New year, better me! I'm ready, 2024!

New year, new me? Nah, I don't believe in that shit. New year, better me is more like it! 2023 has honestly been nothing but a year of change and growth for me. Growth mentally, emotionally, artistically, (a little on the physical side too cuz the holidays gave me chubs), and a little on the financial side because for the first time in a long time, I actually hit my saving goals.
This growth might not be so noteworthy to most, but to me, they've made me really proud of myself and the person I'm slowly becoming as I age and enjoy my 26 years on earth. This year has been the year with the least amount of break downs and the year where I have met people that have changed my views so much, and I have nothing but gratitude for this passing year. In light of that, I just want to higlight and write down my aspirations for the year so I have something to look back to when 2025 comes. I don't do traditional journaling so writing about it like this helps so much.

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Mental and emotional growth

Weird that I'm starting with this when this is the most questionable growth sector for me. I can definitely say that I don't need to see my therapist that often now and that I don't need to constantly think about getting back on medication so I think that's a good start. I've been far less depressed though the mental breakdowns are, of course inevitable since I am still adulting and trying to save up money. Fortunately, I've developed a better relationship with people in my environment except for my father's side of the family... But I don't need to rush that one. As long as I have a good relationship with my cousins, I think I'm fine. I just think that getting along will com eventually and there's no need to rush getting on good terms with them. If by any chance, they perish without even getting to that point, then it's not going to be a regret to me. And I know I sound kind of morbid here, but it's kind of part of my realizations, for 2023: relations will come and will be better at certain times, but definitely not all the time. This is why I cherish all my existing relations since who knows when our times will end and we' have put the relation on pause.
And I'm not so sad about a lot of things now. I've learned to keep my emotions in check most of the time, but if I'm happy, I want to show that I'm happy. And if I'm excited, I want to show my exitement. I want to show everything except my breakdowns again because I think I've had a few breakdowns at the start of the year... and I hope it keeps getting lesser and lesser. I'm happy with where my mental health is right now and I hope to keep it that way. I hope to continue to feel and enjoy myself and hopefully not get back to meds ;;w;; I don't like the side effects of xanax

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Artistic growth

As you guys may know, I draw... a lot XD and I took on 2 art challenges this year, which is inktober and sketchtember. Unfortunately, I never got to finish both, but having a list of prompts to follow has been helpful to me

Having prompts really help randomize my techniques, my color choices, the mediums I use, everything! Because I noticed that with the lack of prompts and challenges... well, I fall back into my edgy comfort zone. I mean, a comfort zone is nice, it's safe and it allows you to rest and integrate everything you've picked up outside the zone into your being before you go back out there to explore more. It's not really so bad to go back to something comfortable as long as you don't get stuck there. This is something I always tell myself, as well as stay creative. And this is exactly where I've been and where I will be as well, this 2024 ^w^
But before anything, I want to at least finish the inktober prompts because I only have 11 days left and it's a bit of a shame not to finish them when the prompts have been so good this year. And I also want to proudly say I finished inktober. Maybe not on time, but at least I have enough commitment to actually finish it!
In between that, I picked up a new prompt list from pinterest:

Then I also want to get back to joining the splinterlands art contests because those were fun ;;w;; and I enjoy making fan art more than making original characters, actually. IDK OCs just really aren't my thing because they take too much brain cells, whereas fan arts just need an upgrade. So maybe I'll add character development into my goals eventually... maybe when I finish all my prompts XD
I have so many art aspirations, I swear I chose the wrong profession!

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Carreer????

Is there more to grow in my career? I've been promoted and I've been doing more trainings and paperwork than I have before. My work is a lot lighter because I supervise now, and I've been molding it to suit the lifestyle I want since I've always had the mentality that work should only help you achieve the life you want, it shouldn't be your life, but a little dedication couldn't hurt, of course. IDK this year, my career has been a lot more stable and as such, I get recognized for my efforts and I appreciate that too. I've been thinking of staying a little longer in my current company and prolong my application to australia a little longer, though I could always try starting on it already? This one is a big IDK to me, because I know my wage in AUS would definitely be bigger, but my wage here has been growing steadily as well. Not enough to give me everything I wanted, but enough that it has given me a good enough saving this year, and for that, I apprecaite it, especially that my current company has dorms and a kitchen staff that feeds me ;;w;; but then, most mining sites have this too which is the dilemma with me. So idk, my career is really my biggest concern this year, not so much on the financial, but more on where do I go next and how do I step up my game.

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Financial

TBH my finances have been way better this year than in the previous years because I've had work all year. I've hit my 50K saving goal early this year ^u^ and my next goals would be much higher. My hive account... well, I hope to get to orca within the year. I'm a minnow now, so I definitely need to be more active this year since my workload isn't trying to kill me anymore. And I think I won't need to rely on my crypto earning much now to fill in what my salary couldn't before. Sure I still have a little leftover debt from my phone, but I only need some 60 usd to fill that in. I think I can clear that up by the end of January so that from February onwards, I can fully focus on saving and saving. I hate that this holiday season really wiped out my finances, but money will come back. I've made my family happy with the gifts and the Ilocos trip we had and that's enough of a reason for me to work harder to save ^^
This year, I wonder if I can hit 200k before the year ends. If so, I would be really happy UwU a house and other liabilities isn't on my mind yet. Hopefully by 2025, I can start on that and that I could finally decide on my career path, because that's definitely gonna deteermine my entire financial aspect too.

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So I think I've written enough of my thoughts on this year and last year.... I hope I can stick by my hope and aspirations this year. I wish nothing but a better version of me and everyone around me this year. May this year truly be kind to us. Thank you for stopping by this mini thought corner of mine.