2023: The yr of me

Final evening, for the third Wednesday in a row, I ventured to the Whiteside Theater in downtown Corvallis to observe an previous film. Two weeks in the past, it was Nationwide Lampoon’s Christmas Trip. Final week, it was It is a Great Life. And yesterday was Star Wars. The place was packed! So enjoyable to observe a favourite movie in an previous theater with a few hundred different followers.

I’ve additionally been watching many films at dwelling recently. I lastly have the time. Based on Letterboxd, I’ve seen seventeen movies in December. I watched 9 in November. I take pleasure in exploring the nooks and crannies of cinema. (I extremely advocate Letterboxd, by the best way. I have been utilizing it to log my film watching for 2 years, and I can now not think about not utilizing it.)

My days have been busy, too.

Within the mornings, as all the time, I stroll the canine. Recently, although, we have been taking longer walks: 90 minutes, two hours. A part of it is because I’ve embarked upon a loopy undertaking to map each Little Free Library and farmstand on the town [my map]. However a bigger half is as a result of I’m, ultimately, prioritizing health once more.

A few of you might recall that I misplaced forty kilos throughout COVID. I used to be proud of my health going into 2021, however then I received sidetracked by promoting a home, shopping for a home, and a really shitty 2022. I fell into my unhealthy behavior of stress consuming. I did not do any train. I gained fifty kilos — all the pieces I would misplaced in 2020 and extra. Effectively, for the previous three weeks I have been each exercising and consuming proper. I am again on the fitness center. In January, I am becoming a member of some buddies for a 30-day yoga problem.

To make it simpler to make wholesome decisions with meals, I’ve slowly been re-vamping our kitchen. We have lived on this home for fifteen months now, so we’ve a greater concept of the place totally different kitchen instruments ought to stay. Plus, after greater than a decade with Kim, I’ve determined it is time to ditch a few of our previous kitchen stuff (a few of which we have owned because the Nineties!) and improve to higher instruments. I now personal three good knives, and so they’re a pleasure to make use of.

In the meantime, after eighteen months of speaking about artwork, I’ve begun to dabble in it. Not a lot, however some. Earlier this month, I began a each day artwork journal. I am enjoying with pens and drawing kinds. I purchased an inexpensive watercolor set and am having enjoyable enjoying with that. Once I’m not watching films, I am typically watching artwork instruction on YouTube.

Plus, I am doing different enjoyable stuff. I am studying books and comics. I am spending extra time with buddies — each on Zoom and in Actual Life.

In brief, December has been my finest month in a very long time. I’ve been main a values-driven life and it reveals. I can really feel it. The folks round me can really feel it to.

However discover what’s not on that checklist. What am I not doing? Writing about cash. Since my mom died in early October, I’ve been on a deliberate three-month sabbatical. It is clear that I wanted it. It is also clear that I in all probability want extra time to myself. Like all of 2023.

I discussed earlier this month that I wish to make 2023 the Yr of J.D. And it is true. That is precisely what I’ll do. I’ll prioritize doing what I need after I need it. I do not imply this in some hedonistic approach. I imply it in a “pursuing that which fulfills me” approach. Does that make sense?

My primary precedence for the approaching yr is to give attention to health. Kim and I are doing this collectively for the primary time since we met at Crossfit, and it feels superior to be on the identical web page. It is a lot simpler to do that as a group. Together with train and well being consuming, I am additionally addressing some lingering well being points: blood strain, sleep apnea, and so on.

My quantity two precedence for 2023 is to proceed constructing (and re-building) friendships right here in Corvallis. Though I establish as an introvert, it is clear that I am not. I want social interplay, and I have not been getting sufficient of it. I am engaged on it.

My third precedence for the subsequent twelve months is to dive into artwork. I’ve struggled to begin for a few causes.

• First, I do not know the place to begin. I am a whole novice. I’ve by no means executed something inventive in my life. (Effectively, not solely true. In junior excessive, a buddy and I used to attract our personal comedian books, however that was child stuff.)
• Second, I do not know what sort of artwork to pursue. Do I wish to draw? Do I wish to paint? One thing else solely?

This month, I’ve stopped occupied with these types of questions and as an alternative begun doing no matter I would like with pens and paint. The one approach to determine the place to go is to attempt issues. Plus, I am taking note of what excites me. Comics excite me, clearly, and all the time have. However I am additionally realizing that I like what I would name “mid-century spot illustration” fashion: heavy brush strokes, form of cartoony.

A remaining precedence is to determine which initiatives to pursue round the home. Kim and I moved right here on the finish of August 2021. We love Corvallis, and we all know that is the place we wish to stay. Our home is completely tremendous, however…it isn’t good. (No home ever is.) After “losing” $150,000+ making modifications to our final home then transferring after 4 years, I am extra cautious right here. If we keep, I am prepared to spend cash and energy to enhance issues. But when we do not, I do not wish to expend the assets.

So, Kim and I have to decide: Will we decide to staying at this place for, say, a decade or so? Or will we agree that it is solely a brief place? If we are going to remain, then I’ve a few initiatives I wish to deal with virtually instantly. I would like rework a toilet — possibly two. And I wish to give the again yard a serious overhaul. (The “bones” of the yard are stable, however the house is overgrown with ferns and weeds after almost a decade of neglect.)

So, these are my plans for 2023. Once more, discover how Get Wealthy Slowly just isn’t on this checklist.

I can not determine what to do about Get Wealthy Slowly. What function does it play in my life? Does it play a job in my life?

That is half of a bigger query about what function I would like the web (and computer systems themselves, actually) to play in my life. Over the previous few years, it is turn out to be clear that for me (as with many others, I do know) the web supplies simply as many issues because it does options. And, in actual fact, I believe that my latest struggles with psychological well being have been exacerbated by the web. Even perhaps precipitated by the web.

One possibility is to easily minimize the wire utterly and stroll away. Promote the positioning. Hand over writing about cash endlessly. Think about it a part of my life and transfer on. There are lots of upsides to this alternative, I am going to admit. However I am not satisfied it is the best choice. What if I find yourself regretting the choice? What if I do determine I would like a spot to speak about cash once more?

Apart from, there are two huge causes I wish to preserve Get Wealthy Slowly (or, maybe, Cash Boss in its stead). For one, I actually do wish to create an internet encyclopedia of non-public finance, a spot uncluttered by adverts and analytics and bullshit, a spot the place folks can get dependable, unbiased cash data. Second, and maybe extra importantly, I am a author. I specific myself by phrases. I take pleasure in having an outlet to share what I am feeling. Identical to this!

So, I equivocate.

I commute.

I feel and I feel and I take into consideration the perfect course to take.

However what? It is not a choice I’ve to make proper now. Proper now, the perfect factor is to easily do what I have been doing. It appears to be working. December has been all about me and my wants, and that is what 2023 will likely be too.

Within the coming yr, I’ll give attention to health. I’ll proceed exploring artwork and watching films. I am going to hang around with buddies. In the end, I’ll journey once more. (I have already got plans to go to Colorado, Mexico, Greece, Ecuador, and extra!) I’ll spend time with Kim and our beasts. I’ll learn. I’ll prepare dinner.

And on occasion — for now, not less than — I am going to drop by Get Wealthy Slowly to share what I have been pondering and doing.

Blissful holidays, everybody. I am going to see you subsequent yr.