Hey, beautiful souls! It’s been a minute since we had a heart-to-heart, and I figured it’s high time I spilled the tea on the whirlwind that has been my life lately.
Buckle up, because the past year has been a rollercoaster of transitions, triumphs, and a beagle named Eve who thinks she’s part cat.
Intrigued? Well, let’s dive into the chaos that was 2023.
A Year of Transition: Wrapping Up 2023
As we bid adieu to 2023, I can’t help but feel a sense of relief and accomplishment.
This year has been nothing short of transformative, a mosaic of changes that have shaped me in unexpected ways.
If I were to give it a theme, I’d call it the year of transition – a bridge between who I was and who I am becoming.
Buying a house and the unforeseen responsibilities
They say home is where the heart is, but no one warned me about the sheer magnitude of responsibility that comes with owning a house.
The process of buying a house and moving was, to put it mildly, not what I had anticipated.
From negotiating deals to navigating the labyrinth of paperwork, every step was a lesson in adulting.
And it only got worse…for a time.
There was the matter of unpacked boxes and half-assembled furniture lying all around, on every floor. The question of how to decorate and where to place. Budgeting and even more budgeting for the existing budget due to all the stuff you didn’t know you needed to buy and all the things you need to fix.
Why did we move again?
But now, a few months and tears later, I can’t help but marvel at the sense of accomplishment that comes with having a place to call your own.
I’ve become an interior designer, acquired about three new plumbing skills, fixed an electrical gate like a pro, and now my neighbors think I’m a hacker slash engineering whiz.
Please, round of applause 👏
Prescribing a month-long European escape for stress relief
Amid all this chaos, there was one constant – my unwavering love for travel.
So, (budget screw you) when the stress levels reached an all-time high, I did what any wanderlust-infected soul would do – packed my bags and embarked on a month-long traipse around Europe.
Yet again.
From the charming streets of Paris to the sun-soaked beaches of Greece, each destination offered a temporary escape from reality.
The cobblestone pathways became my therapy, and the cultural immersion, my refuge.
Although I walked 20k steps on some days and ended up destroying a pair of new shoes, all experiences require sacrifice 🥲
Meet Eve, the odd adorable beagle
Life has a funny way of surprising us when we least expect it.
Enter Eve, a vivacious one-year-old beagle who wandered into my life, quite literally.
You won’t believe this – I had to enter a raffle to adopt her!
Imagine my shock when I found out that I, the perpetual loser of million-dollar lottos, actually won something.
Fate works in mysterious ways, and so now I share my space with this adorable ball of fur who, I swear, has some feline tendencies.
Eve’s ability to perch herself on the back of the couch like a cat is both perplexing and endearing.
She is everywhere, or at least her fur is everywhere 😒
She is the reason three adults howl at a full moon, hoping to coax a seemingly calm hound to reveal her true nature.
Demolishing mocha cakes and turning 22
Demolishing a mocha cake has become an annual ritual in our lives thanks to DM’s obsessions.
This year, DM hit the big 22, marking five glorious years of indulging in the sweet, caffeinated goodness of his favorite cake.
As the candles flickered and family serenaded him with off-key renditions of the birthday song (in three different languages might I add 😏), I couldn’t help but reflect on the consistency of this tradition amidst the ever-changing landscape of our life.
Let alone DM has come a long way. He got his driver’s license a while back while I was traveling and I finally found the courage to get in a car with him (4+ months later but who’s counting).
I admit, he’s not bad.
A point of #pride is the effort he’s been putting both in his schooling, design projects, and game testing endeavors.
How the heck didn’t I know he had this side of him?
Navigating new verticals and coding challenges
Work-wise, the past year has seen me diving headfirst into challenging and exciting projects.
Taking on more development projects, I found myself at the helm of a new vertical.
It’s been a wild ride – one filled with late nights, endless lines of code, and the sweet satisfaction of overcoming complex challenges.
This career transition has been a game-changer, pushing me to grow not just as a developer but as a leader navigating uncharted territories.
Related: Do This One Thing To Overcome Web Dev Jitters
The new year is going to be one of building onto this trajectory I’m on. Whereas before it was all about establishing my place, 2024 will be about solidifying my accomplishments and seeking new opportunities.
I’m also really excited about how far THT has come. My growth is reflected in this blog, and you should stick around because some interesting projects will be featured here soon.
Embracing the chaos and celebrating growth
As I reflect on the rollercoaster that was 2023, I’m reminded that life is a mosaic of moments – some exhilarating, others challenging, but all contributing to the masterpiece that is our journey.
From the highs of coding triumphs to the lows of unpacking boxes, each experience has left an indelible mark on my soul.
So here’s to the chaos, the mocha cake crumbs, the beagle-cat, the coding challenges, and the sweet taste of homeownership.
Here’s to growth, resilience, and the unwavering spirit that propels us forward, even when the path is uncertain.
As always, thank you for being a part of this journey.
Stay fabulous 🥂