A look back over a year of change
Brayden and I enjoy frozen butterbeer at Universal Studios at the end of school.
The holiday rush is starting to wind down for me, and it won’t be long until my entire family is back in the throws of our regular schedule.
It’s tradition for me to look back at the year and set my goals for the new year. This year isn’t any different, and as I started this practice again, I had a revelation. This year was filled with all types of changes. I didn’t realize how much had changed until I reviewed the pictures.
Our youngest left elementary school and started middle school, and our oldest, who has been searching for her life’s work, graduated with her Associate’s degree.
My husband went full force into a business he started three years ago, and I started writing again - a love that i had put to the side except when teaching writing.
Last but certainly not least, I entered a new decade.
This year of change has not been without its stressors, but I wouldn’t want to go back to where we were before these changes because we all are just a little bit happier than before and just a little bit wiser.
Each year, I continue reading and growing, learning from problems as they come my way. Looking back at my reading list, I find some highlights I need to share because these books will remain on my favorites list.
As we all look to the new year, I hope it brings you joy and laughter. Here are a few share-worthy reviews and reflections.
My favorite fiction of 2023
This year was a year for reading. I joined a Zoom book club with a group of incredible ladies who have inspired me to read more and listen to more books on Audible. My goal this year was to note every book I read. While I wasn’t as good at this as I would like, I certainly have some standout books in both the fiction and nonfiction categories.
First, my top two books in the fiction category include Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. While these books are different, they are both moving stories about pain, love, and working through grief. The beauty in both novels is breathtaking.
The first of these novels is about a couple that makes video games together. The story is told through video games, the characters, and this riveting tale of friendship. The characters’ quest for joy and fulfillment was one I loved to follow. The journey of creating video games brought Sadie and Sam success, love, frustration, fame, and tragedy.
The main characters feel genuine. This novel was worth picking up and savoring and is one I will remember for years to come.
James McBride, the author of the second book, has become one of my favorite writers. Deacon King Kong is a book that I still love to think about to this day because of my genuine love for the characters. His newest novel, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, is as moving as that novel, but he masterfully crafts this tale of many characters slowly with a meticulous eye to detail. I sometimes felt frustrated, wondering where McBride was going, but I was hooked once the threads started coming together.
The beauty and tragedy of this novel are its true gift. It is about true love, overcoming adversity, and enduring cruelty. The humanity in this novel is intense as McBride uses humor and mystery to craft a story of people teetering between good and evil.
While the previous book I mentioned centers on three characters, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is more about a diverse community living together during times of great prejudice and strife, which separates them and connects them.
Both books are great works of fiction that were my favorite this year.
My favorite nonfiction of 2023
None of these books were released this year. They are all older reads, and I recommend three in this category because they are each good for different reasons. In my list, I am including Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes, Maybe You Should Talke to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb, and NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman.
The first of these books was a fun read. If you’ve watched Grey’s Anatomy, you will love this book because Rhimes, the creator and writer of the long-running show, has a similar voice. I also could relate to her tales of raising children while pursuing her dreams and goals. Her candid honesty was refreshing, and her ability to create television shows that become hits was inspiring. She has a long line of successful writing credits not limited to Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Bridgerton, and Inventing Anna.
To top it off, she shares her 2014 Dartmouth commencement speech, which makes the Audible version especially special. She makes that speech a part of this book because it was part of her year of yes. Her year of saying yes instead of running away from those things that scared her will hopefully help those reading get out of their comfort zone to tackle their dreams.
Next on the list is Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. I LOVED this book. I waited with bated breath, anticipating what would happen with her clients. I felt vested in their lives and what happened to them because they had struggles, and I was sincerely cheering for their success. I became a part of their story, much like I feel in a fiction book, and Gotlieb’s grief with getting older was again relatable. I felt her pain because I also struggled with getting older and pursuing my dreams.
This book made me empathetic to the plight of all the people and their struggles, and even though their problems were diverse, that did not lessen the pain their grief caused. Each of them shared some form of grief, and I realized how much it is part of life. We need to help each other through our grief and respect each other’s way of dealing with it.
Tragically, grief is life, and the various experiences made me realize the importance of processing that pain rather than shoving it under the carpet.
I highly recommend this one if you want to see how people of all ages and backgrounds have handled their grief and found joy amidst the pain.
I had to throw the third book in there because of its impact on how I see Autism Spectrum Disorder. This nonfiction work is long, and you must be fully invested in learning about neurodiversity to tackle it. The tale takes the reader through the author’s evolving understanding of ASD and how we ended up with what we know today.
The fact is that Hitler and the impacts of World War II thwarted some of the most significant research, which wasn’t even published in English until decades later. Also, there were evolving beliefs about the cause of Autism, and at one point, doctors blamed parents. Throughout it all, the tale is about how our understanding of ASD has changed and how much our interventions have improved the lives of those who have been diagnosed.
Silberman also points out that the research isn’t complete and needs to continue. We don’t know all that we can learn about autism, but some of the greatest minds of our time are believed to be autistic.
Biggest lesson learned
Aging isn’t for the faint of heart. It comes with perks, yes, but it also comes with changes. Sometimes, we aren’t ready for those changes. Watching my parents age through the years, I have seen how life and our decisions take a toll. These decisions also can help. Healthy eating and exercise are essential.
My mom has said, “Keep moving.” Movement is vital, and science and research only back this up.
As I enter a new decade, I am conscious that I am different than my 20-year-old self or even my 40-year-old self. I am more willing to take risks in some areas while I play it safer in others. I also don’t worry as much about what others think of me. (Notice I said, as much. I am still working on this one.)
I realize there is still so much I don’t understand or know, and l am striving to improve. This is part of my constant learning, and I understand that it is vital to be curious about the aging process. Take care of yourself always.
No matter the aging process, don’t let it stop you from following your dreams. Ultimately, age is a number, and it's possible if you can dream it.
So, as we all look to the new year, I wish you happy reading and the ability to reach for the stars.
