Struggles and Triumphs: A Year of Challenges and Learning
2023
A Year in Review
It's been quite a while since I last posted here. I can't believe 2023 is
almost over already. And what a year it has been! The year 2023 has brought
with it numerous challenges that have demanded a lot of my time and attention.
I'd like to share some personal insights with you about the struggles and
challenges that I've personally faced this past year, and how they've impacted
my life.
Weathering the Storm
The year started off with an enormous challenge – recovering from the damages
caused by Hurricane
Ian in September 2022. The processes of dealing with insurance companies,
public adjusters, contractors, and inspectors were exhausting enough, and then
getting the funds released by the mortgage companies' insurance claims
department to advance with the remaining repairs has been another beast
altogether. Hopefully, 2024 will see our repairs completed!
Juggling Business and Homefront
Imagine being responsible for managing all operations of not one or two, but five business entities. That's right, I have
also been single-handedly managing five business entities while also
maintaining and managing our home and all that entails. Talk about wearing many
hats at once! It’s been a balancing act of Herculean proportions for sure!!
Losses and Life Changes
2023 was marked with grief as well - we lost two cherished members of our
family. My father-in-law passed away in March, then in August, we had another
loss when my daughter's beloved furbaby and my grandpup Bella passed away in
August. It has been painful and full of grief as we all cope with this new
chapter and learn to live without them, and all the changes in our daily lives
as a result of their absence.
My adult children were also going through significant life changes; all of
which sent ripples through our family dynamic. One such wave was one of them
tying the knot in September 2023. Although these changes began before 2023,
their repercussions most definitely extended into the year.
Battling Health Issues
Throughout all these upheavals, I’ve been dealing with my own inner demons and
physical health issues. My mental health has been severely impacted, and my SLE Lupus and Fibromyalgia
flared up incessantly. The continuous flares have led to constant severe pain
and inflammation throughout my entire body. This, in turn, has greatly affected
my weight, triggering a dip in my self-esteem and self-worth.
However, as always I'm refusing to yield. I'm actively working on strategies
and exploring alternative methods to cope with and hopefully regain control
over my health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. I'm eager to share more
about these methods with you in future posts!
Looking Forward and Being Optimistic
Despite the tumultuous year, I remain hopeful and optimistic for what's to come
in 2024. This new year, one of my goals is to be more present here on the blog
and to make more time for hobbies that bring me joy, and generally, to make
life more fun.
Through my journey of recovery, growth, and transformation, I see plenty of
potential and opportunities up ahead. I believe the experiences this past year
have strengthened me and equipped me better for future challenges.
Here's to a new year filled with promising possibilities and lessons to learn
from our past experiences!
Keep smiling and stay healthy, everyone. Till next time, Love and Light!
