“What gets measured gets managed.” I heard that saying either at the end of last year or the year before, and it really resonated with me. Consequently, I approached 2023 differently than in years past.
There were no resolutions. Although, that wasn’t out of the ordinary. I haven’t made any in years. Probably not since I first read Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy back in 1999. (It was re-released in 2019 as Simple Abundance: 365 Days to a Balanced and Joyful Life with a much-needed update. Many things it referenced had changed so much since the 1990s when it was first published and were no longer relevant. Sadly, I didn’t find the update as inspiring or charming as the original. But that’s perhaps a post for another day…)
Anyway, no resolutions, but I always like to set goals for myself. Especially as a new year dawns with all that fresh, endless possibilities energy floating around. But with “measuring” and “managing” in mind, I was more intentional with my goals this year. Rather than a list of a zillion things I hoped to accomplish, I contemplated how I wanted to feel through the year and how I’d make that happen.
Peacequest 2023
Top of the list was more peace, less aggravation, and no guilt. The next task was to identify what brought peace, caused aggravation, and prompted feelings of guilt.
After review, I realized reading inspired the most peaceful feelings. So does creative movement, which is basically exercise, but with a twist…and without the connotation that it’s a “chore” that must be done. Spending time snuggling with Mr. G and vegging out on the couch watching series or movies, especially true crime documentaries, also created contentment.
Social media and news (with the exception of A Bit of Good News, edited by my friend Jade Walker) sparked aggravation. Comparisons, which social media often triggers, caused guilt, which ultimately resulted in a vicious circle. (It usually starts with jealousy and/or FOMO or some other unsavory feeling. Then I try to talk myself down and feel guilty for getting all upset about whatever I saw that set me off in the first place.)
Anyway, with the goal of more peace of mind in mind, I set forth to accomplish it. What happened?
2023 Analysis
It wasn’t a perfect year, but 2023 was filled with more mindfulness and intention. I haven’t 100% ditched social media. I still feel compelled to post on Instagram once in a while, and I do like creating videos to post on YouTube. (Especially Shorts.) But I’ve definitely traded in the mindless scrolling for other in-the-moment-now pursuits.
Reading
It was so great to rediscover this pastime that, in my youth, brought me untold joy. Consequently, I not only accomplished the Goodreads reading challenge this year (which I didn’t in 2018, 2019, or 2020), but I smashed my goal of 10 books. I’m hoping to end the year with 30 read. (As of this post, I’m at 28.)
Not that they were released this year, but my favorite books this year included the Colorado Chapters trilogy by Kathy Miner, the 7-book Edge of Collapse series by Kyla Stone, and The Girl on the Porch by Richard Chizmar (which I thought was such a clever plot idea that was brilliantly constructed and executed).
I also got hooked on a lot of psychological thrillers, including The Housemaid by Freida McFadden, A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham, Don’t Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders, and On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass. Talk about page-turners! The fact I breezed through these is what helped bolster my books read number this year.
Podcasts
One of my most cherished morning rituals is starting my day with a podcast walk at what I call Owl Park (it’s really named Owl Creek Park).
Not all were released in 2023, but my favorite podcasts this year included “Why Can’t We Talk About Amanda’s Mom?” (true crime investigative docuseries), the first season of “Mockery Manor” (I haven’t started the others yet, but it’s a great British comedy mystery and I’m looking forward to seeing where else they take it), “Tagged: A Social Media Thriller,” (fingers crossed for a season 2), the mind-bending “The Left Right Game” (a science fiction thriller), “The Mantawauk Caves” (horror fiction), and “Bridgewater” (paranormal fiction).
Games
Wordle
One of the things I do when I first wake up (besides lingering in bed a bit) is to pay Wordle. I’m no good at it and cheat using a word finder most days, but even with that, once in a while, I still don’t get the word correct. (But mostly I do. I have 97% success rate so far.)
