There always seems to be an adjustment period for me when it comes to getting used to the new year. Early in the year, there's always those errors when writing the date. And usually, the new year just feels awkward because I had just spent a year getting used to the last one. But not this year. I can't tell you why exactly, but 2024 feels as easy to slide into as my favorite pair of slippers. And they're nice slippers. It's just an odd side note that became clear to me today. I just have a strong intuition that this is going to be an important year, and it almost seems like a year I've been waiting for. Maybe it's subconscious because it's the year my son will graduate so the date has been in my head here and there for 17 years? Anyway, I'm anticipating an exciting year and I'm grateful to be here, in my situation, able to pay attention.

That being said, this seems like the perfect time to give a (brief) recap of 2023.

To be honest, the best way to define last year is probably the most different year in comparison to the rest of my life. That doesn't sound as good as I'd like it to but it is accurate. Basically, 2022 was a year I had to make a lot of changes in my habits in order to be able to find the serenity I'd been looking for. I spent that year applying different things in my life and getting used to them. 2023 on the other hand, I feel like I started living with those things as a natural part of my life.

In 2023 I:

1. was able to let life happen without forcing my expectations on the situation or the people involved. Learning that that's a natural way to practice acceptance and self-care and saved my sanity. In doing so, I've made good progress in strengthening my communication and relationships in general with the people in my life.

2. started understanding that it's not silly to pursue a career path that matters to me and that it can actually be a life changing/saving type of decision. In understanding that, I'm now able to show up in the morning to do things that give me all the purpose I'd been searching for. I couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity it's provided me professionally and the amount of importance it's played in my own recovery.

3. let myself explore things that I had previously told myself for one reason or another that they weren't meant for me or I wasn't able to do it well, so why try? It's really been difficult getting out of my comfort zone but I have to say, I can't argue with the results. I haven't been amazing at anything new I've tried, but I have surprised myself and I've also found some new interests that were unexpected.

4. grew my spirituality by leaps and bounds in my opinion. These days, I truly find myself wrapped up in educating myself in any way that seems to be pulling at me in this way. This is arguably the most important element of my recovery/life because I don't think I'd have my life without the pursuit I'm on. And a beautiful additional benefit to this, is being able to share what I've learned and experienced with my family and anyone else who cares to chat about it.

5. was challenged but faced those challenges head on with faith, family, and community, and am still here to do the same tomorrow.

It was a good year. It was an unexpected year. Sometimes it didn't seem real. But, it was all meant to be and a blessing. Let's see what 2024's got.