2023 highs/lows +Bonus

[dove]

I always enjoy these recaps

Lows - I’ve had a pretty tough year emotionally. My MC in August was such a mindfuck. 

Highs - I am physically at my healthiest ever. I cycled over 900 miles this year (!) and did lots of reformer pilates. I’m at my college weight. I have abs! Yes, I am humble-bragging. After I got sick, I didn’t think I’d be able to recover mentally or physically from the lack of activity and weight gain. I am incredibly proud of myself. It’ll be 10 years in February since I was diagnosed. How wild is that? Life if weird. 

Bonus Question: What are you looking forward to in 2024?
I am so looking forward to getting on with this remodel. This year has been terrible with contractors. We finally got plans drawn that we are satisfied with and 2 very reasonable bids. They can start right after the new year.

And a vacation. I need a vacation 

[VillainV]

Lows: I’ve been dealing with a knee injury all year. It took a few months to get into physical therapy, then a few months to realize that physical therapy was making it worse, then another few months to get a referral to sports med, then schedule an MRI. My follow-up after the MRI is almost a year to the day after my initial injury. And I have above-average access to care!!!

Highs: I am feeling much more at peace with my body. My weight and body composition aren’t where I want them to be, but I’ve made positive steps (both physical and mental) that have me feeling much stronger.

ETA: What am I looking forward to? I’m honestly not sure, just taking things day by day and practicing being grateful for all that I have.

[wanderingback]

Highs - our daughter is an absolute delight. I feel so lucky that she’s our daughter and that my partner is the most wonderful dad. Although she was born in 2022, those first few months I wasn’t depressed or anything, but I was like ok she’s cute and this is fine, but as she’s gotten older, omg, I’m obsessed with her lol.

Lows - my partner had bladder cancer. It was an anxiety ridden few weeks, but all is fine now and it shouldn’t really affect our life too much going forward.

In 2024 I’m just looking forward to continued happiness with our little family of 3. Also, I made a small career change which I think overall will be wonderful and I will get to be at home/work from home consistently 2 days a week, wahoo! (Plus the 2 days of working from home are VERY flexible so if I don’t want to work on a Friday sometimes no one will stop me cause the work is more consulting work and I don’t have a supervisor).

[melmel4854]

Lows:
I was injured in February and had to pull out of a half marathon in NYC I had been training for.
I took my cat to the vet for what I thought was a cold. He had cancer and I lost him 6 weeks later.
Spent over $3,000 on vet bills and still paying them off
Got a pay decrease in July and didn't have a full-time income until October 31st.
Dad has been getting worse with dementia.

Highs:
I got a new kitty! I am obsessed with her and my other cat.
I got a new job!

Looking forward to:

I have no idea. I am just trying to make it through every day at this point! 

[RoxMonster]

Highs: I got a new position at work making way more money/better benefits; H got a promotion and raise at work; our vacation in the fall to the UP of Michigan; being able to put more money away in savings and retirement; completing some house projects

Lows: Our dog's struggle with arthritis and she is getting pretty old and I'm not ready for that; we didn't get to see my parents very much because they have been helping my grandma. But otherwise, nothing too bad.

Looking forward to: Hopefully a trip somewhere (maybe going back to CO), hopefully my parents moving down here when they retire this year, continued house projects and purchases

[Nonny]

Highs: Our 20th anniversary trip to Europe. It was so fun and so great to travel again and eat all the food and drink all the wine after being stuck at home for years.

Lows: ~~waves hands~~ Everything to do with my dad, the scammy "care taker," all of his BS, and his general refusal to listen to my sister or general reason. If my mom had a grave, she'd be rolling in it.

ETA: Oops, missed a question.
I'm looking forward to a friend's wedding, and planning a trip to Iceland with my bestie. (Although it's possible the Iceland trip won't happen until 2025.)

[deadwing]

Dec 31, 2023 18:34:11 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Highs: I got a new position at work making way more money/better benefits; H got a promotion and raise at work; our vacation in the fall to the UP of Michigan; being able to put more money away in savings and retirement; completing some house projects

Lows: Our dog's struggle with arthritis and she is getting pretty old and I'm not ready for that; we didn't get to see my parents very much because they have been helping my grandma. But otherwise, nothing too bad.

Looking forward to: Hopefully a trip somewhere (maybe going back to CO), hopefully my parents moving down here when they retire this year, continued house projects and purchases

For your dog, have you heard about Librela? It's a new treatment for osteoarthritis that is showing good results.

