It’s New Year’s Eve – 31 December 2023.
Including today this is day number 21145 for me on this planet. If you prefer it this way, it’s 57 years, 10 months and 23 days.
As with probably every single person I know, I am looking forward to a new start and to see what 2024 brings. These past 365 days, and especially the 246 days since I retired earlier this year, have been to some extent THE most challenging. I left work because it was the right thing for me to do for MYSELF at the time. In hindsight it may have been a tad near sighted but I don’t regret the decision one bit. Historically, I am pretty lousy at doing what’s best for me so to suddenly lump myself with a total change of routine and no work commitments was confronting in a lot of ways.
I am a pretty passive personality and I’m a reluctant risk taker, so to change up my life as significantly as I have provided me with a sink or swim scenario. Initially, it was absolutely fantastic not having to get out of bed at 5am every weekday to get to work on time. It still is absolutely fantastic not having to set the alarm every morning but there have been many different challenges these past 8 months. The worst of these has been the financial pinch that has bitten, and I’ve learnt some valuable lessons and tips along the way to survive and to still provide for my 2 kids, especially as they are now both in their mid to late teens. One of the best lessons that this year has taught me is to have faith that everything will turn out just fine in the end, and that there is no need to be embarrassed by my circumstances or to feel guilty asking for assistance. As the second youngest of 7 growing up, you tend to learn to fight for yourself and keep to yourself most of the time and seeking help is not my strongest suit. Swallowing my pride was something that I allowed myself to accept was okay. I was not going to become less of a man or a Dad by doing so. In fact it has had the opposite effect in my mind, although I still take some convincing from myself!
Having said all of that, probably the biggest risk I have ever taken has turned out to be one of THE most positive and character building things I have ever done. I am definitely a much stronger person than I was before I took the plunge. I reckon I am a better Dad too but teens don’t really tell you that!
So what will I do in 2024? Most of my life, I have almost coasted through life – not expecting an easy ride but as a very passive person it was more like just taking each minute, hour, day, week, month and year as it came to me and dealing with any obstacle in front of me as best I could.
Am I going to do the same in the New Year? More than likely I will, but having experienced a lot of inner growth this year I am feeling that nothing is beyond me. Yes, I have my moments of self-doubt and I get emotional on occasion because I don’t see my 2 kids every day, but I reckon I am a better, more well rounded and confident role model for them, and that can only be a good thing. Above all, I have become a better version of myself and I can look to myself with a sense of pride in getting through all that I have in recent times to become the stronger man and Dad that I am now.
I am determined that 2024 will not be a rinse and repeat of my earlier years, but more of a progression from 2023 with new found confidence and the ability to withstand hardship, show resilience in all situations and to no longer be afraid to show the real me to the world. I think that the world – and especially my kids – deserve to have the best possible me to turn to.
Health-your-self.com 