My 2023, A Review

 Overall, I would say not a bad year for me. Certainly felt like there were more ups and downs and I was even able to learn a thing or two from some of those downs. Anyways, the highlights...

The Good

- My fourth deployment: I was able to get a good routine going for myself there which led to me learning that I actually do enjoy jogging. I also lost a good bit of weight, got to visit a new country, and met a lot of cool new people. 

- Was re-promoted to tech sergeant (E-6) in the AF reserves. And this time around, I feel a lot more able to fulfill my duties in the role. I was also able to change which shop I worked in and am now back in the shop I feel much more suited to my skills. 

The Bad

- I have since gained back most the weight I lost during my deployment. Pretty much let myself get out of having a good routine and have yet to get back into it. 

- Car issues: A lot of money went into maintaining my car this year and as much as I would love to get something new and more reliable, I don't like the idea of taking on more debt.

The Ugly

- Had to admit to myself I'm an alcoholic. It's been about a month and a half now since my last drinks and I'm still trying to process how I got there and what I'm supposed to do going forward.

- Did not spend as much time with friends after my deployment as I'd been hoping to. This is mostly due to the aforementioned drinking issues, but even now I'm often struggling to get out of the house. 

The Future

I know it's a bit late to try and figure out what I want to do when I grow up, but that's really what I'm hoping to use 2024 for. I'm planning on going back to school and either finishing my bachelor's this year or else be very close. I'm also aiming to re-establish a decent routine in my life, one that has me regularly jogging and going to jiu-jitsu again (though not on the same day for those - learned that lesson the hard way while deployed). There's also a desire to get out and be more social; not just visiting friends, but going and seeing more of what's around me - despite my constant bitching, there's a lot of cool things in Anchorage and I need to make it a point to see/do more of it.

My resolution for 2024: No more energy drinks. I know I normally like to do some goofy resolution, but I figured it was time to do one that's a little more serious (not not too serious). The good things about this one is that so much as I can get past the first month or so, it should be quite easy after that. The bad thing is I work swing shift these days and energy drinks have become like a fifth food group for me. 

Anyways, I hope a great 2024 for all and may all our vehicles continue to run smoothly.