This is an interesting 2025 WordPress Challenge. To relate my experiences during 2024 and hopes, dreams and goals for 2025. It is always good to start a new year with some challenges.
This past year, was my first year of retirement. And what a year it was. It was the first year in decades I’ve been able to enjoy every holiday because I didn’t have to work on any of them.
2024 has been a wonderful year. It’s beat my expectations. I was worried about having transition issues from that intense job focus to my own goals, but it turned out to be simple.
I have gotten to enjoy my family immensely. Being able to spend more time with friends. I’ve started down the road of actively pursuing my hobbies. The progress on home and yard projects picked up dramatically. I worked my ass off this year but what I do now is not work anymore.
We ventured to new local spots and favorite locations throughout the year. My health has held up and my friends have also. I’ve been catching up with some old friends and making new ones.
I’ve never been prouder of both my children than I have been in the past year. And their children remind me to keep looking at life with wonder, like a child does.
Dreams, I hope to make come to life in 25. – A few words I am thinking I need to incorporate to make that happen.
“Attitude” – Live for today. Time to run through those walls now before they leave a mark or prevent me from moving forward. No sense waiting for my health to fail.
“Love” – The coming addition to the family will certainly remind me of the preciousness of life. I’d like to spread some love to people and organizations that need help. And of course increase it to those around me.
“Image” – In addition to publishing images here daily I’m really going to build out my photo site and work on videos to add to the YouTube collection. My goal of daily shooting will begin today.
“Sponge” – I want to get back to being a sponge for knowledge. I’ve gotten lazy and I need to stay even more challenged mentally as I age.
“Daytripper” – We are going to be active again this year. I have a list a mile long so every week it will be an adventure.
“Beach Bum” – I am going to wear a path between Ocean City and my house this coming year.
“History” To go through some more family history and learn. For instance, a few thousand slides.
“Car and Driver” – I’m going to get a little more seat time this year in the Miata, and maybe do a modification or two. It’s going to need a new exhaust so that will be first this spring. Then maybe a few handling mods. As the group Little Feat say, “Let it Roll.”
“Dust” – If I have my way, I’ll be creating a lot of sawdust carving and etching in 25.
“Easel” – I got an easel for Christmas, and this means no longer hunched over on the floor or table. I can sit upright and draw away.
“Reader” – I do read a fair amount, but I let myself down in terms of what I hoped to accomplish last year. This year that will not be the case, this is one of those scheduled activities now.
“Writer” – Another area I was slack on. I need to finish writing that book this year.
“Risks” – I will be taking some more risks here and in life.
“Schedule” – I’m hoping it will help me with both production, quality, consistency and enjoyment in this and other endeavors like my exercise.
“Powerhouse” – No, not the energy bar. I’m going to turn next year into taking care of some needs of our humble abode. I have more than a dozen so far that are significant home and yard projects that I’d like to complete before June. Some I will have to hire out and others I’ll be attacking.
