This will be my last post of 2023 because I will not post in between Christmas and New Year’s. But it is the end of another year! Time is such a funny thing in that it keeps moving whether or not you want it to. I want to take today and maybe slow down time so I can reflect on how this year has been.

This year has been full of good things. I earned my first degree black belt, I entered my fourth year of teaching, and I started a History Club for my students, just to name a few. I switched to sustainable shampoo and conditioner. I flew by myself for the first time (and did well with it!), I planned a bachelorette trip that went well, and I stood by my sister as she got married. Even if I don’t mention them all, I created a lot of good memories and had many wonderful experiences this year.

However, I’m not going to pretend that this year was all good. There were bad days in there too. Things didn’t always go according to plan. I didn’t teach as well as I could have. I lost my phone this summer and had to get a new one. I got upset. But I believe that my good days far and away outweigh the bad ones.

I have learned so much this year. I’ve learned a lot about myself, including what I’m capable of and being able to challenge my limits. I’m working becoming better every single day, even if the steps are slow and uncertain. I’m stronger in my faith, and I think many of my relationships are stronger as well. I always want to keep learning. Wherever I go, whatever I do, I hope I continue to learn. There are always new things to learn and new ideas to discover. Learning helps me become both a better teacher and a better person.

I’ve accomplished a lot this year. Some of the things I have discussed on here, and some of them stay close to my chest. It’s not meant to be a dig at anyone. It’s just that I’d rather show things when they’re complete as opposed to still being in progress. I’ve read over thirty books this year, and I want to repeat that again next year. My favorite book I read this year was The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar. It tells two stories that parallel each other. One is of a family who returns to Syria after tragedy strikes in New York, where they used to live. The other part of the story takes place in the 1100s, where a girl disguises herself as a boy to see the world and become a mapmaker’s apprentice. Remarkably, both of these stories follow the same journey from Syria to Morocco. It was such a good book! If you want other recommendations, please let me know.

I mentioned my black belt earlier, and I know I’ve written a full post on it. But sometimes, it still doesn’t feel like something I did. There are times when I tie my belt, look in the mirror, and think, “Nooooo, this wasn’t me. This was someone else.” But it WAS me! I put in the work. I tested for my black belt. I did self-defense, sparring, and I broke boards to get to this point. I just reached three years in martial arts, and I’m looking forward to what else I can accomplish.

I may not have reached all my goals this year, but I did make a lot of progress in a lot of areas. I made steps to reduce my plastic consumption. My house has set up systems to reduce food waste– we keep a running leftover log, and put the reusable containers in a spot that’s easily reached. These and others are commitments I’m going to continue to make.

In addition, I’m also working to make better habits for my health. One goal I did not hit this year was getting into my goal weight range. But, I did establish some more healthy habits to help me be healthier. I also made sure I established that weight does not equal happiness. To this end, rather than try for a goal weight next year, I’m working instead for a specific number of pounds to lose. My happiness and my healthiness cannot be determined by a number.

There are also new things I want to do next year. I want to spend more time outside. I want to bake and cook more. I want to take self-improvement classes and walk more. I’ll share more of my goals in a couple weeks with the first post of the new year. I’ve set a lot of things in motion this year for myself, and I want to continue those things while I add new ones as well. I’m doing my best to work every day to improve my self. The systems I already have in place and the systems I will implement are all along this end. Sometimes I know that I want to take leaps and bounds. It is a struggle for me to enjoy the waiting process. When I think about a goal, I immediately want to be there. A lesson I will probably be learning forever is the idea that I have to take small steps to get to big goals. That process of getting there is just as, if not more, important than the goal itself.

2023 was full of adventures, memories, and experiences. Many were good, and some were bad. But each day and each moment brought me to where I am now. This year had a lot to teach me, and I am thankful for the lessons I learned along the way. Here’s to 2024! Happy Holidays!