This will be a brief post. It's after 6, and for me these days, that's like 9. I've been waking up early-early. I won't stay up until midnight tonight. I haven't stayed up that late in months, not even to read a fabulous book.
But I have read a lot since Christmas. My initial reading goal for 2024 was 100 books, but once I reached that, I changed it to 117 to best my best year (116 in 2022). Last night, I reached 120! My best year yet! I read over 50 books of poetry. About one-third of the books I read this year were audio.
My word of the year for 2024 was Progress. Various goals fed into that: reading more than I ever have, completing three teaching terms (a total of seven classes!), and getting three acceptances by the end of the year. I received an honorable mention for my first book of poems, and I got to read at the NC Poetry Society's fall meeting in Asheville. One poem was a contest finalist and will appear in my best publication yet in 2025. And I was accepted for a residency in 2025! I participated in many workshops, spent time with a local writers' group, wrote many poems, and began to shape two new collections of poetry.
I hoped this year would be one of sobriety, love, and renewed trust. It has been that. I feel closer to Josh than I ever have, and I think he feels that way about me. We've been with a new marriage counselor for almost the whole year. We celebrated 19 years together and our 20th Christmas.
I dealt with daily panic attacks earlier in the year. But with medication adjustment and a lot of self-care, I have been free of mental and physical illness for mmonths. In fact, none of us got sick this fall.
This year came with its challenges and bitter surprises, more in the world than in my personal life. We will face the consequences next year and beyond. Still, I have hope. As long as individuals live in love, we cannot lose everything. We will still see light. I will see it.
Progress was a good word for this year, and I lived it. I hope I can live next year's word just as well. I am grateful for this year, which in so many ways has been gentle and encouraging. I have moved into good health, nourishing relationships, and creative renewal. May that continue, and may you reflect on your own progress this year.
