Can it be too late for a highlight reel? I think not. Whilst most people wrapped their 2023 up in a shiny bow at the beginning of December, I waited a little longer to squeeze all of the juice out of it. Having enjoyed every drop, I thought I’d share some of my favourite things which happened in my world last year. Let’s go…
2023 involved more travel
Starting with a firm favourite, though with a couple of differences. I hadn’t done a “girls’ trip” until last year, when I went on holiday with my networking group. Organised by Jo, we had a Riad to ourselves in Marrakech, which was a destination I’d longed to visit for years. Four days in the sun in March was fantastic, and kicked my year off well.
In June, I took a road trip to Cornwall, on what turned out to be probably the best weekend for weather all summer. I got to visit the Eden Project… and see one of my favourite bands play there. A phenomenal 48-hours.
My final trip of the year was my greatest adventure: a week in Portugal with my much-missed friend from Melbourne. Thanks mostly to the pandemic, we’d been separated for five years, and with 2023 seeing us celebrate 10 years of friendship, it was the perfect time for a reunion. A few nights near the beach and a few in Lisbon went in an absolute flash, and I can’t wait to see her again…
2023 involved trying new things
From axe throwing and painting a canvas, to tarot reading and a boudoir shoot, I continued to push myself to try new activities throughout the year. Sushi making was one of my favourites, and a silent disco on the beach in Brighton was another highlight. It was also the year during which I took serious steps towards going blonder, and finally talked myself into buying a hairdryer (this may not sound like a big deal, but it is for a lazy woman who has naturally curly hair).
There are a few other new experiences I had which were a bit more personal, so I’ll keep those to myself. Safe to say that it was a year of ups and downs, and I did a lot of learning and growing alongside work and play.
2023 involved significant growth for my business
2022 was my first full calendar year in business, and it was horribly rocky. I had sort of expected it. But the government and media threw in the early days of a “cost of living crisis” narrative (and I phrase it in that way because I think that they incited an early panic, which then spiralled into the truth of what we experienced in 2023). Of course, one of the first things that people drop in such situations is “luxuries”, and for many people that’s a personal trainer.
At the end of 2022, I took a huge leap of faith in order to buy myself some time and have another go at building… and it paid off. Not overnight. Far from it. The first quarter of 2023 was pretty average. But I persisted, and my clients stuck with me. Then more joined me. And with that it was time to take another leap of faith.
As I’ve mentioned here before, I’ve increased my capacity for personal training due to the additional demand I’ve seen, and I’m excited to be available to train clients on Tuesdays and Fridays each week. The hard work that I’ve put in has paid off, and I’m looking forward to repaying the faith and loyalty of my clients by continuing to give them my best.
Whilst I don’t want to make too many guesses about 2024, and keep myself open to what might happen, I’ve set a couple of quiet goals on the business and personal fronts. I’m looking forward to letting you know how it all goes!