I know. We’ve still got a whole month and a bit to go in 2023. There’s still, like, 10 percent of the year left. Even so, I feel like we’re far enough along that I have some perspective on how I did with my goals for 2023. It’s like getting your report card in the middle of June when there are still two weeks of school left. I set these back in January as new year’s resolutions, so to speak. They’re not exactly S.M.A.R.T. goals, but I felt that they were smart goals, at least at the time that I set them.

So, as we head into the holiday season, I thought I’d take some time to reflect back on these goals, as well as a few “bonus goals” I added along the way. You know how sometimes you add items to your to-do list just so you can cross them off? They’re kind of like that, but also not at all like that. They’re just more things to do and you just never get around to doing them. But I digress.

My Three Goals for 2023

As you may recall, I set three goals for this year. Let’s take a look at them one at a time.

Receiving Compliments

While I’d like to think that I’m pretty reasonable with accepting constructive feedback, I’ve never been good with praise or compliments. They feed my ego, surely, but I’m also quick to downplay them. The paradoxical impostor syndrome is strong. And so, one of my goals for 2023 was:

Get better at receiving compliments

In a perhaps strange twist of fate, I really got to exercise this goal shortly after setting it. Without going back into the details again, since I already did, I was laid off in early January. The immediate outpouring of support was overwhelming. Everyone said that wherever I end up would be lucky to have me. So, I said thank you. I’d like to think I’ve gotten better at accepting compliments about my children too.

Worrying About Money

Just as the layoff tied directly into the first goal, it related directly to this second goal too:

Worry less about the money

Of course, when you lose your job, your first thought is to worry about the money. Even though I was able to pivot back to freelance writing as my full-time gig again, I recognize that my monthly income will inevitably ebb and flow. It’s quite different from a steady paycheck. And even with a steady paycheck, I’ve always been mindful of my financial position.

Of the three goals, this one is likely the hardest. I still have a habit of checking into some accounts every day or two. That’s not necessary, but I can’t help myself. Now that some of my freelance work is paid in US dollars, I’ve been watching the exchange rate more closely too. I’d say this goal is still very much a work in progress.

Posting Content Online

Considering that the last time I published a blog post here was four months ago, I’d say I’ve grown more tolerant of aligning with this goal.

Have something to say before you say it

These days, I’m most active on Instagram. For a time, I endeavored to post something new on my Instagram feed every day. But, this year, I’ve let that slide and there have been a few stretches where I’d go up to 4 or 5 days between posts. This constant need to feed the insatiable appetite of the algorithmic beast is overwhelming. And I’m learning to tame it.

I’m no longer posting something just for the sake of keeping the feed active. I’ll only share it if I think it’s worth sharing. This applies to Instagram and this blog, as well as YouTube and wherever else my online content creating journey takes me. As much as I’d like to grow as an “influencer,” I also don’t need the added pressure.

The Side Quest Goals I Added in 2023

The overachiever perfectionist that I am, of course I added a few “side quests” to my list of goals for 2023 too.

Lose Twenty Pounds

After our old family doctor decided to quit (pause?) her private practice, we had to go hunting for a new GP. And, we were lucky enough to get one in the spring. Along with the initial meet-and-greet appointment, I asked for some general bloodwork and an overall health assessment. We determined that my weight and blood pressure were pretty borderline and, unsurprisingly, it would be in my best interest to take better care of myself.

So, around the end of April, I set a goal to lose 20 pounds before the end of the year. This was primarily through diet and exercise. For the first four or so months, it seemed to be going well. I was down 10 to 12 pounds or so. Since the beginning of September, though, my progress has plateaued. It even reverses course a bit before I bump it back down. It looks like I’m going to end 2023 about 10 pounds down, which is an achievement but well short of my initital (stretch) goal.

Take Two #5DadsGoWild Trips

When I agreed to the first Five Dads Go Wild trip in 2018, I had no idea it would become a thing. But it has very much been a thing. An annual thing. As we started talkiing about goals for 2023, James and I put it out there that we wanted to do two #5DadsGoWild trips this year. Because, why not?

So, the five of us loaded into our cars and took a road trip down the Oregon Coast in late April. We saw the big rock at Cannon Beach, hunted for Sasquatch at Camp 18, and threw a few axes in Lincoln City. But, while we usually plan a Five Dads trip for the fall, that didn’t happen this year. (Unless you count the Seahawks game I watched with James in Seattle.)

But… we’re heading over to Sooke on Vancouver Island in January for storm season. It’ll be me, James, and Stephen, along with newcomers Nick North and John Fulton. That’s not quite two in 2023, but it’s close? Maybe we’ll get in two trips in 2024.

Be Okay With Doing Less

This is mostly an extension of the “have something to say before you say it” goal above. I’ve been stuck in an opportunity cost loop for years, wanting to do everything but never finding enough time. I’m trying to learn how to let go. Sometimes, good enough just has to be good enough. You can do anything, just not all at once.

Reach Financial Goals

And finally, without getting too personal, I had set a couple financial goals for our family this year. Despite the added hardships of rising cost of living, interest rate hikes, and an unexpected layoff, we’ve been able to weather the storm and do okay for ourselves. It’s not easy, of course. At the cost of deprioritizing other savings goals, we were able to reach one of our other stretch goals. And that feels pretty good.

A Passing Report Card?

Taken as a whole, I think I did okay this year. Things could’ve been better in a lot of ways, but things could’ve also gone a lot worse. I’m thankful that I was able to pivot back into full-time freelancing after losing my job, and I was able to do it very quickly thanks to some great work relationships I’ve developed in my nearly 20 years in this business. I’ve made positive progress on my physical health and I continue to put one foot in front of the other.

And that’s all I can ask for, right? How was your 2023? Did you achieve the goals you set for yourself this year?