2023, you old bastard thing

I could probably think of 2,023 things not to like about the year 2023 and I'm not sad to see the end of it.

That's not to say good things didn't happen because they did, many of them, but it's been an incredibly challenging year for me and despite taking a turn for the better towards the end it's been difficult to navigate throughout. No, I'm not sad to see the end of it at all, I'm happy to see it fall away behind me and to be peeking over the edge of the new year.

I'm not going to delve into the reasons 2023 has been so difficult because they're personal things and, besides, we all have difficult times and situations in life and mine are probably not all that different or challenging than the next person's; of course, that doesn't negate the way those things have caused me to feel and the efforts I've had to go to in a bid to move forward as best I can; I'm proud of how I've done so however...but for sure, 2023 can fuck right off now.

Work the problem

I've done plenty of that throughout 2023, working the problem, and have been mostly successful or have had results that have been acceptable to me at the least; I am a lean forward into it sort of guy meaning I don't shy away from difficulties and hard work; trying to avoid things like that don't get them done, so I work the problem, find solutions and get it done. It's that ethos which has brought results out of the quagmire that was 2023 and it's that attitude and effort that will bring results in 2024, that's the plan anyway.

I've spent time determining and setting goals and even more time looking at strategies to help me reach them, or move closer to them.

These have been done from a personal and professional perspective and I've worked together with my partner to find out what's important so that the goals align with our needs and wants; of course, knowing why those goals are important is critical to the thoughts and attitude aspect that drives the motivation and action aspect; a combination of all is what helps bring the results. We feel we're pretty set with our 2024 goals and have built in the ability to pivot and adapt as things change along the way; one must be flexible after all as one never knows what can happen until it happens; the plan for the worst ethos.

I don't know how 2024 will roll out, all I know for sure is that it will roll out no matter what, whether I'm prepared or not...I don't really know how not to be prepared, it's my nature to have a high degree of readiness for the things I want to achieve and for the unknown fortunately so I feel I'm on the launching pad waiting for the countdown. Ten nine, eight, seven...you know the deal.

I know so many who have scratched and clawed their way through 2023 for various reasons and a look around the world will show strong evidence that it's been a tough year generally; I don't think things will get much better overall but I feel we can each work towards making our individual situations better and that's what I plan to do.

I wonder what you have in place for 2024 as far as goals and plans to attain them. Do you even have goals or do you prefer to drift along without them? Feel free to comment below and let me know, I'd be keen to hear about your strategies and the goals themselves.