[hermione]

Highs: my husband was promoted and got a very nice salary bump. I also got a nice raise. Our 10yo is thriving - great grades, some good friends, and a real love for being on a team. I’ve also made some new friends with the moms of her friends.

Lows: I have gained so much weight since 2019. I have to start working on that for my health.

Looking forward to: Traveling this year.

[scm1011]

Highs:
I feel like I'm in the glory years of parenting. My kids (4.5 & 7) are both so fun without the constant neediness of babies/toddlers. We get to go on fun adventures and have delightful conversations. Christmas was truly magical this year. All in all, they are both amazing little humans I feel so lucky to have them.

I feel like I regained some of the athleticism I lost during covid this year. I ran a sub-2 hour half marathon and have really gotten into weight training. It isn't translating to losing the weight I gained during covid, but I feel strong and confident regardless.

I got closer in some newer friendships that feel really easy and genuine.

Lows:
My firm has really kind of taken a nose-dive into awfulness and I'm not sure I can stay there long term as I was planning. They're revoking our WFH and making other really questionable changes that have employees in an uproar. It's a bummer because I feel like I had a really sweet gig prior and now I feel like I need to jump ship. 

In 2024, I'm looking forward to more fun with my kids, running my first full marathon since 2017, and some upcoming travel adventures.

[konapoppy]

High: Fantastic times with my family of 4, great trips with friends, just all around positive social time with my chosen family. Setting boundaries hasn’t been easy, but is has paid off in terms of putting my energy where I want/need it to be.

Lows: We said goodbye to our senior pup. Ennui.

Looking forward: Some fun travel, settling into my role at work, the kids continuing to learn and grow.

[konapoppy]

Dec 31, 2023 18:47:18 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Highs:
I feel like I'm in the glory years of parenting. My kids (4.5 & 7) are both so fun without the constant neediness of babies/toddlers. We get to go on fun adventures and have delightful conversations. Christmas was truly magical this year. All in all, they are both amazing little humans I feel so lucky to have them.

I totally agree! Embracing this age while I can.

[ssmjlm]

Lows: DH and I both had some health issues happen this year and did a terrible job approaching them as a team. My mental and physical health were crap until I got a diagnosis. DH felt bad he was having an issue and didn’t want to pile on me because he knew how much I was struggling.

Also my Dad’s heart issues were a big shock to all of us. He had no symptoms.

Highs: On the flip side our marriage and family of 3 are amazing and in such an awesome place. DH and I are 100% a team. My kid is amazing and watching her grow up is both awesome and like OMG.

Looking forward to: trip with my mom to Australia and our universal trip for E’s elementary graduation. I have accepted a 3 month work assignment out of state and it’s the professional challenge I need.

[rubytue]

Highs: I restarted fencing and overall it’s been the best things I’ve done for myself in a long ass time. My blood pressure is way down, my lung capacity is up, and I’ve made some really good, local friends (including the one y’all think is a jerk lol). I don’t think I’ve actually made new friends since college, and I still hang out with them much as they are about an hour away. 

Lows: Things with H are a bit better, but still overall not great.

looking forward: short term: Said friends are all coming over Friday, and the jerk and I are cooking dinner for everyone. 
 
longer term: so with fencing, I was sticking with foil because it what I did back in the day. But in October, I started working on saber with a guy who took the broken medal in the 60 age group at the world championships. I’m trying my first competition in saber in 3 weeks. That still seems rather short term, but I hope to continue to improve and maybe focus on saber. Foil has been so frustrating for me because there is a disconnect between where I think I should be and what my performance is. The jerk is always trying to tell me I’m not bad, and he can tell I know what to do but don’t have the speed to execute. But he’s not a coach, so doesn’t have much advise, other than stop beating myself up. 

[yourmother]

Rollercoaster year.

High: got a new job with an amazing company that overall is aligned with my political beliefs and values.
Low: My dad started showing severe mental health issues.
High: dad was diagnosed, put on meds, sold his house and moved into an independent, retirement community. Just had lunch at his new place and met some of his neighbors. GREAT PLACE!!! They have daily activities and provide all meals (if wanted), happy hours twice a week, holiday celebrations, all kinds of fun games, etc. They encourage families to come and participate, which I certainly will!
Low: great new job, amazing company, very hard to learn. It isn’t personal to me or even my specific role. Every single person talks about how hard the first year was for them. I’m struggling because it’s a very uncomfortable spot to be in. I’m lost and my boss has expectations of me to hit the ground running. I’m untangling a mess that was left behind by the previous person, learning my role, learning the millions and millions of processes and learning a new territory. It’s a lot and I have some moments of wondering if I made the right move by leaving my previous jo where I was very comfortable.

