Another Year Over, A New One Just Begun…

I figured I’d squeeze out one more post as 2023 draws to a close. As I reflect on the year, I wonder, how do people who don’t keep journals or detailed calendars remember everything that happened? As I flip through my bullet journal and my morning pages journal, I’m a bit surprised at how much stuff happened that I’ve already mentally filed away as if it happened in the distant past.

Overall, I feel like this year was a tough one. Although, I feel like 2022 was tough, and 2021 before that. And, well, everyone had a tough 2020. Maybe something snapped in all of us after 2020, and everything feels tougher now?

I realize that there are plenty of people out there who’ve had shittier years than we have – especially those who live in war-torn areas, or parts of the world experiencing extreme climates or extreme poverty, or those who live with chronic diseases or conditions. 

A big part of why I feel it’s been a tough year+ is because I see so much suffering everywhere I look. So much injustice, inequity, and heartache. Not just within the human realm but with the whole planet. It just feels like everything is sick – the trees are all dying of some thing or other, the climate is changing rapidly, people can’t stop killing each other over land disputes, and the rich keep getting richer. Meanwhile, the rest of us are numbed into a stupor by constant social media scrolling and the instant gratification of shopping on Amazon.

My own year started off rocky when a close family member who historically struggled with depression suddenly became manic. It took a lot of effort from all of us in the family to help this person while maintaining our own mental health and continuing to try to function in normal life. I guess other than that, the year wasn’t bad, but that incident took 6 months to get under control and really impacted my own sense of well-being in the process.

Whew. My Grammarly tone insights moderator is telling me that this post is sounding disapproving and sad! 😖🙁 Let’s take things in a more positive direction then.

Somehow, despite everything grumpy I wrote above, I still feel the fire of optimism within. I don’t know how, but some small part of me says that perhaps something can be done to turn everything upright again. I realize I probably won’t significantly impact the course of humanity or the state of the planet, but in my tiny corner of the world, I can be a spreader of love and optimism and a nurturer of local flora and fauna.

2023 wasn’t all bad. We took some trips here and there, had some nice meals out, and spent lots of time working in the yard (which we enjoy). Dave and I are healthy and happy together. We have a very, very, very fine house with two cats in the yard and multiple acres of land to frolic about in and plant gardens and trees on. My family is healthy and well, and I have the world’s best, most loving, and adorable little nephew, who I’ve gotten to hang out with multiple times over the past year and marvel each time at how much he’s grown and how stinkin’ smart he is.

Dave and I both make good money at our jobs and have been able to save up, pay extra on our mortgage, take vacations, and buy pretty much anything we want when we feel like it. (Within reason, of course). Even my job, which was rather stressful for a long time, has been pretty calm, and I’ve gotten to expand my skill set further this past year. I’ve improved my social life this year thanks to being involved in the Pollinator Pathways and having regular breakfast meetings with the team, which has now evolved into a book club, too!

So, really, everything in our lives at this current moment is actually quite good, and I am grateful for that. I have a lot to be thankful for, and if I just tune out the rest of the world, I’d probably be a lot happier. Perhaps carrying around this sense of impending doom is just part of modern-day life? All we can really control is how we handle what’s going on in our day-to-day lives.

As we roll into 2024, I plan to continue being involved in my local garden club and Pollinator Pathways and perhaps even join the town’s conservation committee. Dave and I will continue to chip away at the invasive vines and shrubs on our property, and replace them with native fruit and nut-producing plants to better support the wildlife.

I hope anyone reading this has a happy and healthy new year, and I’ll see ya in 2024!