I would've called you a liar if you had told me that 2023 was going to have a nightmare start, but finish as one of the best years of growth that I've ever had. I won't go into detail about getting sober and losing weight. You all have read that on here. Life comes with ebbs and flows that leave us with option to bend or break.
When I lost my Dad, I felt this huge void in my life. A voice of reason, life lessons and structure was just gone. In his last few months he talked about areas where he had messed up in life to make sure I broke the trend. There was a lot of anger, frustration and disappointment towards him after he told me these things. Naturally, I forgave him. His mess ups didn't lessen the impact he had on my life because he always said, "Do better than I did."
Statements like that are ones that you really cling on to. I've taken his advice and ran with it. When any situations arise, I take a step back and evaluate them before acting or reacting. In doing so, I see life through a different lens. The old me would crumble under pressure, give up at the first site of a plateau or run and hide when confrontation seemed necessary. Bumps and bruises are better than giving up completely.
As we hit the last couple of months in 2023, I look back and think about all of the bumps and bruises I've taken. The reoccurring trend is that I haven't given up. If you look back on this past year and haven't given up, you deserve to pat yourself on the back. We all have stuff in our lives that bend us to the point of wanting to break. Whether you do or not is up to you.
When I want to break, I hear my Dad's voice saying, "Do better than I did." I hope you all have that source of motivation to keep going when times get tough. If not, we're here for you. 2023 has been a wild ride thus far. It's bent, twisted and pulled at me as much as it can. It didn't break me though. Finish the year strong. You've got this.
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