[1confused1]

Highs:
Traveling one on one with my son this summer for baseball; traveling with my son and daughter for baseball this summer; having a position created for me at work in which I am thriving and loving; seeing my daughter love and embrace everything high school has to offer; my favorite aunt getting her health back; starting a part time job at a winery and meeting really great people

Lows:
Starting a part time job because I am desperate for money; losing a family member; replacing the engine in my son’s truck

Looking forward to:
More baseball travel this spring and summer; getting my son committed to play baseball in college; working on my fitness which will hopefully also help me get healthier; seeing what my bonus and raise will be at work.

[isabel]

Low - DH lost his job. Again. I started therapy to work through whether I wanted to get divorced. Changes at work made for a very emotional couple of months at the end of Q3. DS2’s behavior really came to a head toward the end of the year and was really challenging to deal with.

High - DH is employed again and is actively participating in dialing in his anxiety and depression medications with a psychiatrist and has just started seeing a new therapist. We’re not fully in the clear, but because of my own therapy, I feel more in control of where we’re headed than I have before and therefore more confident that we’re moving in the right direction.

I made a really good friend at work this year and have enjoyed getting to know her and the friendship we’ve developed outside of work.

DS1 has become a really fun person to hang out with and I’m enjoying him immensely. Older kids are where it’s at!

Bonus - I am feeling very hopeful for my marriage going into the new year and hoping we can build on the progress we’re making. I have a milestone in my head and want to work hard to get to that point in the year still feeling like we’re in a good place.

Very excited for some upcoming individual, work, and family travel.

My sister is pregnant, so definitely looking forward to meeting my new niece/nephew toward the end of the year.

[fernweh]

Highs:
Got a new position with a significant pay bump ( though technically starts in January- I accepted this year so I’m counting it)
Bought a cottage on a lake that is truely my happy place

Joined and gym and got a steady fitness routine going

Lows:
Dog needed unexpected surgery on his leg that cost thousands we weren’t expecting to spend

H and I have been in a blah place in our relationship

Looking forward to:

Getting into better shape/continuing fitness journey

Starting new job and hopefully feeling challenged and valued.

[circa1978]

High and low: I got a new job. It caused me a lot of stress, as my boss who was my mentor took it very poorly and I continue to struggle with that, since I still need to work with her, but ultimately good.

High: I'm this.close to finishing grad school. I've lost a significant amount of weight and feel good about my body and my relationship with food. I've gotten closer with my mother and am proud of the way I've supported her since she was widowed.

Low: My dad's death. I am struggling and really need to find counseling (it is ridiculously hard to find someone taking new patients) or a grief group. I'm at a breaking point with H's untreated ADHD AND coping with DS's ADHD/anxiety and managing my own issues (ADHD/OCD). I just want to be "normal."

Bonus: I'm looking forward to continuing to see my DS becoming an awesome young man, actually graduating and hopefully traveling more. I have a possible opportunity to travel internationally for work this summer and it would be my first trip to Europe in more than 20 years!

[icedcoffee]

Highs: My new rescue dog is such a blessing. I cannot believe someone who was discarded by humans can be so loving and caring. I love watching my other dog and her develop a bond and they both make me so insanely happy.

Lows: I don’t want to go into details but we had a situation and the only thing that kept me alive was my lexapro. I’m starting to see how I will survive though so…

Bonus: I have an opportunity to apply for a c suite job and my boss is supporting me in getting it!

[RoxMonster]

Dec 31, 2023 18:45:45 GMT -5 deadwing said:

Dec 31, 2023 18:34:11 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Highs: I got a new position at work making way more money/better benefits; H got a promotion and raise at work; our vacation in the fall to the UP of Michigan; being able to put more money away in savings and retirement; completing some house projects

Lows: Our dog's struggle with arthritis and she is getting pretty old and I'm not ready for that; we didn't get to see my parents very much because they have been helping my grandma. But otherwise, nothing too bad.

Looking forward to: Hopefully a trip somewhere (maybe going back to CO), hopefully my parents moving down here when they retire this year, continued house projects and purchases

For your dog, have you heard about Librela? It's a new treatment for osteoarthritis that is showing good results.

