2023: A Year in Review

 1. What did you do in 2023 that you’d never done before?

2023 has been quite a year! I had a busy, but fulfilling year.

 

Professionally, I am enjoying my second year as a reading teacher. I am working with students in a variety of elementary grades, and it has been a great change for me. While teaching ELA was wonderful in its own way, I am very happy with my new career path.

I graduated in May (yay!). It has been so nice to leave the student portion of life behind, though I did enjoy the learning. It is refreshing to be a bit more in control of my time.

I continue to serve on the board of our local Little League and travel baseball league. It was a move that made sense since we give so much of our time already, and it feels good to do so in an official way. I became the concession stand this year. It has been a lot of work, but it is a very social position, which I thoroughly enjoy. Making food and chatting with people is a great fit for me. Baseball has become such a big part of our lives, and I am so grateful for the friendships we have made as a result. 

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

I did have gratitude for much of what we did this year, despite it being a stressful year. Whenever I think about what I would cancel, I never come up with an experience that I am willing to give up. In other words, despite it all, I get more out of what I do than I would if I didn't do it. Am I stretched thin? Yes. At the end of the day, I feel it is worth it. I want to be there for all of it. One quote that really defines me is: "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." ~Mae West

3. What places did you visit? 

We went to North Carolina in April, Maine in June, and Cape Cod in August. For baseball, we spent a week in the Bronx for states.

4. What would you like to have in 2024 that you lacked in 2023?

I would like to have more time doing fun things with Dave. We are deep in the business of parenting, but we need to carve out pockets of time for ourselves. This should get a bit easier as the kids get older, but I also don't wish them to get older! 

5. What dates from 2023 will remain etched upon your memory?

May 10: Graduation

August 19-26: our week at the beach

August 27: Lena the labradoodle came home

December 21: our dog Mattie passed away

6. What were your biggest achievements of the year? 

I graduated with a 4.0 in my master's program! Also, we have made some great strides with Lucas's and Cecilia's diagnosis and medication. They both have 504 plans in place that give them the best chance for success at school. I also read 29 books this year.

7. What were your biggest failures?

I definitely dropped the ball with health and wellness. While I give a nod to the "fat and happy" mindset, I need to pay more attention to my health. I love to eat so I will be focusing on more movement.  I like running, but I have gotten out of it in the last year. I hope to get back to that. 

8. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I finally had COVID! Luckily, it was very mild. I also struggled with some back issues, but it was largely due to a lack of movement.

9. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 

We FINALLY found a rental on Cape Cod that we can return to each year. It is close to the beach, and there are two playgrounds nearby. This summer we spent one whole week there, and we will do the same this coming summer! 

10. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder?
happier
b) thinner or fatter? 
fatter
c) richer or poorer? 

poorer 

11. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Spending quality time as a family. This seems silly because we are always together, but I feel like time is moving faster as they are getting older. I remember someone saying how the days are long but the years are short. I am feeling this big time right now. I love who the kids are becoming as they age, but it is hard too to know that they are moving toward middle and high school. 

12. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Homework!

13.  What were your favorite TV programs?

I barely watched any TV this year, but I did start to listen to podcasts.

TV:

Ginnny and Georgia

NFL 

Podcasts:

The Daily

Going West

  
14.  What did you do for your birthday in 2023?

I did something crazy this birthday!!! I went to see Ashanti and Ja Rule with my baseball mom friends. It was so much fun, and we laughed SO hard. On my actual birthday, Lucas had a travel game at home, and my friends threw me a little party at the field. Cecilia had a baseball game and Lucas had a flag football game that weekend so it was a lot of time watching my lovies. 

15.  What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2023?

Time is the most valuable resource we have, and helping out is so important. As a result, I started investing more in our local community. I joined the Little League board and the travel baseball board. I help out in the kids' schools whenever I can. If I can offer a ride, I do it. It takes a village, and we have been lucky to live in our community. 

16.  My goals for 2024:   

I want to spend more one-on-one time with each of the kids. I want to say YES to new experiences. As always, I want to travel to new places.

Happy New Year!