Good, Bad, and Ugly: 2022 in Review
Fireworks have already blasted across most of the world as I complete this review at the latest possible moments. Regardless, I wanted to review this last year and reflect on the good, bad, and ugly of 2022.
While it may not have been perfect, I grew in many ways through 2022. As a new year starts, many new things are in the works that give me a reason to be optimistic.
The Good: Reflecting on the good in 2022
Every year, we look forward to greener pastures and forget to look back at all the good that happened throughout the year. 2022 wasn’t one for the books, but some wonderful things did happen, like graduating and some travel.
In 2020, I started my journey to return back to school. Since then, I’ve worked hard to knock classes out and get my degree. In August, I finally received my associate’s degree, paving the way to obtain my bachelor’s.
I also had the opportunity to travel to Canada for a week in March. The primary goal was to snowboard the entire trip. Still, after tweaking my back, it ended up being two days of boarding with a day of sightseeing in between.
Traveling was exhilarating, and Canada was an excellent host country, offering an experience I won’t forget.
Career-wise I’ve taken on several new clients that have advanced my technical and creative knowledge. Through my work with KlientBoost, HotCars, WordAgents, and AppleInsider, I’ve expanded my repertoire, exceeding the needs of editors, clients, and even C-Suite business professionals.
The Bad: Looking at the bad that happened in 2022
While many good things happened, there was a fair amount of negative that happened, as well. From having to part with my dream car to inconsistent income, many bad things occurred in 2022.
What YouTube stars and top-ranking bloggers won’t tell you about freelance writing is that it’s incredibly challenging. Finances are never guaranteed, the pay can come at inconsistent times, and workloads vary from month to month.
Because of these factors, I’ve struggled sometimes, and my budget leaves little room for error. It demands business understanding, determination, and thick skin. Something that’s tried every last bit of my patience, but I’m making it work.
The Ugly: Trying to find beauty in the rough
As with everything in life, there are beautiful parts and ugly parts. And like everyone, I had my share of ugly in 2022. I had covid in January, dropped clients before even turning in a single assignment, and was even scammed at one point.
Luckily, I was able to avoid any negative consequences by heading the red flags, but still. Those things happen, and they’re not pretty. I had car troubles and cried about my lot in life, but here we are.
Lastly, my relationship of many years ended in divorce. Though it’s tragic in many ways, it was a long time coming. Unfortunately, those wounds are also not pretty. But once the scars heal, there will be beauty in pain.
Looking ahead to 2023
2023 has a lot to offer. For many, it’s the time when goals are established and lifestyles evaluated. While I hate to be cliched, I also have plans for the following year.
Career-wise, I look to further the skills I’ve already gained and gain a few new ones. I’m looking forward to a potential editor position, and my bylined work with AppleInsider will only continue to provide me with experience.
In addition to being very cliched, getting healthy, drinking less, and taking better care of myself, I’m enrolled in classes to continue my education. My education is a cornerstone of my growth, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunities because of it.
Personally, I expect more from myself. There are plenty of areas where I can grow, and I plan to tackle many of them one way or another. For everyone out there celebrating a new year with goals and plans—I hope you succeed, as I hope to succeed myself. Happy New Year, 2023! May you forever be better than 2022!