a 2023 recap

first ever year in review [68]:

2023 has been an interesting and tumultuous year for me. Supposedly, people who were born in the year of the Cat/Rabbit (me included) would face immense difficulties and 2023 was not a great year. I don’t necessarily follow superstition but knowing that prediction makes me think about my circumstances and future.

Now that we are in the last week of December, I thought it might be fun to recap my year. I always appreciate a good reflection and it helps me reconnect with my past thinking patterns and experiences. Hope you enjoy and do let me know what 2023 has been like for you: share any achievements, failures, losses, disappointments, etc.

1. Travel

I completed a decent amount of travel this year, mainly in the US but I am grateful to be home for the holiday and be with family. If in 2022 and the first half of 2023 I traveled constantly to escape, I have forgone that tendency later in the year. I realize that no matter how far I travel, my problems will follow me if I don’t sort them out. Destinations are just locations if you don’t find the people who make them home.

New spots I explored this year: Miami, Florida, San Juan/Orcas Island in Washington and Enchanted Rock State Park in Texas.

2. Relationships

I added and solidified friendships in Austin this year. I felt fortunate to meet new Vietnamese friends who moved here, all of whom have helped me immensely with homesickness. I missed having a community of people whom I trust and have fun with and it took two years in a new city for me to find one. I also met my wonderful partner who has been nothing but patient and loving to counter my chaotic nature. It is beyond cliche at this point but everything comes down to the people, good people can make most places feel like home.

3. The written words

I didn’t write as often as last year but I noticed that my cadence is shifting from a fixed schedule to creating a piece that I love and am proud of. I have been through my time of quantity > quality and want to focus on quality pieces. I write for 500+ readers which is many more than the audience of one of my journals and I enjoy reading all the thought-provoking comments you left.

With reading, I am close to finishing 35 books and currently reading The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, which has been a great read. Share with me a book you like from this year as I am in a reading rut.

4. Work

My relationship with work took a tumble this year. After four years in the corporate world and two years before that in business school, I am still working on my perception of work, which was heavily influenced by the intense productivity culture and core capitalism. A key thing I want to master is a balance between financial stability, enjoyment of life, and if possible, fulfillment/non-hatred for what I do.

There is a reason I don’t write for a living even though I could opt for it. Writing is fun and meaningful. Tying a financial burden to something I love can potentially ruin it. This view might change in the future.

5. Learning

As I inch closer to 25, my pre-frontal cortex is reaching its full potential. Of course, I learn things formally through reading, studying, and at work. But I also learned a great deal by being around people who I respect. I am fortunate to work with a couple of mentors this year who rock my world.

The power of having someone who has been where you are, achieved the things you aspire to and have them root for your success is vastly underrated. These inspirational figures have been and will continue to be propellers for me to strive harder.

Learning can also be fun. I am learning to be a better person: patient, consistent, and open. I am also training for my half marathon next year and it’s been one of the most challenging physical endeavors I have taken on. I am trying to have fun while I push myself and celebrate new milestones.

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