Looking Back at 2022

The current year will be over in less than eight hours as I write this.

This year had many ups and downs, but I’m pleased to say there were more ups than downs for me. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the world, as those who wish to drag the planet towards destruction dig their heels in and refuse to yield to the majority and future generations. But that can wait for another blog post.

My biggest turning point this year was my autism diagnosis in August. That has been several years coming, a journey I started shortly after finishing settling my late father’s affairs in 2019. And it has released me from the burden of self-doubt that I’d been carrying for several decades.

I’m still working on dealing with my social anxiety, but no longer having that weight pressing down on me has freed me mentally and emotionally. I’ve been able to get a lot more done during the autumn and winter months than I’d ever thought possible and start moving the needle forwards in several areas of my life:

1. Getting serious about decluttering, and either disposing of or selling lots of books, tech and clothes.
2. Using automation tools on my Mac and iPhone to reduce the amount of ‘busywork’ I used to find myself doing most days.
3. Related to the above, learning lots of new skills and increasing my confidence in tackling coding projects again.
4. Letting go of a lot of things, physical and digital, that I’d been holding onto either as talismans or ‘someday’ projects that never got started.

Doing all of these things required that I overcome my tendency to procrastinate. I’m pleased to say that I now have a system in place that lets me plan for all the regular tasks I have to do and tackle emergencies and surprises without falling into the trap of overthinking what could happen.

The coming year will see me tackling new projects, learning new skills and putting aspects of my life in order so I no longer fret about them.

I hope that 2023 treats you well, dear reader. But if it doesn’t, I hope that my words in the next twelve months can provide some comfort or inspiration.

—Alan.