2023 Annual Review: Back in Action, Big Changes for Next Year

*Big news: I’m making some changes! Starting January 1, a new yearlong project will take the place of the weekly newsletter.

If you already subscribe by email, you’ll be automatically invited to the new platform next week. If you don’t, check the next post on the blog for details. See you on Jan. 1 for the full rollout!
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Happy holidays, everyone! I went for my Annual Review, and all was well. That’s always nice.

In fact, let’s just start with that. In addition to the “What went well / what didn’t go well” lists that I compile during the review, I also wrote a short gratitude list that’s more general.

At the top of that list, I wrote:

Did not feel in despair

Did not feel increasingly anxious as the day draws to a close

So, as I said—nice start! Whenever you’re not in despair or increasingly anxious throughout the day, count your blessings.

To Begin, a Quick Disclaimer

Just a quick disclaimer at the outset of this year’s recap: if you start thinking “Why do I care about this guy’s experiences?”—well, you don’t have to care!

I’ve been sharing like this every year since 2008 for those who are interested. Mostly, though, I hope the process of the review can be helpful for people.

Over the years, many readers have modified the review in their own way to create templates of their own—which is great! In fact, that’s kind of the goal. Read More