Reflections on Celebrating Another Year

Today is my birthday. By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be on my way to the city to celebrate with a few close friends. I’m incredibly grateful for a year well spent and surrounded by some amazing people. Last year was quite different. I hit rock bottom, and everything seemed to be going wrong. I was in a bad relationship, and ending it was terrifying. There were family issues and a lot of tension at home, along with managing my guest house. Despite the challenges, I decided to push through, reassess my priorities, and realign my efforts.

It took a year to rebuild myself to where I wanted to be. I let go of toxic relationships and focused on nurturing the rewarding ones. I aimed to move forward in a loving and caring manner. I spent two months exploring Patagonia on a motorcycle.

I also spent a month in Texas and the Midwest, searching for business opportunities and aiming to have meaningful interactions daily. Between meetups, business meetings, Toastmasters, dates, and more, I not only met my goal but exceeded it, which was a big step for this introvert.

Unexpected personal events took me back to France for a few weeks in the summer. There, I strengthened relationships with those I cared about the most.

We celebrated life, welcomed new babies, and grieved for our elderly loved ones who passed. We supported each other and reinforced our bonds.

A hurricane back home made me realize I can’t take my house for granted, so I invested a lot of care into making it sturdier for future storms.

Here are a few things I’m proud of:
– Being kinder to myself and accepting that I don’t need to be an overachiever every minute.
– Turning my new house into a home with wood cabinets and comfy hammocks.
– Handling a difficult situation diplomatically when someone shot my dog.
– Admitting when I need help and gracefully accepting it.
– Managing my long-term staff even when it doesn’t come naturally to me.
– Being a supportive friend, encouraging my loved ones to open up, and listening to them.
– Expressing my wants, even if it means offending someone because my well-being comes first.
– Making new connections, especially at FinCon, and stepping out of my introverted shell.
– Taking steps to improve my dating life and remaining single until someone worthy comes along.
– Rekindling my love for running and maintaining a healthy lifestyle despite all the changes.
– Keeping my education project going even with my busy schedule.
– Automating my life so I can take off whenever I want without the world falling apart.
– Investing in myself through courses, books, and anything that makes my life easier or happier.

As I begin this year, there’s a huge smile on my face. I have exciting short-term plans and a clear direction for the long term. Last year was amazing, and this one is going to be epic. Cheers!