Here's To 2023
2022 was…a year.
A lot of us were hoping that this year would be the one that helped us return to “normal”. Whether we were hoping for better news, less news about COVID, and for things to just be calm, we didn't exactly get that.
Many people are sharing their highlight reels of this year on social media, and while I'm sure you've heard and seen this sentiment a million times by now, I just want to remind you that your year in review does not have to look just like theirs. In fact, theirs doesn't even look the way they're trying to make it look. We see what people want us to see.
I want to get a little more in depth about my year. It wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all fantastic and fun either.
I had a lot of difficult decisions to make this year. I formally cut ties with some family members, I decided to not continue in my degree program in school.
I was tested in my growth and my acceptance of myself. I faced the reality that things are changing as I get older. I challenged my own expectations for myself, my preconceptions about what it means to be successful, to be an adult.
I'm trying to stay hopeful, even if it gets harder as the years go by. There is a lot of good happening around us, even when it doesn't feel like it.
I hope 2023 is good to you. I hope you take steps toward achieving your dreams. I hope you remember to be gentle with yourself when you fall short of your own expectations. Any effort you put toward bettering yourself is a win. Any effort toward caring for yourself is a huge win.
I hope you don't forget that you are valuable and important in this world. I hope you stop to take a deep breath. I hope you are proud of yourself for how far you have come.
Finally, I hope you had a safe and restful holiday season. Whether you spent it with family, chosen family, or by yourself, I hope you enjoyed yourself.
Thank you for reading this blog for three years. When I created this website in December of 2020, I never imagined the impact it would make in my life. Thank you for following along with my journey.
Stay safe out there, y'all.
–Abbie
