Looking back at the first WQ post of 2023, my Word of the Year for 2023 was HEAL.
Was there actual healing involved?
I felt like I spent a lot of the time in 2023 shrugging my shoulders and saying whatever. It was because everyone else was pushing me to make decisions and I didn’t want to. I remember I felt so out of it that I started shouting and throwing tantrums, almost like my mom.
It was because I’ve always known myself to be a poor decision maker. This is because mom had made too many decisions for me, all the while, my own decisions were often contradicted by her.
It turned out I’m not at all a poor decision maker. I’ve always known what I wanted, just too afraid to go for it. With mom around, I’m not sure if I will ever have the courage to chase after something I want as I’m too afraid to be lectured or scolded like a child.
After spending the final 3 weeks of 2023 by myself as a financially-stable adult for the first time in my life, I’ve come to realized I’ve been underestimating myself all these years. I’ve been putting everyone’s needs, especially my mom’s, before mine while my sense of independence is just biding its time, ready to explode. It felt extremely refreshing living as a working adult for the 3 weeks and I am ready for more.
I’m making my Word of the Year for 2024 to be SELF-CARE because it’s a thing I’m aiming to do more in 2024. I guess it can be anything – a drive (hopefully), a trip, a hike, or a walk in the garden. I feel like with everything that happened in 2023, I will do anything to help calm the bad thoughts that intrude my dreams like a malware every night.
After years of making goals and resolutions for the new year and realizing I’ve achieved none of them the end of the year, I quit making them. However, I certainly hope I will embrace the word “Self-care” for 2024 and hopefully make some changes in my life to bring a little more happiness into it.
This is Another Story 
🧑💻
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My wife believes that if something is important enough for a resolution you should take care of it when you think of it. She’s right.
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She’s wise.
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This is an excellent choice for you, Yinglan. My sister-in-law lived with her parents until her dad passed away at age 86. She was 55 when she was torn out of the home her father had provided for her and came to live with us through no choice of her own or ours. Her days of dependence ended, and now she is relying on her own decisions and living in her own place (since last March). She is 71 now, and I think she is beginning to shed some of the anger she had towards her parents and realizes now that she should have done some things sooner in life. She also discovered that what she does now as her employment is what she really enjoys.
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Thank you.
I think it’s the survival mechanism in us humans. Some are stronger while some are weakened from heavy dependence on external forces. I’m glad she’s doing what she enjoys. 🙂
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Me, too, Yinglan. I tell you her story to inspire you and give you hope. You have already taken so many steps that she never took. And you have a blogging support system that she never had, and still doesn’t. Never lose hope, my friend. 🙂
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Thank you, I’m glad to had taken up blogging. It brightens my day and gives me hope in the darkest hours. 😊
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I love blogging, too, Yinglan.
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I am so happy to hear this goal. Yay! To be sure you have underestimated your self. I think you are quite accomplished and capable. I wish you the very best for the year. We look forward to your adventures.
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Thank you.
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All the best Yinglan. I think it’s time for you to be more self-assertive too.
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Thank you. I think, for now, baby steps. 😀
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Good idea.
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