How was your 2022 and what are your plans for 2023?

2022 has been an interesting year.
I started off with knowledge that I would likely be medically discharged from the Army as occupational health had recommended, which happened last month.
In the meantime i've managed to take a hobby ("side hustle" for want of a better term) and turn it into a full time job of buying and selling antiques and vintage furniture/ wares. I now have two stalls at antique centres and have other regular income via eBay and other routes.
Myself and my wife were in a car crash last week and seemed to have come away with just bruised/ possibly cracked ribs and other soft tissue damage. Managed to sort out a car and picked it up yesterday as I rely on one for work. The other party admitted liability at the scene and I now have that in writing from their insurance which is a weight off my mind.
The best part, looking forward to 2023, is that we have a baby due next month.
 
I played 40+ new PC games in 2022.

I won't be able to do the same in 2023 :(
 
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2022 was a lot better than 2021 (and 2020). After having been made redundant at the beginning of the pandemic and really struggling financially, I finally got back to work at the beginning of the year. 2023 will be trying to climb back to where we were prior to Covid.
 
I suppose it's all perspective really.

My 2022:
  • Started with me being on my own for the first time in over a decade and that also came with a lot of **** to unpick mentally.
  • Therapy really helped me to start, which also led me to another emotionally challenging journey to my ADHD diagnosis.
    I spent a lot of the year trying to work out who I was, what that meant and that it was OK. I feel I have become a better person through 2022 but it wasn't without a lot of everything. It was a pretty overwhelming year.
  • Work was meh, but I find any corporate full time job meh when it isn't challenging or fulfilling, but it is a great job so I'm still very grateful for it. Hoping to smash some interesting stuff out there in 2023.
  • Started creating way more content in 2022. That's been fun. I really enjoyed that creative outlet.
  • I started, for the first time, to want to make my place feel like my place and like my home. So I spent a lot of this year doing things to make it more mine. Bought and refurbished a baby grand piano, built a guitar, hung new lights, got more art, reupholstered an old armchair and hopefully soon will finish some other furniture I'm building to make it more home for me and to feel like a creative space to be.
  • I traveled a lot. Probably too much. I cancelled a couple of trips in Nov/Dec as I just felt burned out by it all, but what trips I had. I went skiing, spent nearly a month in Thailand, Bordeaux, Croatia, a couple of trips to see family in the UK, Sicily and Vegas twice.
2023:
  • I got a whopping tax bill from about 5 years ago post contracting I need to find some cash for, which is nice, but I'll work it out. Get all finances sorted in general.
  • Travel, but less than 2022, and make sure paying the above off is key, so 2024 can be a banger for me $$
    Focus on finding ways to create order without making it feel like cryptonite. Often if I'm forced to do something, it's just impossible to do.
  • Remove some noise from my life.
  • Focus on finishing my projects :P
  • Focus on creating better content.
  • Focus on my family time and time with my kids.
  • Focus on making exercise a regular part of my life, for my mental and physical health, not how I might look.
  • Continue to enjoy the moments. Be present. Find joy in the small things.
Whilst 2022 was quite tough, the best and most powerful and rewarding things tend to be. I think this year will be a bit of a consolidation year, too. Which might be tough, but at the same time, ultimately helps focus and drive you forward.
 
This time last year 2022 was looking to be an great year. Signed a contract to my start new job and contract to finally move into an apartment with my girlfriend after spending months of searching. Both happening on the 1st February. Then mid 2022 things started to turn to crap.

The Bad for 2022

Went on holiday with my girlfriend to Turkey. Our first proper holiday since we met during the pandemic and couldn't fly anywhere. Airport transfer took us to the wrong airport on the way back. Ended up missing our flight and I had to pay over £1000 to fly us back home.
Went into work the next day, to be called into the office and sacked. After being there for only a few months. Change of management decided they no longer needed me.
That same week I was flying to the UK to introduce family to my girlfriend as they never met her in person due to covid restrictions. The day we was meant to fly out she tested positive for covid. Ended up flying by myself which made the whole trip pointless.
Missed my friends wedding to my passport renewal taking over 6 weeks.
June, girlfriend gave me the "Im not happy" After nearly 2 years in the relationship and living together for only 5 months. We break up and she moves out a few weeks after. Leaving me taking on all the bills while unemployed.
September got a call from my tenant that someone had broken into my rented house, smashed the front door down and went upstairs into the bedroom while she was sleeping. Thankfully they didnt do anything to her or take anything and ran off soon as she screamed. Had to deal with sorting repairs out before the new tenants moved in the next week

The Good for 2022
Found a new job 6 weeks after I lost my previous job. Even better its an extra 13k yearly salary and they randomly gave me a bonus 2 months into my job as they was happy with my work :)
Managed to pass three Microsoft exams. Now I hold an Azure Security Engineer Associate (difficult!) and Azure Solutions Architect certifications.
Back to doing martial arts again. After my martial centre randomly closed in January. Found a new one in September and been doing boxing since.
Starting doing private German lessons 4 times a week since September, improved my skills from A1 level to A2 level. Still a long away to but I want to get my Swiss C permit in 2024.
Back at the gym everyday, had reduced to 4 times a week due to my girlfriend at the time complained about me waking up at 5.30am to hit the gym. Good news my health and fitness level has not dropped. Its a key part to maintaining my mental health with all the crap going on.
Got to travel again, spent a week in Barcelona back in June. Mid December spent 10 travelling around the Canary Islands.

