Hello 2023

1/1/24: I never published this post in January of 2023 as intended, but I enjoyed reminding myself what I had planned for my 2023 and taking stock of the things that I followed through on vs. not. I debated editing out the things I didn’t achieve that I put in this post, but ultimately decided not to. I did this for a couple of reasons: 1) I wanted to remain true to my past self and thoughts. 2) I realized I didn’t feel as bad/ ashamed/ guilty as I have in past years for not completing the things I initially set to do. Instead I focused on the good that detracted me from some of my initial goals and appreciated why I didn’t have more time for my other hopeful endeavors (this blog being one of them). This also served as a good reminder to myself on how far I have come in shifting my negative self-deprecating mindset. 

And yet another New Year is here! Is it just me, or is each year going faster and faster since the COVID pandemic hit in 2020? If how the last day of the year was spent is any indication of how the upcoming year is going to be, then I welcome 2023 with enthusiasm. I felt true joy and happiness throughout the day from doing something that I loved, spending time with loved ones, eating great food and ringing in the New Year in my most ideal way.

My morning started off waking up from a good night’s sleep, eating a small delicious breakfast (a Panamanian tamale that my cousin made for me) before proceeding to work on and publish the last blog post of the year, which was the 111th post – exactly the total I had set out as a goal to write for the year. A big hearty lunch was planned with another cousin at a favorite spot in Chinatown and the food was plentiful and as delicious as expected. After a quick trip to the grocery store for snacks, sake and water, my boyfriend and I headed to the strip hotel where we already previously checked into. We luckily were given a room with a view looking out to Caesar’s Palace, which was one of the casino’s participating in the 8 minute Las Vegas strip fireworks show. We grabbed some drinks and played some slots on the casino floor, winning a small amount, before going back to the room to relax. As dinnertime approached, my boyfriend decided to grab Gordon Ramsey’s Fish and Chips for us to eat in the room, splurging on a combination of fish, shrimp and lobster, which was impressively good. I took a 2 hour nap and woke up just in time to sit at the window of our room with a front row seat to Caesar’s New Year’s Eve fireworks show and it was phenomenal!

I couldn’t have asked for a better way to ring in the New Year, comfortable inside a hotel room with THE perfect view of fireworks in the arms of the one I love, not having to worry about the cold, even though it was quite a mild night for Vegas, crowds of people, or having to walk and stand uncomfortably in high heels. I felt pure joy, happiness and love throughout the day. I can only hope and have faith that it will be the themes that continue into and through 2023.

Last year, in my Hello 2022 post, I dumped the idea of making New Year’s resolutions and opted to make a Bucket List instead. I gave myself grace and flexibility, with the goal of alleviating pressure of having to achieve everything in the one single year, knowing that could result in me buckling and failing to achieve the resolutions. I knew going in that I may not accomplish everything by the end of 2022 and was fine with that because I expected to roll whatever was not done into the next year. I did that purposefully because I wanted to put huge big things onto the list. Before, if I doubted I could finish something in the year, I wouldn’t bother making the resolution and ultimately prevented myself from even attempting them to begin with. The goal was also to have a dynamic list that was regularly evolving, by adding things to it and giving myself the option to take things off if I no longer felt the drive to do a specific item for any reason. Knowing that I regularly change as a person and that my wants, dreams and desires change, I realize that I should not lock myself in so strictly. Part of life is to accept change not only in everyday life, but within as well. I am telling myself, it is okay for me to change my own mind!

So how did switching my process from resolutions to a Bucket List go for me? Very well if I do say so myself! I felt like I accomplished more than I have in past years when I had a traditional set of New Year’s resolutions. Most importantly, I enjoyed the process and my year more. It was easier for me to take steps and actions towards the various things I listed on the list because many of them were very specific and tied to things I wanted to do instead of felt obligated to do such as the common resolution of losing weight.

The one thing on my list that I struggled with a lot was the goal of 111 blog posts in the year because my bad habit of procrastination left me with needing to do multiple blog posts on several days since I waited until fall to start writing them! There were several times I wanted to give up and call it quits, especially when mid-December rolled around, when I had about 20 more posts to complete. However, with tons of hours dedicated to writing and the unwavering support and help of doing days of research from my boyfriend on numerology angel numbers, I was able to achieve that lofty goal!

Since I did not complete everything on my Bucket List, and I feel a bucket list is much more effective for me than New Year’s resolutions, my new 2023 Bucket List (1/1/24- this was one thing I did not formalize) will start off with items from my original Bucket List as the foundation with new items going to be added to it. I had a few big goals that I wanted to accomplish towards the end of 2022 that I ended up pulling off the table so I could put my entire focus on completing my 111 blog posts goal. And with the lessons I have learned from 2022, the biggest one being my procrastination tendency causes stress and anxiety that can easily be avoided, I know I can make more of 2023 if I plan well and execute even better!

There are going to be a few big astrological transits in 2023 that is supposed to have some major impacts to the world, but my eye is on Pluto since that is one of my co-ruling planets as a Scorpio sun sign. With Pluto making it’s notable transition from Capricorn to Aquarius in 2023, big changes are expected to begin at a societal level for the next 20+ years. I have no doubt it will impact me at a individual level too. Pluto is all about significant transformations and I have my own ideas of how I would like to to do that in my life. Therefore my goal is to use some of that shifting Plutonian energy to my favor, if at all possible, by focusing my energy on a couple huge ideas I have.

While I do plan to pull back significantly on my blog, that doesn’t mean my blog readers or podcast listeners won’t hear from me much. I am planning to spend time and energy in 2023 writing fiction stories and launching my second podcast, which I am very excited to do! (1/1/24: I am sad that I did not do either of these things, but I will write more about this in my 2023 Year in Review blog post, coming up next.) While I enjoying writing my blog, I miss tapping into the creative and imaginative side of my brain. I have been very self-focused with my blog, writing to discover myself, passions and purpose and I have every intention for that to continue since I have a ways to go with those goals. But when I write fiction stories, that is written with readers in mind hoping to take people away from reality for a moment and bring them into a world I create when I play within my imagination and utilize my creative skills for the sole purpose of entertainment.

I wish everyone a wonderful and Happy New Year!