In a few days, it will be a new year. It’s always a good time to mentally reset and think of better health and better thinking. I know better than to promise myself to lose 20 lbs, though I really need to. Maybe I will. We’ll see.
2022 was a challenging year for me. The first half was pretty good, but the second half the wheels kinda fell off, and it took some doing to get back on the road. The last month has been much better. So, I can’t say that I’ll miss 2022. I won’t be writing it any love letters. I’m ready to break up and move on with a new year.
I don’t have any specific plans for 2023, mostly because my plans don’t pan out, and I’m not sure about this silly back of mine. After a few more medical tests, I’ll know what the game plan is going to be.
Right now, all I know is that I have scoliosis, but I’ve probably had that for years. I don’t know what’s causing the nerve pain and other issues I’m having. If it’s just a herniated disc, that can be fixed.
My family doctor, who ordered the first tests, suddenly quit his practice. He only gave a two-week notice, which is nuts. It should have been at minimum a two-month notice. So, that left me scrambling to find another family doctor. I’ve now had four family doctors in the past two and half years. The last two left town after just a year. The first one had been my family doctor for over 25 years. I hope this new one plans to stick around!
The whole point of a family doctor is that they develop a relationship with their patients and get to know their medical history over the years. If you don’t have any intention of staying in a community for your career, don’t become a family doctor. Go work in a clinic or ER.
So, right now, I’m in a holding pattern until I have an MRI and maybe some other tests. Other than dealing with this dumb back, I’ll just take it day-by-day.
As for the world, I wouldn’t even try to guess what 2023 will bring. After the last few years, I’m afraid to even think about it. I hope inflation continues to ease up. Lower gas prices should help with that. Maybe by the middle of 2023, the economy will go back to a more normal pattern. A correction was due one way or the other. Most stocks were way overvalued prior to 2022.
I stayed out of the stock market for almost the entire year. I just got back in a couple of months ago, but I’m being very conservative about it. It will probably drop even more, which might provide a great opportunity for the future, if you buy at the right time. Obviously, you want to buy when it’s low and sell when it’s high, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
I hope that 2023 is good to you. I’m sure it will have its challenges, but there are always good times too.
