Monday Musings: 2023 Review - Word of the Year

With 2023 behind us, I'm reflecting and evaluating how I did with achieving my goal for the year — to be more connected.

Overall, I am pleased with my progress. I've spent more quality time with each of my children one-on-one. My oldest and I have carried that into 2024 by attending weekly workout class together. Also, my husband and I have carved out time for just the two of us. We've had a several date nights, and we are planning a trip to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We hit this milestone in the summer!

I've also spent hours talking on the phone with friends who live far away. This is sometimes hard to achieve because of busy schedules, especially during the week. It requires planning in advance but it's always worth it — I feel refreshed and connected afterward. It's nice to talk with friends who knew me before marriage and children.

In July, our family adventured on a two-week road trip across the country. It was wonderful! We traveled east and then to the upper midwest. We saw so many family and friends along the way. We also got a lot of quality time together just the five of us. It really filled my cup and warmed my heart to visit with many special people who we don't have the ability to see in person very often. This trip was one of my top highlights from 2023.

I successfully connected in 2023. I'm looking forward to achieving my goal to be bold in 2024!