Goals for 2023

Find a new job in Cloud or Cyber Security. Been an IT System Engineer for years and looking for the next step which takes my interest.
Have my Cisco Cyber Ops Exam booked for April and Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect exam booked for June. Will need to pass those.
Recording some training videos for Azure to help build my portfolio. Purchased all the equipment and upgraded my PC. So I better make use of it.
Continue with my German languages skills and get official certification for passing the exams.
Visit Denmark, Morocco or Brazil. Hopefully all three in 2023.
Work harder at the gym as I be turned 40 and will be more important than ever to keep my health and fitness in-check.
Book myself in for an full body health check up for the above reason.
Stay covid free. I have dodged so far and never caught it.
Pay off my mortgage in December depending on what the mortgage company says. If not, it will happen in March 2024.

Hopefully 2023 will be a better year than 2022.
 
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2022 was a decent year, worked out and eliminated the reason I was being sick every morning for months, got hammered with Covid for the first time, but otherwise all good. Turned down a promotion to focus on me. Completed our holiday home purchase that took most of the year and have had a blast since. Became addicted to Lego Star Wars and have become a big PS5 convert. Have made some huge gym gains in the latter half. First proper summer enjoying the TTRS too.

2023 is a money saving year for me to recoup what was spent in 2022. Hoping to keep my gym progress going and enjoy time away from home. Lots of Lego to put together and looking forward to some big gaming releases.
 
Good
Married in December.
Passed a course.
Over halfway finished renovating my house.
Got an Xbox series x

Bad
New wife really sick on day one of honeymoon, spent the whole honeymoon in bed, ended up coming back home a day early.
Course provider went into administration so couldn't finish another course I was doing which took me over a year and a half to get me to my final assignment for it to be stopped.
 
2022
Increasingly frustrated with work, particularly with what I saw as poor management and their inability to learn. Finally realised they will never change.

My oldest did his A levels and got excellent results, and a place in university. He settled in well, and seems happy.

My other kids are well, and healthy and happy.

My relationship with my wife is still great, and we're a good team.

Finally paid off my overdraft, and renegotiated the mortgage. On target to pay off five years early.

My health is good, but now I'm over 50 I am less fit.

Quite a few family friends died this year. My mum's health is getting worse, and all that generation are now hitting their 80s.

Life is good- not terribly exciting, but that's fine by me.

Spent today with a mate who is going through a very difficult time. He'd do the same for me.

2023
I have two interviews at the start of January. I am looking at a complete change to something higher profile and pressure. I know I need to do something different.

I'm hoping the kids continue to do well in school/ University.

I need to tell Sensei I am leaving the dojo, and am dreading that. After years of training there, I have realised I need a change.

Probably find a new dojo. Considering switching to something more aggressive, but have to balance that against my age and risk of injury.

Keep telling my wife how important she is to me.
 
2022
+ Finally turned a corner on some physical health issues
+ Got (getting) myself back in shape, probably the best shape I've been in for at least 10 years
+ Had a few trips and made a few new friends
+/- Got a diagnosis for something which is both good and bad
- Mental health has been pretty rough for most of the year
- Realised that almost all of my friends have family lives and don't need/want to do things any more
- Also realised my relationship is probably finito

2023
Would like to get a new job/promotion at work.
Need more cash, hopefully the above will help with that. If not, lottery win.
At the moment the plan is to end my relationship, I can't take any more years like the last 4-5 have been.
Depending on the above, I quite fancy moving somewhere new.
Would like to get some sort of social life back
 
2022 for me has been busy, I've spent much of it focused on myself and my work.
New job role in a new location, so have spent most of the year adapting and getting a grounding on the position, and its been a ramp up all year towards the end of it I have barely touched the ground.
Not a bad year by any means, granted there has been a lot going on this year that hasnt been great but little of it has had any great impact on me.
I've just been enjoying furthering my own profession, skills and knowledge.
Also been focusing on my fitness a lot and feel a lot better for it, though last couple of weeks that has suffered a bit :eek:

But seriously 2022 for me has actually been pretty decent, yes I'd love to have spent more of it home with family, but the grind will be worth it.

2023 for me will likely be much of the same as I left 22, pillar to post. I aim to continue pushing myself professionally, it'll be short term pain for hopefully longer term gain. Things should slow down at the latter end of next year though.
 
Terrible year. Lost my dad and both grandparents. Lost my passion for playing piano. Positives have been, got engaged, career is going in a good direction, focussed on work to block out the grief.

So 2023, get married in April. Maybe start a family, depends on how the cost of living goes… Hopefully completely revamp the first floor of the house. Hard to do those things without having my Dad on the other end of the phone for advice. Career wise I reckon I’ve got a good shot of being promoted in April, that’ll help with being able to do the house up. And maybe I’ll find some joy in playing piano again.

Really I just hope it can’t be as bad as last year… fingers crossed.
 
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2022 was average, 2023 will be more of the same probably, at this point I’m just coasting through life.
 
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Moved house again, started another new job and done some pretty interesting courses.

Hopefully get qualified in my new role and continue to do well.
 
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