right here.
xx,
Diane
P.S. Need extra recaps? Listed below are those from 2021 and 2020.
P.S. Have you learnt I’ve a France journey ideas eGuide and way of life running a blog e book for learners?
