10 Things I Achieved in 2023

Accomplishments come in different styles and sizes.

If I had to describe 2023 in one word, I would choose the word whirlwind.

It has been a year of highs and lows, challenges and opportunities, blessings and… more blessings. I’m someone with the tendency to be harder on myself than I am on others, so I wanted to take a step back and end the year with positives.

Here are 10 things I achived in 2023 (in no particular order)

1. My anxiety levels have declined this year

I’ve had anxiety about things before I knew what anxiety was. 😉 But this year I have been able to cut it down a few notches, and am not as anxious as I would have been been a few years ago. This is a definite achievement for me.

2. I progressed in my spiritual journey as well

Despite encountering several challenges of the spiritual kind, I have in most parts progressed spiritually this year, and for that I am grateful.

3. I also started writing on Medium

I was introduced to Medium in September, and since then I have been writing bits and pieces here on the platform. Although I haven’t progressed as much as I would like to, it has got me on the writing path again. Bonus: I have read many wonderful pieces of writing and was introduced to quite a few great writers thanks to the platform.

4. I am mentally ready to get fit again

This may not sound like the usual achievement, but trust me, when you have mind like mine, the very fact that I can tell myself I am ready to change things for myself, is a very very big deal, and an achivement.

5. I have also been putting myself first (more) in 2023

Over the last few years, I realised that I was always thinking or doing things for others first, and not thinking of my own best interests, what’s good for me. This has resulted in me having to deal with a few issues. This year I’ve put myself first and will continue to do so.

6. I attended the Merdeka parade for the first time

Merdeka means independence in Malay, and Merdeka Day is Malaysia’s Independence Day, celebrated every 31 August. This year marks 66 years of Independence and after many many years of wanting to attend the parade, but never did, I finally went to one this year. And I went on my own, without anyone else. I must say I am glad that I finally made it!

7. I achieved better work-life balance this year

After years of being a workaholic, this year I’ve taken a back seat work wise and let things go as they flow. This has resulted in me having the best work-life balance in my life so far. And I’m loving it!

8. I am braver to speak Tamil

Those who don’t know how to speak a particular language but have a lot of encounters with people who speak it may understand my anxiety in speaking to people about things that I need. With my extremely limited Tamil speaking skills, I tend to get nervous talking to or responding to people who speak in Tamil. this year, I didn’t let that stop me, and I have manged to buy things with my low level Tamil speaking skills. So, it is something I am proud off too.

9. I have been much more vocal this year

Being labeled as quiet all my life, it has been quite a challenge to say how I really feel about issues or concerns. Over the years, I tend to just keep the opinions to myself. But, lately I have been talking about how I feel too, as I try to better myself and be a better communicator.

10. I read 17 books in total in 2023

2023 has been a great year for me as far as reading is concerned. Since January 1 to December 22, I have read 17 books so far. Most of the books are fiction, with a few non-fiction thrown in. I borrowed most of the books from the KL Library, my favourite spot in the city. This is an achivement for me because over the years, my attention span for reading had dwindled, but luckily I managed to revive it. So, I’m extremely happy to have read 17 mostly good books this year.

In case you’re interested, here are the titles of the books I read.

1. Gun Island — Amitav Ghosh
2. The Newlyweds — Nell Freudenberger
3. Mrs Houdini — Victoria Kelly
4. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan — Lisa See
5. The Baby Laundry for Unmarried Mothers — Angela Patrick
6. The Wind in the Willows — Kenneth Grahame & Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini
7. First Impressions: A Novel of Old Books, Unexpected Love and Jane Austen — Charlie Lovett
8. A Married Woman — Manju Kapoor
9. The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life — Amy Tan
10. The Kite and the String: How to Write with Spontaneity and Control — and Live to Tell the Tale — Alice Mattison
11. The Beauty and The Beast — Gabrielle Suzzane Barbot de Villenueve & James Robinson Planche
12. The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared — Alice Ozma, Jim Brozina
13. The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing — Mira Jacob
14. Somewhere in France — Jennifer Robson
15. When God Was a Rabbit — Sarah Winman
16. A Bookshop in Algiers — Kaouther Adimi
17. Confessions of a Curious Bookseller — Elizabeth Green

And now I can walk into 2024 with faith, hope and enthusiasm! Bring on 2024!

Dear Reader, what are your 10 biggest achievements in 2023? I would love to know!