As I reflect on 2023 I realize it’s been the year of gratefulness for me…
… but not on purpose and I wouldn’t wish what happened to me on anybody.
One thing you may not know about me is that I have worshiped at the altar of growth and learning for most of my adult life.
I prided myself on “studying” a new book each week.
Why do I say “studying” instead of “reading”?
I “study” a book to learn.
I “read” a book to be entertained.
I would do this by choice, and call it growth.
It probably was, and you can’t ever discount the power of compounding knowledge.
But this year, 2023 was different.
My learning did not come from a book or a course. It came from hard lessons and very tough times.
The path and life I thought I had ahead of me suddenly disappeared.
I would love to say that when that happened, I was a hero. I stood tall and laughed at the challenges, drew my flaming sword, and charged at the challenge while laughing like the Joker in the ’60s Batman series.
I would love to say that.
But, it could not be farther from the truth.
The truth is, that it almost broke me.
There were times I wanted to throw in the towel. I felt like everything I had worked for my adult life was taken away and I could not get it back.
The little devil on my shoulder dressed in a cheap corduroy suit was saying “You’re not good enough”.
And I believed him.
What got me out of there, and keeps me out as I write this?
Was it force of will? Unwavering faith? My killer biceps?
No… though the biceps may have helped a bit.
It was my family and friends.
I did not get out. They got me out. They are keeping me from going back there despite my best efforts to go back.
This has been one of the hardest years of my life.
I feel like I got sucker punched and left for dead. But, if this is my hero’s journey, this is the point I come back, despite all doubt, and beat my dragons.
Have you ever been there?
Are you there now?
If you are, here is what worked for me to get out.
1) Reaching out to family.
2) Reaching out to friends
3) Taking a step back
4) Remembering who you are
2023 was my year of gratefulness.
I am grateful for the challenges.
I am grateful for my family and friends who helped me through them.
I am grateful for who I am and who I will become because of them.
We’re now about to go into 2024. The Year of the Dragon.
This is the year I will finally break through to my next level.
You could discount this as false bravado.
But that is only the case if I don’t actually make it happen. If I do, this post will become a prophecy.
For me 2024, will be my year of prophecy.
How was your 2023? What will you make of your 2024?
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