Looking back on 2024

Today’s the last day of 2024, and like so many others on the internet today, I’m looking back over the last 365 days.

December 31st is a day for navel-gazing behavior, I guess. Ha. 

This has honestly felt like one of the shortest years of my life, and I think that’s because it has largely been taken up by nursing school (which as you know, has been pretty all-consuming for me).

It’s been a good kind of all-consuming, though!

When I think back to where I was a year ago, I am amazed at how much I have learned about nursing this year.

Last year at this time, I’d had only a handful of clinical days, and no PCT shifts; now I’ve had dozens of clinical days and perhaps even more importantly, lots of PCT shifts.

(PCT: patient care tech, aka my job at the hospital.)

I am a million times more confident and experienced than I was a year ago, and that makes me happy. I have a lot more head knowledge, yes, but I also am significantly more competent with my clinical skills. 

My other most significant event was the finalization of my divorce. And the most significant 2024 impact of that was financial for me. 

I’d already felt fairly free practically-speaking, because I’d been separated for two years by the time the divorce was finalized.

But financial freedom was brand new to me in 2024. Not only did I stop having to pay legal bills, I also got my payout from the equity in the marital home.

So, I stopped being almost-broke! 

PLUS: for the first time in my adult life, I got to experience truly having complete financial autonomy.

(I got engaged at 18 and married at 19. I do not recommend this, but it is what I did.)

It’s so wild to be totally in control of my finances. And it’s very nice. 🙂 All of my money and assets are just mine. Woohoo! 

Divorce was expensive, yes. And I did technically lose 50% of my material wealth. But oddly way, I actually feel richer than I did before. 

And I feel full of hope for my financial future! I should be able to make really good progress toward my financial goals in the next few years because I am free to make all of my own choices.

I have options like I never have before, and I am delighted about that. 

Next year

Everyone is busy making resolutions for the coming year, and honestly, I cannot get into a resolution-making mindset.

Mainly that’s because the main things I’m gonna be doing this year are:

• finish nursing school 
• pass the NCLEX
• start a nursing job
• start my BSN program 

Really, though, once I finished my nursing program and pass the NCLEX, I feel like a lot of mental fog will clear.

And then maybe I can think about what other things I want to accomplish.

But for now, I’m just gonna put my head down and get through fourth semester. Other ambitions can get put on the side temporarily; this is not the time for big new aspirations.

(Though of course I will keep slowly learning Spanish, and I will keep walking and going to the gym! Those are well-engrained habits I know I can maintain.)

Some people pick a word for the year, and I don’t know, maybe mine is “maintain”. For now, I just wanna keep on doing what I’m already doing! 

How about you? Are you making resolutions? Or do you have a word for the year?