It's Been a Year

I began 2022 with a goal that I actually completed. I took charge of my health and got checked out from top to bottom. Literally. 

Not only did I ensure that I have no hidden issues, I feel like I accomplished many things over the year.  I love crossing stuff off a list. It gives me joy to set my mind on a task and complete it, even if it's just folding that load of towels in the dryer.

My biggest accomplishment was getting a handle on my mental health. I saw pictures of myself from the Fall of last year. I looked better than I do currently. I was hiding everything so well that I even had my face convinced that I was OK. Now my brain feels better and it looks like it aged me. 

So now that I am deep in mental health recovery, what's next? Bungee jumping? Ballroom dancing? Only Fans? Nothing so exciting. I'm just going to be me. Do I have some new (possibly outlandish) goals for 2023? Of course. 

More reading, learning, questioning, researching, advocating, discussing, and all around attempting to become a Renaissance Man. Woman. Person. Renaissance Person. Like DaVinci with boobs. I have a year to accomplish this. That's doable, right?

So that's all. If you've stayed with this all year, congrats. Your life is as boring as mine. 

Whatever you decide to do for your New Year's resolutions/goals/intentions please be sure to include something about your health. I don't mean the typical "lose 30 lbs. by summer." Talk to a mental health professional, get that procedure you've been putting off, have a dermatologist look at that mole, book a spa day. 

While I ultimately did this year of Health for me, I hope I convinced a few of you to follow through on some things.  I sincerely hope you at least considered doing something for yourself. You are important. 

💚

I Forgot!!!!!

It took me 11 months, but I finally forgot to do a monthly health check-in. I don't see this as a loss, however, but as a win against any health concerns I may have had. Not to mention I think I've hit all the major body parts one could investigate in a preventative way.  With that said, I'll keep this short.

I did have my 6-month dentist appointment in November. That went well, even with a chipped tooth. I also went back to the GYN for some minor things. That did not go well. Not with me, physically, but with the doctor and her nurse. They were very dismissive and kind of annoyed that I was there wasting their time. I'll leave out the intimate details, but I will tell you I won't be going back to that doctor again. 

A few months back, my therapist and I decided that I was good to go for dropping to bimonthly sessions as things were looking better and I was getting a grip on things. At our last session, we agreed to further drop it to once per month.  

I began the year as a hot mess that didn't know they were drowning until this wonderful LCSW scooped me out of the quagmire I had built for myself as a flotation device. I kept pulling stuff closer to me as a support system without realizing that it was pulling me further down. She helped me to let things go so that I could freely move again. 

She helped me focus and redirect the energy that I was using to hang on, and put it toward accomplishing something and improving my every day. She saved my life. Not in the Suicidal-I'm-Going-To-End-It-All way (I'm way too witty and sarcastic, and wouldn't dream of depriving people of that), but in the Closing-Off-The-World-And-Becoming-A-Hermit way (although I haven't fully ruled that out if they find a way to get Wi-Fi and a coffee pot to work in a cave).

So one month to go on this Year of Health and I have nothing planned for December.  Looks like it will be a non-medical health month. Singing Christmas songs (poorly), watching Hallmark Christmas Movies (and one Hallmark Hanukkah movie), baking (and eating), Secret Santa (love my team), and relaxing over Christmas break (and lots of painting). 

I started this year off in a bad way, but...