My 2024 in Review (Part 4): Last Words

Hello Again Funny People,

Well, here we are; the coda after the fourth movment; the close of the third act; the resolution of the Freytag's Pyramid that was (and now always will be), 2024. So, that posits one last question deeming an answer. In the scheme of things, in light of much of what has preceeded this moment in time, upon reflection...how'd it all pan out in the end?

Answer: *shrugs* ehhh...

I started the year will a great deal of optimism. Riding the high of finishing two books the year before, I thought the modest goals I'd set myself for 2024 were reasonable. Achievable. Shoe-ins for a successful year.

However, I also strongly suspected thar 2024, following such a good, stress-free year, as 2023, might also be full of fuckery to compensate for last year's lack of fuckery.

And boy was I right.

Not only did I fail, I failed spectacularly. 

Still, as I said in my post two weeks ago, despite my shortcomings this year, I still.managed to accomplish a few things, even if I did, at the time consider them incidental.

However, something I heard a couple of weeks ago reminded me of something important. 

A priest friend of mine said, "Isn't it wonderful that we get to do this?"

"What do you mean?" I said.

"Think about it. We get to wake up, live our lives, devote ourselves to work we want to do, and get to take satisfaction from that. Isn't it wonderful?"

At first, I admit, I didn't quite understand what he meant in the moment. Upon reflection though, I see it now. As harsh as life can be a times, as unfortunate as occurrences that happen outside our control can be, one fact remains true. If our basic needs are met, if we've got all our bases covered, like food, water, shelter, good seasonal clothing, and our bills paid, we have the privilege to spend the rest of our time doing what we want. 

Or, to put in the more religious language some favor, we're blessed to have the chance to pursue the work we want to do. We don't have to do it; he get the chance to do it.

At year's end, it isn't that we failed to achieve our goals and hopes that we should focus on. It's the times we tried. The times we made the effort. It's the times we got the chance to make progress towards those goals.

Not everyone get that chance. I was lucky enough to get it. And I hope next year, I keep getting the chance to do it.

Until next year, funny people, stay safe, stay healthy, take care, and have the happiest of holiday seasons. ☃️🎄🎁🥳☕️🥰🧑‍🎄

— IMC 🙃