Lessons Learned and Finding My Voice Again resonated much more than doing a typical year-in-review post (at least how I’ve done them in the past).

And for what it’s worth, that’s kind of the theme for this next year: both with business and my life.

In other words, doing things differently.

Initially, I was excited to do a year-in-review podcast. I’ve always enjoyed doing my look back on the year and seeing what worked, what didn’t, and how that would impact the coming year.

So much happened in 2023 that much of it feels a bit like a blur.

In so many ways, the year really felt like “a lot.”

The contrast I experienced in moving back to California from Costa Rica felt overwhelming at times.

The first contrast might seem obvious, and that was the weather.

Having grown up and spent the majority of my adult life in the Bay Area, I didn’t think it would have such an impact on me, but it did. It didn’t help that I moved back during a crazy, heavy winter with massive snow (I’ve been at my Dad’s since moving back, and it’s about an hour southeast of Lake Tahoe).

Beyond my short stint and one winter in Boise, Idaho, I’ve never lived in the snow.

I have zero intention of doing that again when I leave here.

I also forgot how incredibly dry it is here. Costa Rica is humid, but it’s not like Orlando. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I acclimated to that climate after a while. Not to mention, my skin felt fantastic.

As much as I missed the seasons (to the extent that Northern California actually has seasons), winter is the season I like the least.

Snow is pretty, and I love how quiet it makes everything, but I’d be fine if my only experience of snow moving forward were a weekend visit.

The Biggest Adjustment of All

People.

My Dad will be 80 this year, and his health isn’t all that great. You wouldn’t look at him and think so, but he has a handful of issues (his heart is the main issue) that are somewhat serious. His health and missing family are the primary reason I moved back.

The secondary reason was that the last year there was more trying than I realized. I had visitors every month for nine months, with only one month break during that time.

As much as I was super appreciative that people came to visit, it interrupted my life and work in a way that impacted my income and my energy (again, hadn’t really realized this while I was experiencing it). All my guests were people who were close to me, so it wasn’t like they were difficult.

This just validated what I already knew about myself, and am going to be firm about in the future. I require a good chunk of time to myself. Boundaries are key for me – regardless of whether they make sense to other people or not.

It took a few “come to Jesus” moments with my Dad also for him to “get” that just because I’m at home working doesn’t mean I’m available for midday chats, errands, questions, or whatever else he thinks of. That being said, it’s a good thing I did come back.

We had three trips to the ER this year (all via an ambulance) because of his health. My siblings are both two hours away so my Dad would have been on his own until...