Best and worst of 2022
This was a year of transformation and (sometimes painful) growth
It’s my favourite time of the year: reflection and goal-setting time! December is not a great month for me, but the last few days make up for having to endure the craziness of the first 26 days. I always feel like there’s something special in the air, an almost palpable anticipation and excitement. I can’t help but believe in the magic of new beginnings - they’re irresistible to me!
Before I share my goals for the new year, let’s take a look back. I like to highlight both the good and the bad, because every life contains both. Overall, 2022 was much better than the two years before (my new book Everything is Broken and Completely Fine is all about the chaotic last few years), but of course, it wasn’t without challenges.
Let’s dive right in:
10 best things of 2022:
I quit drinking.
Kicking my booze-habit to the curb is without a doubt the best thing I’ve done for myself in years. I was on a slippery slope that only went downhill, and I’m intensely relieved that I managed to get that monkey off my back. If you want to know all the reasons why I quit, how bad it got, and how life is now without alcohol you’ll have to read Everything is Broken and Completely Fine!
I wrote my third book.
I’ve talked about it in greater detail here, and I will talk more about it in the upcoming weeks with the release date (Jan 23/23) coming closer. All I’m going to say for now is that I’m very proud of it. It’s raw and personal and sometimes painful, but it was cathartic to write and I hope very much it will be helpful for you guys to read.
I stood up to bullies.
Human relationships are the best and worst thing about life. Not knowing how to effectively deal with people was the reason why I chose forestry as a career path when I was 19, because back then I was (unknowingly) in a depression and wanted to flee into the woods to escape people. Ironically, 8 years later I decided on a career that deals with people all the time, and I’ve never regretted that choice. Still, dealing with people can be tricky, and until this year I was a big-time people pleaser who wanted everybody to like her.
Little tip: trying to please everyone is the quickest ticket to unhappiness and/or insanity. In therapy I learnt how to set boundaries, and I’ve managed to set two important ones this year in relationships I had significant problems with. It’s one of my proudest achivements to date!
We bought our dream property.
I’ve written in great detail why we chose to move in this letter. Buying 40 acres this year was a huge decision for us, and one we are beyond thrilled with!
I finally got a job at home.
After 6 years of being casual in Merritt and working in hospitals all around us (5 different sites altogether) I got a permanent job here at home. I love this little hospital with all my heart and I’m so happy to finally be here!
I regularly went to therapy.
Therapy is life-changing. I owe it a lot. I talk about it and how much it’s helping in my new book.
Hiking like it’s my job.
I’ve hiked (and kayaked and skiied) a lot this year. After Lily passed (more about it shortly) I started to take the two Heelers out regularly. Their exercise needs are quite different from the needs of an aging corgi, and I noticed a huge positive change in me when I started going out 5 or 6 times a week for an hour or more at a time. It’s been really good for my mental and physical health.
I was a keynote speaker.
In April I was one of three speakers for a mental health panel and told 550 people what it’s like to have a mental illness. It was the most surreal experience: I was incredibly nervous, but felt really empowered afterwards. Definitely an experience I’ll never forget.
Left to right: Patti, our facilitator; me; Paige; Ciana I visited my family in Germany again.
After seeing them last in May of 2019 I got to visit them again in June this year. It was without a doubt the best visit I’ve ever had, largely because my two nieces turned into amazing young women and my sister and I always have a fantastic time together.
A girl’s retreat in Harrison Hot Springs.
Last November a good friend and I went on a beautiful, relaxing girl’s trip to Harrison Hot Springs. We floated, we shopped, we went for walks and we talked and talked. It was absolutely perfect.
10 worst things of 2022:
Lily died.
Lily, my corgi and best friend, passed away suddenly on May 4th. It was an accident that left me heartbroken and completely devastated. After debating for a long while I decided to write about her in the book. Death is part of life that is not talked about a lot in our culture, and I wanted to honour her by sharing her memory with others. She was the most special girl in the world to me, and I’ll never forget her.
I experienced burnout.
In March of this year I had to go on stress leave. The last few years had taken a toll, and I was completely burnt out. Can you guess what comes next? Yes, I’ve included that experience in my book as well!
Harassment.
I told you guys about the issues we had at home in the letter mentioned above. At this point I feel that I’ve said enough about it and I’m moving on. Suffice it to say that it added significantly to the stress of the last few years, but in the end it helped us find our dream place. We win! 😉
The drive to work.
After the terrible flood we had on Nov 15, 2021 I had to take another way to work. It’s a mountain road that’s infamous for being terrible in winter, and winter lasted almost 6 months up there. I was white-knuckling it for months, being terrified, and that road was the main reason why I was so happy when I got a job at home. I swear I aged 10 years during the year I had to drive on it.
My cousin passed away.
In July we received the devastating news that my cousin had passed away at age 42 from liver cirrhosis. He went way too soon and for an immensely sad reason. It shook all of us.
More death in our circle.
Many of our friends or family are Rich’s age or older, and we had to say goodbye to several this year. Death is the worst part of life, but it also makes it so incredibly precious; we’re all just here for a short time.
Trouble in healthcare.
My beloved profession is in crisis. The staffing shortage has reached dangerous levels, and we’re collectively exhausted. More and more of my colleagues and friends burn out or get sick, and so far there’s no end in sight. None of us knows what’s going to happen, but we all know that we can’t go on like this. I’m worried for all of us: healthcare workers, patients, and our communities.
Mental rollercoaster.
Eliminating a mind-altering substance you’ve been relying on for many years to help you through stress, fear, boredom, and mental health problems isn’t easy. For the first 3 months of 2022 I was missing alcohol a lot, and every first (first party, first vacation, first bonfire, first birthday, etc.) was hard. I had to make the decision over and over again this year that this was my new life, that I was not going back, and that this was right for me. It was challenging at times, especially in a world that’s obsessed with alcohol.
Physical challenges.
I’ve been having breathing issues for several years. My doctor and I hesitantly agreed on the tentative diagnosis of exercise-induced asthma, but I’m not sure if that’s what it is. People around me can hear my laboured breathing even if I’m just sitting and talking, and I keep getting asked what’s wrong with my breathing regularly. I started on steroid inhalers a while ago and it seems to help somewhat; we’ve also added high-powered air filters at home recently. I can exercise, I just sound like Darth Vader when I do. It’s a mystery, so I’m trying different things and hope I’ll find something that will help.
The other major health problem I’m having is my PMDD. My rage, mood swings, and depression have worsened significantly this year despite all the positive changes I have introduced into my life, and my periods, cramps and bloating have also worsened. One of my main goals for the new year is to tackle that condition once and for all. I’ll write a separate post about it after I’ve talked to my doctor.
Relationship changes.
With the removal of the social lubricant that is alcohol I’ve noticed a change in some of my relationships. Turns out, there are a few people I hung out with where the only thing we had in common was drinking. With that gone, there was not much else left. I suspected as much, but change and growth are still painful and hard.
However, other relationships have deepened and gotten stronger, and overall the change has been overwhelmingly positive!
That’s a wrap! How was your year?
❤️Miriam