Our vet was doing a call about it in the new year to get more info and see if it would interact with any of the meds our dog is on or if she would be a good candidate. I am hopeful!

[cricketwife]

LOWS:  The year started as my worst ever. Stepfather passed in Oct 2022 so as this year started, I was in the throes of dealing with my mother with Alzheimer’s, selling their house that had been ravaged by Hurricane Ian, establishing POA, getting access to her finances, overseeing her medical care and day to day care in her facility.  It all took a great toll on me and my mental health. I took intermittent FMLA to try to cope, but it was a dark, dark time. It destroyed my relationships with my brothers. 
Also low- partly my own bad habits, my genetic makeup, the stress, whatever, I am at my all time heaviest (and let’s say I have never been thin) and I’m physically feeling the effects of all this extra weight and emotionally I’m avoiding pictures, etc.  

HIGHS: I made it through all of the above. My kids are also at great ages (7,9) and they both love sports, especially soccer and I love spending Saturdays watching them play. Bonus is it’s a perfect activity to bring my mom to because she can just sit and watch.  
Since August, I’ve been in an interim (higher) role at work that came with a nice (temporary) bump in salary. The stars aligned in terms of finances, kids ages, and health that made for our best family vacations this year: Atlanta, Chicago, and Hilton Head, SC. 

Looking forward to:
A road trip to Niagara Falls and a week at the beach this summer. Seeing how things play out with my job and if it turns into a permanent position. Taking steps to improve my health. 

[minzy]

Lows - death of my aunt the first week of the year, death of my uncle just a few days ago. This is the same branch of my family, two of my mom’s three siblings. Handling the estate of my aunt was a big undertaking though I learned a lot and I really was just the person to do it. Being the victim of crime this fall was stressful for all of us in the short term. I had a lousy December after I finally got covid and had another illness on top of it. I’ve gained a little weight this year and I don’t love that. I still generally like work but it has been a little stressful the last few months and I have been sad to have several colleagues leave (and I have not loved having to absorb their work).

Highs - still being able to do it all. Continuing to have the strong backing in every possible way of my husband. He is so incredibly capable and I could not do half of the many things I do without him being my other hand. I’ve loved watching our girls grow this year, both more confident with school, friends, and their preferred sports. My sister and I got our dad out on two big trips this year with our kids to see national parks. It may have been our only chance between when he quit drinking not quite two years ago and when he’s really starting to slow down (seemingly now), but I’m so glad we did it. He hiked out to an arch with his cane in Utah, he hiked the last bit of Clingman’s dome to a rousing crowd of cheers.

2024 - looking forward to seeing both sides of my entire family in the next two weeks, with the funeral on one side and a 60th anniversary party on the other. We are hitting more national parks in February. In April we have plans to be in totality for the eclipse. My college roommate may come in May. We may do a family trip in July and I plan to throw another big Olympics party. Possible girls trip or two in there too and potentially a fall wedding in my stepmother’s part of the family.

[isabel]

Oh, another high! I took my first solo (not work related) trip in February to Sedona. It was wonderful and left me feeling grounded for several weeks. I just booked another trip for February again and am very excited to spend a few days on my own hiking and reading.

[krystee]

High: Our Disney cruise to the Caribbean. Seeing Trunk Bay and seeing the kids so deliriously happy was the best. Also, I got some friends together for a reading retreat weekend, and it was such a delight. I was not impacted by a big layoff, and H got a promotion.

Low: My mom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s (but she is doing really great and you honestly wouldn’t even know because the meds have controlled her tremor so well. Praying it stays like this for a long while.)

Looking forward to: Work trips to Dubai and probably Dublin. A cruise to the southern Caribbean. Seeing Hamilton with my 8YO.

[wanderingback]

Jan 1, 2024 0:56:25 GMT -5 isabel said:

Oh, another high! I took my first solo (not work related) trip in February to Sedona. It was wonderful and left me feeling grounded for several weeks. I just booked another trip for February again and am very excited to spend a few days on my own hiking and reading.

Love! I can’t wait till I stop breast feeding so I can get back to my solo trips.

I guess I should’ve put that in my what I’m looking forward to…no longer breastfeeding!