Murdle
I’ve also recently discovered Murdle, which took me a while to figure out. At first, I didn’t understand that the suspect, weapon, and location cards yielded clues, too. I thought it was just the little story you first see with that day’s puzzle. How anyone could solve from that alone, I didn’t know. But now that I understand the cards themselves matter, too, I’m loving it.
Duolingo
And then there’s Duolingo, which I count as a game, even though it’s also helping me learn Spanish. (In years past I’ve used it as a French refresher, tried a little Polish and German, and this year gave Turkish a go.)
I sure wish I’d had an app like this when I took French in high school and college. I think I would’ve done a lot better. Because it’s amazing that I can understand basic Spanish from this cell phone app alone. Not only that, but I can even speak a bit of broken Spanish!
Streaming
Here’s what I enjoyed binging the most in 2023 on the following streamers. Well, those things that were a series. There are a couple of movies, too. Mostly, reviewing all I watched makes me realize what a couch potato cine-tele-phile I really am.
AMC+
The Terror
Prime Video
Harlan Coben’s Shelter
Class of ’07
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Carnival Row, season 2
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – What a show! What an ending! Marvelous, just like its title says!
Champions
Becky
The Wrath of Becky
MGM+
From, season 2
Amityville: An Origin Story – This was such a well-done docuseries that thoroughly covered both the crime that put the house on the map and the alleged paranormal events that ensued after.
Netflix
Lockwood & Co – Gutted it didn’t get renewed for a season 2. It was such a fresh and clever spin on the supernatural.
Dare Me – Even Wayne got invested in this soapy shit show, which sadly didn’t get renewed for a season 2.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Never Have I Ever, season 4 – I don’t know why, but I just love this show.
Tour de France: Unchained
Working Moms, season 7 – I may have shed a tear (or two) at its finale season. Sad to see this one end.
The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem – I was absolutely smitten with this soapy historical drama and binged (devoured) both seasons.
Catching Killers: Season 3
Encounters
Squid Game: The Challenge
Hulu
A Haunting in Venice – I’d planned to see it in the theater, but travel plans interfered, so I was thrilled Hulu got this movie so fast…and just in time for Halloween season viewing!
Only Murders in the Building – I’m actually still a season behind and need to watch season 3, but this is just such a fun series with great writing and acting.
Pretty Baby
Demons & Saviors
Max
How to Create a Sex Scandal
The Vow
The Gilded Age
And Just Like That, season 2
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace
Peacock
Yellowstone – We were late to the party, but once we discovered it, we’ve had a massive bingefest “cowboying up” to catch up on it all. (Which as of this posting we’re still doing. We’re nearing the end of season 4.)
The Traitors – All of them. I started with the U.S. version but ended up watching the U.K. and Australian versions too. If I was to go on a game show, this might be the one I’d like to try.
Paramount+
Billions, season 7 (a Showtime offering)
Apple TV+
Servant, season 4
Invasion, season 2
The Essex Serpent
Bad Sisters
The Last Thing He Told Me
Silo
The Buccaneers – Even though it’s awful in some ways (the acting isn’t always spot on, and some of the circumstances are unlikely), this Bridgerton-esque adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel of the same name hooked me. (And every episode I find myself wondering the same thing: “I wonder if Wharton would be appalled to see what they’ve done with this, or flattered?”)
PBS
Call the Midwives – Maybe one of my favorite series ever. I look forward to the Christmas special every year in anticipation of the new season to follow at some point in the coming year.
The Result
While I am happier when I engage in the above activities, I can’t help but wonder how many more books I might be able to read if I cut my screen time down? Maybe that’s something to consider shooting for in 2024. It would also help save a bit of money to give up a streamer or two.
But overall, I feel I made better decisions in 2023 in regard to what I focused my attention/pursuits on. And it did diminish some guilt, but not all. That’s a post for another time though.
Conversation
How was your 2023?
Disclaimer
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