Sabbatical Superbloom Newsletter: Celebrating 2022 Endings

Endings. Often I think of them as either happy or sad; as a binary experience of longing for something that has run its course or elated that I accomplished what I set out to do. Arriving at December 31st marks the end of another year yet it is also an arbitrary ending. While arbitrary, I like this mark in the sand that encourages me to pause, reflect, and celebrate what’s behind and what’s ahead. While the purpose of these newsletters is to chronicle my travels during my 7-month sabbatical for my friends and family, I thought it was fitting to first celebrate the past year. At the end of the year, we have a family tradition to decorate two cookies: one to celebrate our favorite memories or accomplishments from the past year and a second decorated with our hopes, dreams, goals, and what we are looking forward to in the year ahead. In case my icing decorations aren’t obvious, here is a key to my artistic, edible creation of what I’ve loved from 2022.

Inside the “E” on my Cookie: Erb

This year I finished my business and sustainability graduate degrees at the University of Michigan at The Erb Institute. The Erb and business school experience are much more than the classroom – the community has been at the core of my experience here! I received amazing 1-on-1 cocktail making classes (thanks Emily!) and shared them with many great friends (Shown on the cookie by the brown martini glass representing cocktails and the Coffee Cosmo Crew). I also went on exciting trips with friends to Colombia over Spring Break (blue zig-zap representing water) and to hike part of the Tour de Mont Blanc (white zig zag representing the snow-caped Alps Mountain range). Both of these trips were organized by a tour group. While I normally plan my own trips, I realized it is amazing to pay someone else to manage the logistics so I could have 100% fun with a large group of friends.

Finally, I represented two Bucket List Accomplishments on my cookie:

- Officiate a Wedding (pink dot): This year I became “Reverend” Halter and I officiated the union of my sister Erica Halter and Joe Hummer as they became Mrs. and Mr. Halmer. Spending quality time with the couple, family, and friends to hear about their relationship and capturing what makes their partnership so special was an honor. During the ceremony, we laughed, we smiled, and we cried as we celebrated how cool these two people are. Welcome (officially) to the family Joe! It’s great to finally be able to call you a brother!

- Speak at Erb Graduation with my Two-Minute Words of Wisdom Speech (Black dot): I shared some of my favorite factoids about our mascot, the wolverine. It was so celebratory to have 100+ friends join me in chanting “It’s Great to be a Michigan Wolverine!” to wrap up my speech.

Interestingly, neither of these were on my bucket list beforehand. As I was sharing these moments, marking milestones, and celebrating with others I realized they deserved to be on my bucket list. They both felt deeply special and profound ways to connect with those that are special to me. I was creating these memories while simultaneously crossing them off my bucket list.

Inside the “R” in my Cookie: Rock Climbing!

This year, I had a goal to climb 31 days outside. On my 31st day I climbed outside in The Red in Kentucky over fall break and I was surprised that it felt like any other day: I had fun with friends and pushed myself on a hard route but there were no fireworks. I felt like the same person I was on my 30th day outside. Then I remembered, as with any goal, it was about my journey not the destination.

Last year, I had a goal to climb 30 days outside and was nowhere close. But, this year I wanted to set this audacious goal again. Having this goal pushed me to instigate time outside. I climbed after work this summer, I climbed early on Saturday mornings, and I put together weekend trips to The Red. I took a trad climbing class and learned how to place gear. It turns out – with all of this time outside, I felt ready to take my first alpine climbing trip outside!

My climbing partner, Kate, and I traveled to WY and hiked in our climbing and backpacking gear (60 lb. packs!!!) and camped at Cirque of the Towers for a week. It was so fun to be deep in the wilderness, surrounded by the most spectacular mountain ranges I could have ever dreamed up.

Inside the “B” in my Cookie: Summer in Boulder & Broomfield!

This summer I interned on the So Delicious Dairy Free (SDDF in black icing) brand at Danone based in Broomfield, CO. During my internship, I used the 10 weeks to test out the industry, my role, and the location. I loved working at a CPG food company as a brand manager and I was very excited to be extended a full-time role starting next July.

But, I was also testing out the location. Yes – it felt like home as it’s where I grew up. I’ve always thought I would go off on grand adventures and settle down far from home. Being based in Colorado for the summer (can you spot the CO flag on my cookie?) reminded me how spectacular home really is. I hiked 14ers with friends from school (thanks for planning Connor!), I climbed (see above), and I reconnected with great friends. It turns out, what I was searching for was somewhere I’ve already been.

That wraps up what made it onto my 2022 cookie. This year was a truly great one!

Up next: My 2023 Cookie and the first set of stories from my travels during my upcoming 7-month sabbatical. Talk soon in 2023!