Normally my year-end review and goal-setting session include choosing three words that succinctly describe what I want to accomplish over the coming year. This time I’m going with just one word! One, that has three meanings.
Forge
- To be formed by extreme heat and pressure.
- To create relationships and opportunities to serve.
- Move forward, even (or especially) against adversity.
2022 was an extremely trying year! From starting a new career (non-self-employed OR a J.O.B.) in a non-marketing related field to working with a completely incompetent, micro-managing, and narcissistic elected official that lost her re-election bid, to not knowing if I had a job because said “elected” lost, to getting picked up (retained) by the incoming Commish and offered a huge jump in salary to do a job that I had no clue I’d love as much as I do. And, that was just 1/3 of my time.
I also earned my Level 2 USA Hockey Youth Coach and am an Assistant Coach on my son’s 12U Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning Ice Hockey team. (2022 Florida State Champions 12U White). I was off the ice for 38 years and now skate 5 times a week – 2 days for my own time – Mid-level Novice at Advent Health Center Ice and a clinic at PowerPole Arena in Tampa. Plus I dropped almost 20 lbs. in the process.
For 2023 I’ve decided (well, honestly, it was part of retaining me at work ) that I’m going to college. I’ve picked Pasco Hernando State College for this #57YearOldFreshman. I will be pursuing an A.A. in Political Science with the intention to transfer to the University of Central Florida’s B.A. in their PoliSci program in 2025-26. From there? Who knows.
If you’d asked me in November of 2019 where I thought I’d be in 2023? My answer would’ve been much different
For now, it’s head down at work, head up on the ice, and nose in the books for 2023!