My Social Media-less Life

I’ve been trying to write some kind of a blog since the last time I hit “Publish” however long ago that was…

(It seems like forever, but I know I posted at least one blog in December)

It helps that it’s now the end of the year and I have something a little more to write about than just how dadgum busy I’ve been. I tried writing that blog. It was eventually deleted.

Moving on…

While I was thinking about and debating what pictures to put in the above collage, I thought about the year and what I’ve done this year. And this was a VERY busy year.
– I went to the NFL Draft in my own city! (Had definitely forgotten about this until I was looking for pictures from this year)
– I quit pet-sitting as a business… only to immediately help a friend, in the middle of a breakup, with her aged dog while she works overnights (that’s still on, even after a recent health scare within the past few weeks).
– I helped a friend sell her books all over the Midwest… but mostly in Missouri and Kansas with one odd trip to Chicago.
– I also helped the same friend brainstorm more books in her ongoing series, while still holding down a full-time job and doing all the traveling.
– I went to a “partnership announcement” party of a friend who has a brand and a YouTube channel, only to be surprised with her marriage announcement!
– I was invited to my first “work Christmas party” that wasn’t for a fast food restaurant or the Army.
– My mom and I got to visit her parents twice this year, and one of those times, my brother and his family went as well!
– I went to Colorado (and really, the mountains) for the first time ever and FELL IN LOVE. (Spoiler alert, my two best friends and I are planning a weekend trip this next year)
– My friend and I got tickets to the Renaissance Faire, only to get FREE tickets to the Christmas Renaissance Faire… and then MORE free tickets to NEXT YEAR’S Faire.
– I also decided this was a good year to “make” piggy banks for my nephews and niece this year… that was fun. (I just painted them and had them fired in an oven)

I feel like I spent less time with family overall, but I made sure that every moment counted as much as I had the capacity to do. Looking ahead to 2024, I think that will be something that becomes more of a priority…

But this blog isn’t about looking forward specifically… although that does happen when people reflect. At least people with a personality type like mine. 😛

As I look back on 2023, sure, there were some moments where I wished for better and more simpler times. There were days when I wondered how in the world I would survive to see the next day (because of busyness, not because of anything life-threatening… sometimes, I CAN be dramatic).

But there were also times when I was not only glad to be alive, but happy to be living in the time that I’m in. I would stop, look around, take a deep breath, and thank God for where I was and what I was doing at that moment.

This year, I was a bit too… optimistic about giving opportunities and was unable to do all that I wanted… but I still made more money this year than any year I’ve been working for myself so far.

Oh, that was another win too! For the first time ever, I actually kept paper receipts and would figure out my quarterly earnings so I don’t have to spend 4 hours doing taxes come January/February. Maybe next year, I’ll actually work on paying quarterly taxes as well… but we’ll see… that all gets lumped together with the “optimistic givings” bit in the previous paragraph.

The point is, overall, 2023 was a GREAT year, and I look forward to 2024. Even with the election coming up. That just means I get to work MORE with the election board this year and be a part of history in a deeper way than just casting a vote… I get to help other people cast theirs as well.

Here’s to a Happy, Healthy and Amazing New Year for all of us!