2023: Reviewed and Reframed

You already know the deal.

This is where I recap all of the things I learned over the past year from all of the negative and create goals to learn from them…

…I focus on all of my mistakes and how ‘23 was a super challenging year and blah blah blah.

Blah.

Enough of that nonsense for now.

I’m going to do something a little different, and maybe you can too after reading this.

I am going to recap 2023…with a twist.

The twist is reframing into gratitude.

All of the things I am grateful for in ‘23 regardless of the difficulties the past year may or may not have brought me.

Gratitude is hard…expressing it is even harder.

Here goes...

• I’m grateful that I was healthy enough to progress at the gym and continue to do things at 51 that my 21 year old self could never imagine.

• I’m grateful for another year of sobriety. It’s been my saving grace through the madness of life.

• I’m grateful that I learned that my mistakes are only a burden if I allow them to be; to view them as a lesson is where my power lies.
• I’m grateful that in 2023 I was able to see my children grow up for another year, and to watch in awe as they become the adults I always dreamed them to be.I’m as grateful as ever to be their father.
• I’m grateful for all of the tough lessons and the pain, for without them I would not have learned how to be and do better.

• I’m grateful (albeit bittersweet) for the grief of having lost people close to me.I grieve because I had the privilege of knowing what true friendship and wonderful relationships are; and what is grief if not love everlasting?I’m grateful that through loss I recognize I need to love harder than ever.
• I’m grateful that I went to see Daughtry and Billy Joel perform, and watch my beloved New York Rangers win at MSG with loved ones; and those loved ones thought enough of me to treat me to those concerts and games.
• I’m grateful for all of the difficult conversations, for they gave me perspective and allowed me to grow.

• I’m grateful for leaving the need to be right behind, and in its place the need to understand and empathize to the best of my ability.

• I’m grateful for being released from a job for the first time ever; through that challenge I realized the value of professional relationships as without them I wouldn’t have been contacted and hired for an even better position and company.

• I’m grateful for patience, for I know one day it will be rewarded and reciprocated.

• I’m grateful to be given a platform to write and to reflect as positively as I can as I navigate my life into another yearly ocean of uncharted territories.

• I am grateful for being loved, and for having another year to reciprocate that back to those around me.

• I’m grateful for my alone time; because although difficult at points, it was needed to show me that I can be stronger than I thought possible.

• I’m grateful for the ability to forgive, and for being forgiven.

• I’m grateful to my friends and family who picked me up when I needed to be picked up, who made me laugh until my sides hurt, the compassion to allow my tears to flow freely without judgement, and who gave me space when they knew I needed it.“Remember: No man is a failure who has friends.” ~ Clarence the Angel, “It’s A Wonderful Life”.
• I’m grateful to be alive, and to be thankful for all of the wonderful people, events, and experiences this life has afforded me so far.
• Most of all, I’m grateful for all the mundane moments, because those are the ones when taken away you wish you had back.

I wish you all a wonderful and safe 2024.

May you all find moments to be grateful for, and to remember them fondly.

“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” ~Andy Bernard, The Office.

psst...You're officially in "The Good Old Days"...now go enjoy them.