As we closed the door on 2023, I want to sit back and reflect that it was just a weird year!
I can’t explain why it was weird, but it just felt like it. Maybe things are just changing, and I’m not sure.
How was 2023?
Look, 2023 was not an awful year. It just wasn’t a good year either!
Anxiety
I have been very vocal when it comes to my anxiety and depression.
“Fucked up Mike” had taken full control and I was struggling. In 2020, I finally put the breaks on, and got the help that needed.
Now, after three years on medication, I felt I was in a position to either reduce the dosage or even come off them.
I won’t lie, while being quietly confident, deep down I was worried. I was scared that “Fucked up Mike” would come back with a vengeance and this time I would not be able to keep control.
Thankfully, “Fucked up Mike” stayed in the background, and I was able to come off the medication fully in July.
Don’t get me wrong, “Fucked up Mike” is still here. He still tries to mess with my head on occasion. But he is not strong enough to take control!
Squeebs
2023 saw us say goodbye to our big girl, Squeebs.
As her health deteriorated we had to make the difficult decision that many pet owners have to make.
Losing a pet is difficult, but this one hit on a totally different level.
Squeebs was originally my brother’s cat that we took on when his other didn’t get on with her.
So losing Squeebs was like losing a connetion to Robb!
Goals Review
So lets get to the main reason for the post. To look back on 2023 goals that I had set, and see how i got on achieving them.
Career Goal:
Web Mike website
Do you ever have a goal that you set every year, but never achieve?
Previously, it used to be to stop smoking. But I gave up. Now it appears to be setting up this bleeding website!
And I have drastically failed at this too this year, as I didn’t even look at it at all!
I did, however, complete at least one blog. So that is something at least.
I am determined to get this up and running still. So much so, that I have included it in my Fifty before 50 list!
Not Achieved
Family & Friends Goal:
Quality Husby Time
I would like to think that the husby and I had spent some quality time together this year. Whether that be National Trust trips, the theatre or something other activity.
National Trust
Last year we got a National Trust membership. While it was used, it definitely wasn’t used to its full potential. We did visit a few places such as Gawthorpe Park and Powis Castle.
We have renewed our membership for 2024, so we plan to get more places visited next year.
Theatre
The theatre is always something that is on our radar for a date night. We saw seven productions in 2023, include Six, Cruise and the new musical I Should Be So Lucky
Hopefully, 2024 will be filled with just as many productions.
Other stuff
We also went to two art exhibitions: Colors Festival and You, Me & The Balloons.
Additionally, we have done a few excursions including a visit to Liverpool for the Eurovision and London for the Neighbours Experience.
Achieved
Finance Goal
Reduce personal debt
I shall be frank, this goal was well and truly failed!
So let’s start with some good news. I was able to close 3 short-term loans and pay off a loan!
But the money I put on my credit card kind of exceeded everything I paid off! Doh!
I am looking at this in a positive way. At least ot’s only in one place now!
2024 I do have a plan to reduce the credit card.
Not Achieved
Fun & Recreation Goal:
Decorating Galore
After five years, the house needed a little TLC. I had this big plan on how we were going to do it.
Do you know when a project is big, it can become a little overwhelming? This is what has happened here!
We did get some updates to the home completed, just not as much as I would have liked.
The main update was the spare room. Since lockdown, it has had my office in a corner, and I just didn’t feel comfortable with a bed in the background.
The room has now been converted into an office, with a plan to add a sofa bed at a later date.
Not Achieved
Health & Fitness Goal:
Reduce Body Fat
So technically I have failed this goal as my body fat percentage has increased by 0.3!
Although, how I felt at the beginning of 2023 compared how I felt at the end has vastly improved.
Looking at the stats for the year, the first part of the year saw me gain weight instead of losing it!
In fact, come July I was actually classed as obese as my body fat rose to 26.7%. So the real challenge for the year was to lose what I had gained!
New gym
As much as I loved my old gym, it wasn’t meeting my needs. So I left and joined a new gym that just opened.
I am getting at least three sessions in a week, and I am seeing the results. I’ve lost the weight that I gained, and while I still weigh more than I did at the beginning of 2023, it isn’t bad weight!
Push-ups
For November, I completed a push-up challenge, where I completed over 3000 push-ups in the month, in the aid of charity.
I’ve always felt that I have a weaker upper body, so doing this challenge helped with an all-round toning, which helped especially with my body dysphoria.
Granted, since the push-ups my shoulder has been playing up, so not everything is perfect!
However, I am classing this goal as a success because I can now look in the mirror and feel positive about myself! And that’s what is important!
Achieved
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