into the new year
Jan. 6th, 2024 06:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jazzfishWorldwide 2023 was a shitshow, yes. Me personally, I had a shockingly decent year.
More travel than I'd expected, especially considering the financials. Fort and/or Prince several times, Niagara, Minneapolis (twice), and Tampa. Plus a few trips down to Washington State, including one with actual camping. Yes good more of that please. Though having Mr Tuppert around makes me less inclined to go gallivanting about.
(Convention list, for the record: Terminal City Tabletop in Vancouver, the Gathering in Niagara, and for the first time this year Fourth Street Fantasy in Minneapolis. Plus a Wild Gods revel, which is at least borderline. All good times, all Would Con Again.)
I did a lot of biking over the summer and then that just stopped, more or less, when classes picked up. With the advent of drugs I'm feeling more functional and like I'll be able to maintain biking and/or yoga, but ... mornings are still hard. I am inclined to blame this on the known issue of "dark lowers my energy level." I'm hopeful that setting my light-alarm starting next week will fix it.
Most importantly I HAVE A FAMILY DOCTOR, more or less just in time for 'basic physical maintenance' to start being An Annual Thing. Thus far all tests have come back normal; here's to that continuing for the foreseeable future.
One downside I've noticed since starting on dextroamphetamine has been interrupted sleep. There's several things that could be going on there: new pillow is weird, cat has decided that me rolling over in bed is Time For Scritches, it's been warm for the last two weeks... but it's a Thing, and one I'm aware of. So far the increased daytime functionality is worth the tradeoff of not-as-good sleep. Will see how that holds up as school gets going.
My financials are of course a wreck, but that's at least a deliberate choice this time. I am at least able to take loans rather than running up credit card debt. Gonna have to get something sorted out come summer and the end of EI.
As for social, well. I turned into a bit of a shut-in for the last third of the year. Dinners with Julianne and TV with Mya were more or less the mainstay of my in-person interactions. I've spent a bit more time gaming with a few other folks, beyond just Rainbow House, and that's been better but still not all that I want. Honestly I miss having space and energy (and assistance, and lack of plague) to host monthly eight-to-twelve-person game days.
No new romantic entanglements, which is certainly for the best; no collapse of existing ones either, which I appreciate. Things with Erin are resolidifying after a rocky 2022. I'm learning how to hold space for her feelings, to stay present through her stuff, and sometimes to assert my own as well. Plus that whole "enjoying spending time with her and talking to her" thing. Steph, too, has been a rock in a time of upheaval and change. In general I feel ... well loved, and maybe approaching secure. Like I can advocate for myself without panicking about destroying a relationship.
Overall? I'm feeling more functional than I expected, here at the end of the year. I can do at least some of the things I want to do, and I'm learning to respond and not just react to stressors and triggers. Last year I wanted to finish 2023 in a better place than I'm starting it, and with the exception of money that's come through remarkably. For the first time in a very long time I am excited to see what the new year holds. I think it'll be alright, and better than alright.
More travel than I'd expected, especially considering the financials. Fort and/or Prince several times, Niagara, Minneapolis (twice), and Tampa. Plus a few trips down to Washington State, including one with actual camping. Yes good more of that please. Though having Mr Tuppert around makes me less inclined to go gallivanting about.
(Convention list, for the record: Terminal City Tabletop in Vancouver, the Gathering in Niagara, and for the first time this year Fourth Street Fantasy in Minneapolis. Plus a Wild Gods revel, which is at least borderline. All good times, all Would Con Again.)
I did a lot of biking over the summer and then that just stopped, more or less, when classes picked up. With the advent of drugs I'm feeling more functional and like I'll be able to maintain biking and/or yoga, but ... mornings are still hard. I am inclined to blame this on the known issue of "dark lowers my energy level." I'm hopeful that setting my light-alarm starting next week will fix it.
Most importantly I HAVE A FAMILY DOCTOR, more or less just in time for 'basic physical maintenance' to start being An Annual Thing. Thus far all tests have come back normal; here's to that continuing for the foreseeable future.
One downside I've noticed since starting on dextroamphetamine has been interrupted sleep. There's several things that could be going on there: new pillow is weird, cat has decided that me rolling over in bed is Time For Scritches, it's been warm for the last two weeks... but it's a Thing, and one I'm aware of. So far the increased daytime functionality is worth the tradeoff of not-as-good sleep. Will see how that holds up as school gets going.
My financials are of course a wreck, but that's at least a deliberate choice this time. I am at least able to take loans rather than running up credit card debt. Gonna have to get something sorted out come summer and the end of EI.
As for social, well. I turned into a bit of a shut-in for the last third of the year. Dinners with Julianne and TV with Mya were more or less the mainstay of my in-person interactions. I've spent a bit more time gaming with a few other folks, beyond just Rainbow House, and that's been better but still not all that I want. Honestly I miss having space and energy (and assistance, and lack of plague) to host monthly eight-to-twelve-person game days.
No new romantic entanglements, which is certainly for the best; no collapse of existing ones either, which I appreciate. Things with Erin are resolidifying after a rocky 2022. I'm learning how to hold space for her feelings, to stay present through her stuff, and sometimes to assert my own as well. Plus that whole "enjoying spending time with her and talking to her" thing. Steph, too, has been a rock in a time of upheaval and change. In general I feel ... well loved, and maybe approaching secure. Like I can advocate for myself without panicking about destroying a relationship.
Overall? I'm feeling more functional than I expected, here at the end of the year. I can do at least some of the things I want to do, and I'm learning to respond and not just react to stressors and triggers. Last year I wanted to finish 2023 in a better place than I'm starting it, and with the exception of money that's come through remarkably. For the first time in a very long time I am excited to see what the new year holds. I think it'll be alright, and better than alright.
You hope you get the fast horse
Some of what you asked for
Never let a broken heart k-keep you from the dance floor
Have a little fun
Have a little fun ...
no subject
Date: 2024-01-07 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-07 07:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-01-07 10:42 am (UTC)Hurrah for 2023 working out well! Things sound pretty solid, which is always a relief.
no subject
Date: 2024-01-07 07:40 pm (UTC)