This year I realized I was on a wrong path, so I started correcting course. Left my job which had me in a burnout, left a relationship that had become toxic. I learned a new skill, I learned a lot about myself, I dated casually, discovered a lot of bars/museums/restaurants/activities in my city. I got back into working out, photography and I finally picked up the writing of my second book, which I had started in 2016.

Next year, I'm planning on finishing this book, getting it published, finding a new job with that new skill of mine, and keeping on dating casually until I find the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.

This year I learnt that I am a closet coward and huge overthinker. This realisation led me to change my opinion about everything in my life and I started making effort to bring about a consistent change in my ideology/beliefs. I embraced fear and came out rewarded almost every time. I also charted a path for the future which requires me to take even bigger challenges and risks in future.

I intend to open myself up more to challenges, take them head on and survive by my sheer will. I will take care of my mental health, work at being independent career-wise and marry the girl I love. 2023 is going to be the biggest year of my life. I'll come out on the other side with a partner, settled career and possibly a new home.

This year I learnt to fish, I went camping for the first time and I climbed my first mountain. Next year I intend to do much more camping, more hiking and to leave the continent on which I was born for the first time. I’m full of excitement for the next 365 days!

I went from a 5 in mocks to 9 with full marks in my English literature paper :))

I hope to stay driven and motivated for this next year

I have a big list of accomplishments that I never took the time out to enjoy: at 52, I finally graduated college-cum laude with a double degree in fiction and psychology, I published a book that was very well received, I found an awesome nurse to care for my daughter with special needs, I moved to a better job-making more money than ever, I went to a conference and made a TON of new friends (I’m painfully introverted) and I started the process of buying a house. I never celebrated the victories because I was worried about what happens next.

Next year-I’m buying a house, losing weight and finding a dentist that deals with victims of trauma well (I had a horrible dentist as a child that would laugh at me and just be horrific. She made fun of my teeth and I just can’t go into it), and I’m entering my MFA program in less than a week. I need to slow down and pat myself on the back more and not think of what I didn’t do less.

I have been observing that we are all successful losers. We are all losers because of the setbacks and failures we encounter in a life journey. Successful because we eventually overcome loss and failures.

As we come to the end of another eventful year, a few of my musings on balancing it all

This year I 23M lost my childhood dog, my grandfather, totaled my car, and got broken up with by my ex gf.

So, I endured a path to work on myself. Though I’ve moved out, my mom got a new puppy to keep her and my dad company. I call my family WAY more since my PopPop passed. I rebuilt my entire car myself, literally totaled-> showroom quality. I realized through therapy that my relationship was toxic and not a healthy one. I spent 150ish days at sea sailing around the world, and developing my engineering skills.

In 2023, I hope to pursue some new (and old) hobbies. I want to get into running, jogging, and being outdoors more. I’m moving to a new city with some of my childhood friends and got some great job offers (I graduate college in May). I just want to keep working on myself and I would also like to lose 35-40 pounds in 2023, and also try lifting weights.

Overall, this has been a record hard year for the books, it ultimately, the character development is real.

I had my sigmoid removed, survived cancer, got back into my classroom…2023 build up the stamina to walk the golf course all summer.

I fell in love with a girl. She has given me a fire I haven't felt in a long time. Almost a muse. I started working out by running about 4 to 5 miles a day, started writing again that I haven't done in years, eating better, sleeping better and generally getting things done. I've lost 26 lbs in a month. I've moved from a small apartment to a house. I got stuff going for me. Obviously, this girl doesn't feel the same for me but I've come a long way in such a short amount of time that I am genuinely excited for what the new year holds. The momentum is addicting!

I tried to deal with my depression this year. The only thing i accomplished was quitting my meds because it was too much effort to call the doctors office for a refill every month.

Well, i think i can say getting an unpaid job (not volunteer) was also a good thing. Even as 2 days a week and 2,5 hours a day. I put that down to 1 day a week since i moved to a new rental house in november, which took so much energy that i needed a break.

Next year is going to be a waste year. Im having a very heavy surgery (getting a permanent small intestine stoma, for which they have to open my whole stomach) around late january, early february, and i will have a long recovery time. I ordered a laptop because while in bed/on the couch i wont be able to play games, work on my books/writing, or watch series/movies on my pc.

I dont have plans for after that. Im just going to focus on learning to live with my new body and accepting how i will look with a bag on my body. I bet no guy wants to share a night with me anymore (:

Context: I’m almost 50 and have worked a LOT of hours/years managing IT.

2022: Learned to enjoy my time, delegate better, and disconnected from work more. Learned how to be more assertive without being a dick. Moved away from endurance exercise and started lifting.

2023: Simplify. Travel, sprint racing, more time with friends. Start planning a career change as I head into retirement.

Nothing. Nada.

2022: committed to not drinking, quit my job/industry, started a new job in a new field, finally placed work life boundaries. Started reading more, I read 18 books this year.

2023: do the things that fill my cup and not the things I think I should do based on what other people want.

New job, new town house, new SUV, new baby. Busy year.

I realized I had fallen back into a negative mindset and took time to really look at myself.

I am now focusing on positivity and distancing myself that helped lead to negativity.

I'm going to lift weights

I survived my first breakup and my first car wreck, started anxiety medication, got a new job and moved by myself to a new state. Next year I’m going to take care of me for the first time ever and concentrate on my job, my health, and my happiness. I’m going to resist putting others before myself.