If we were having coffee, we would catch up on the year that just was in our lives and fill each other in on our plans for the year to come. Life is never a smooth ride, and 2023 was no exception… at least for me. Life is best when it is a series of highs and lows that push us to grow and expand. The best of life, I’ve learned, is what happens in the in-between times.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that 2023 brought a bit of upheaval to my life. In a move I wasn’t fully expecting, I was reorganized out of an institution where I had worked for 18 years. But if I’m being completely honest, I would tell you I had been looking for a new opportunity for over a year before this news hit. I started looking the day my then-boss threatened me over his mistake twisted to look like mine. In that year plus, I hadn’t fully focused my energies, but this news helped me to realign my goals, do some self-reflection, and put the previous 18 years in perspective. It helped me to better see the reality of my job situation.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that finding a job at the waning end of one’s career can be a challenge. Applications are ignored, resumes are tossed aside unread, and you begin to think there might be nothing out there for you. Older job seekers tend toward invisibility. But the fact is that we still have much to offer. “Mature” workers have valuable experienced and can bring much to the workplace. Employers might take a moment to at least consider their applications and have a conversation with these individuals.
And speaking of invisibility, if we were having coffee, I would tell you that middle-aged women hit a point at which they become invisible. It happens so slowly as we age that we tend not to notice. And suddenly, we walk down the street and no one looks our way. No one turns, no one waves, and no one cares what we are doing. Now, on the one hand, this is a sad state of affairs. It is pretty much a universal experience faced by aging women. But on the other hand, invisibility is a superpower. If no one notices what we are doing, we can do whatever we want. We can dress how we want. We can do things we could never do before. We are free to stretch and become the women we have always wanted to be. Invisibility is most freeing and something to be enjoyed rather than dismissed. Reframe invisibility as the superpower it is.
If we were having coffee, I might tell you that in 2023, I started reading fiction for fun for the first time in decades. I used to read all the time as an escape when I was a young girl, and I’m not saying I haven’t read in decades. But my reading has been for work, for the many and various classes I taught over the years, and to keep myself informed of the latest trends in this or that. But in 2023, I started reading for enjoyment and relaxation again. I set myself a manageable goal of 12 books—one a month—because manageable goals are my forte. I ended up reading 13 fiction books and several nonfiction books. My favorite, hands down, was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. But there were others that are worth a mention: Flying Solo by Linda Holmes, The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, and How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny. I have already begun 2024’s reading challenge, and my daughter has directed me to join Goodreads. You can find me there—I need reading friends!
If we were having coffee, I would let you know that 2023 brought many lessons. Most importantly, I learned that I am resilient in the face of adversity. Resilience is what got me through. Well, resilience, a little grace, and a lot of prayer. I learned that there will always be obstacles to overcome. And I learned that sometimes, the most challenging experiences bring about the biggest rewards. 2023 was a tough year, but I am better for it. I am opening myself up to the new experiences that will come in 2024. And I am welcoming magic, love, kindness, and amazing experiences. Join me as I step into 2024 with expectations for what might happen but no idea what this year will actually bring.
Positively Un-broken 