[underwaterrhymes]

Lows: Everything that has happened with my sister, H’s stepmom being so ill, the slow decline of my grandfather, bomb threats earlier this year at H’s library

Highs: My hysterectomy was life changing in the best possible way. I took a couple of amazing trips this year: (our family road trip to DC and NYC when I got to see my dad, godmother, and grandfather for the first time since 2019, our current family trip to Vegas / LA, and my girls’ trip to Orlando where four of my closest friends and I got together for the first time in over a decade). Also, seeing my kids continue to develop into such loving and fun humans is such a gift and so much fun. I’ve grown even closer to H, who is my best friend and who has rocked caregiving with my various health issues and who has been such a supportive partner throughout this year’s challenges with my sister. I love him so much. Finally, I’ve started meditating with a good friend over Zoom on Fridays and it’s been incredible.

Looking forward to: I want to continue to meditate as I think it has the power to be transformative. I also plan to get strong. Health shit has derailed me my fitness, but I am motivated. I don’t really care about the scale; I just want muscle, flexibility, and agility. I also want to be on my phone less. I want to continue to make fun memories as a family, as well. I turn 50 this year and I’m excited to see what the next decade brings. Plus H and I celebrate 15 years of marriage in February. ❤️

[simpsongal]

Highs - I started a hot power yoga class last January and stuck with it for the year. I’m in the best shape of my life and feel great!

Lows- work stress, things are sort of off the rails and there’s not much I can do about it. My twin brother also admitted that he relapsed and has been using regularly.

Bonus- we’re in the middle of a kitchen/first floor reno. I can’t wait until it’s done!!!! Like March ish thanks to delays from the power company

[meganew]

Lows: both my cats getting sick and needing thousands in surgery/treatment, money feeling tight despite earning more than ever, getting pneumonia and still feeling some of the effects from being that sick, my cousin moving across the country when she used to live around the corner, teaching this year has been very, very challenging.

Highs: watching my cousin get married, consistently climbing (even if I’m not getting better, I still feel stronger), watching H get really good at bouldering, kids both flourishing at school, watching Ollie grow so much and go from a little boy to a young man- I’m feeling very sunrise/sunset about it.

In 2024: looking forward to starting back up with running, visiting my cousin and seeing the Grand Canyon, my H turns 40!, setting some new career goals and taking steps towards them (I think I have to go back to grad school, womp womp.)

[ProfessorArtNerd]

Lows:  so much loss this year.  Last January, my aunt passed away.  It was hard watching my sister go through being her POA and then executor of her will.  There was a lot of extra administrative work that went with that bc she isn't next of kin.  My other aunt also was kind of awful in the process as well.  And then of course my dad's death two weeks ago.  I haven't even begun to process it yet, really.  My mom's health has also been pretty awful and I hate seeing her decline so rapidly and seemingly mostly by choice.  ETA: I totally forgot about my kidney stones saga, wow.  That was horrible, and I still have to follow up about that.  Ugh

Highs: We are better financially that we have been, pretty much ever.  We get to do an addition to our house to get us 100% more space, another bathroom, a beautiful kitchen, finally! And also our very much anticipated trip to Disney World that we did in June.  That was really good.  Also, H got a new job with a big raise and more of a future.

Bonus: I am so excited to get our house done.  I hope that I get to put in a garden this year, too.  I didn't bother this year bc it would all get torn up in the construction.  And tomorrow- Lucy and I are heading to the Metropolitan Museum to see the Manet/Degas show.  I fully expect to cry no fewer than 10 times in front of my two favorite artists' works. 

[dancingirl21]

Highs:
-DH and I went to Germany and Austria for our 15 year anniversary, and it was magical.
-our kids are thriving in school and they are at such fun ages (10 and 7). They have become such kind, loving little people.
-Travel as a family. We were very fortunate to prioritize spending time together and made it to several locations we really wanted to go to.
-I transitioned from a SAHM with a kid at my side at least half of the day to a SAHM with kids in school full time. I was nervous about what that meant for me, but it’s been wonderful. I take on a lot of volunteer opportunities that I haven’t been able to do prior, and have more time for things I would like to do.

Lows:
-DH continued to travel weekly for work. Being away from him was hard on me and the kids. He’s starting a new, higher level management role with his company where travel will still happen but is significantly less (so this is last years low and this years high).
-a few family relationships have deteriorated and I’m sad about the circumstances that got us here. I don’t know if there is a good way to repair the damage.

Looking forward to:
-more travel. We love it and will prioritize it next year too. DH surprised me with a trip to Italy for Christmas. We will go next fall.
-continuing to find what makes me happy and feeling fulfilled.
-volunteering with my kids’ school more