I've Had A Really Good Year - Thank You 2023!

All I can say is WOW!  What a difference a year makes!  This time last year I was still trying to adjust to life as a new retiree and an empty nester.  Now I feel like I’VE GOT THIS!!!

 

Last year as I was planning ahead for 2024 there were two important things I wanted to focus on.  One was to take each day at a time and ask myself “what beautiful thing can you do today?” and the other one, which became even more important to me was to HAVE NO BAD DAYS.  At first I thought that having no bad days wasn’t going to be realistic, but I was wrong.  By focusing on each day, one day at a time, moment by moment, I found it wasn’t difficult at all.  Not every day was all rainbows and butterflies, but by taking each day moment by moment I found that even if I had something bad happen it didn’t set the tone for the entire day.

 

Honestly, my hardest day in 2023 was the day Edith passed away.  I feel really fortunate about that because I’ve had much more difficult days in years prior.  But, despite the fact that I had to say good bye to my sweet girl and watch her go I also had a lot of really good things going on that day as well.  Unlike in years past I allowed myself to cry and fully process my grief rather than shelving it to deal with it later or to tell myself it wasn’t all that bad and just move on.  I rejoiced in the years I had her and remembered her funny antics and how she would come in the house and head to the fridge for a snack.  I also focused on the fact that while she was slipping away I was able to realize a goal I had to have a designated and organized space for my long term food storage and how much I really enjoyed making that happen that day.  So while it was hard in some ways it was also good in others.

 

My perspective on what truly constitutes a bad day has really changed over the years and because of that I had a really good 2023 and I’m extremely grateful for that.  I’ve taken steps to protect myself from having bad days too.  I am no longer working long hours in a stressful occupation for a company that doesn’t truly appreciate their employees.  Instead, I chose to take early retirement knowing that it would mean some lean years financially.  And while finances can be a stressor of their own once again I gained a healthy perspective on that as well and chose to focus more on myself, my health and my overall happiness.

 

This year I put the finishing touches on creating a home, both inside and out, that makes me feel happy and content.  I finished a huge landscaping project that not only looks nice, but is much more user friendly and lower maintenance.  In my backyard I created a new garden space that I can now work in, add to and change up however I please.  Indoors I am now in maintenance mode with a few new touches here and there.  I painted the downstairs bathroom and I added a few new touches in here and there to make my life just a touch nicer.  I’m so glad I did that too.

 

Upstairs I redid the guest bedroom to make it nicer for me to sew and do some crafting whenever I choose.  I took on a huge decluttering project all over the place and I got rid of items I no longer use, need or want in my life anymore.  That process has been life changing and I am ever so glad I did that.  It has no only freed up a lot of space in my home but has made my everyday processes so much easier.  I can clean my home in a mere 15 minutes or less each day!  And when I work on my quarterly checklist now I get through those tasks lickety-split!  My home, inside and out is now my oasis.

 

In October I accepted my new “dream job” and I couldn't be any happier about it.  It fulfills me in so many ways.  I am still relevant and useful, but more importantly I’m having a ball!  I spend my time with people I want to spend time with and they are paying me for that!  I am doing what I love to do.  I visit with senior citizens, help them with their computer needs, social needs, everyday life needs.  I get to help people and in return they are filling up my tank.  It is an amazing feeling.  I really love going to work.

 

Thank you 2023 for being such a great year for me!  I am feeling so happy, grateful, content, loved and blessed.  God has been so good to me, more than I deserve, I’m sure.  As I sit here typing up this post I can tell you I am in a really good place in my life.  I can’t ask for anything more.  I am so lucky!!