2023 - Retrospective

Looking back on 2023, the year that has been.

I generally audit my year around the time of the winter holidays. It is an exercise in perspective. Grudgingly, it is my only attempt throughout the year to practise gratitude. Here goes,

There are a few themes that outline most of my life,

- Vocation(broader than work)
- Health
- Relationships
- Fun/Leisure

Work

The thing that we exchange time and money for…and fame/infamy? As with most people in tech, it was a challenging year to say the least. Personally, happy that I managed to ship a couple of our products out to market. A year of growth, learnt a lot about my technical deficiencies which has led me to invest time in educating myself.

Grade : B+

Health

For the first time since 2012, I put my health ahead of pretty much everything. Right around March/April of this year, I started going back to the gym. Dropped my weight from around 193 lbs to around 175 lbs, in those eight months. The holiday period over the last couple of months has not helped, but should be back on the saddle early next year.

Grade : A-

Relationships

The one thing that I have consistently sucked at all my life. Comes as no surprise that this year wasn’t much different. My wife will take umbrage to it, having been a relationship “constant” in my life for the past 20+ years, not exclusively as my wife though. Make of it what you will.

Exceptions being the bond that I share with my two girls. Compensates for all the B.S apart from them. Something that I will likely prioritize getting better at this coming year.

Grade : C

Fun

Historically, something that I have always consciously undervalued. I did make some progress this year with branching out from my usual modes of entertainment and fun, which are being outdoors and reading. I watched an entire series in sequence and to completion for the first time, and a couple more without watching them to their end. I watched a few movies online and happily, a few more on the big screen. I however, did not end up reading as much as I normally would have. It was probably the first year in many, many years where I read less then 20 books in the year.

Grade : A

Overall, I am glad that I had an eventful year in more ways than one. I have grown as a man, and Dad. I have work to do on being a better husband and friend. I would have loved to dive deeper into each of these areas of my life, will save it for another day. Onwards.