As 2024 comes to close, I wanted to look back and reflect on the year. I have had a few setbacks, one of those being my first car accident. I’ve also had some positive experiences. I feel like both the positive and negative situations have helped me grow a lot as a person. That being said, today I want to share a few highlights from this year.

Boxing

This year, I started my boxing journey. I started watching boxing over 6 years. What got me into it was a popular UK YouTuber named KSI who fought against other YouTubers. They paved the way for other content creators to get in the ring. Today, that sub-genre of boxing is referred to as Crossover Boxing. I then started watching traditional boxing not long after, and have been hooked since.

Earlier this year, I started taking boxing lessons at a nearby combat sports gym. I had a one month free trial which was great; I enjoyed the classes a lot. Sadly, I had to take a long break after my free trial ended to save up money, but I plan on returning in January. I’m sure it will great to pick up where I left off.

My plan is to train up to the summer. Then, if I feel ready, I want to start competing in amateur bouts during summer and fall. After that, I might dip my toes into professional bouts. However, I would not be going the traditional route. There is a company called Misfits Boxing, created the previously mentioned UK YouTuber KSI and his manager, where social media influencers compete against each other. Since I don’t have dreams to become a world champion, I think a platform like that would be the best fit for me. While training next year, I will have to continue growing my online platforms since fighters on Misfits must have at least a decent social media following in order to fight on there.

Social Life

Due to social anxiety, I’ve always struggled with making and maintaining friendships. My social anxiety increased significantly during the lockdown portion of the pandemic. Once the lockdown lifted, I very much wanted to have a social life.

I recently joined a few social groups through the MeetUp app, and I’ve connected very well with one group in particular. The chemistry in this group is amazing, and it feels like a bunch of long time friends hanging out.

Driving

My third highlight for this year is getting a lot more comfortable with driving, especially on the highway.  Even though I got into an accident, I made so much progress this year with getting behind the wheel.  In 2022, I refused to drive at all.  Then in the second half of 2023, I slowly started driving again.  At first, it was just on main roads.  Then I added one exit worth of driving on the highway.  Then this year, I started driving on the highway even more, sometimes for hour-long trips.

So those are some of my highlights from 2024, at the time of me writing this anyway.  My birthday is coming up, so I’m hoping that will be a highlight too.  I hope you all had a great 2024, and I hope you have an even better 2025!

~ T

The Rock in the Road

Anxiety has always been a huge rock in the road for me, especially during the past few covid years.  It’s made it extremely difficult to do a lot of things, even things such as interacting with folks in social settings, and making or answering phone calls. 

However, 2023 has been a very successful year for me; I feel like I’ve accomplished more this year than I have in the past 3 years combined.  I’ve become a lot more capable of pushing back against my anxiety in order to progress in life. I’ve learned a lot of coping skills from others, and have even created some of my own, that have been a big help.

Comeback Season

I’ve traveled by myself for the first time, moved into my own place, and started driving again.  These, along with many more, are things I know I would have been very unlikely to do even last year.  So being able to check off so many goals in the span of one year has made me feel very proud of myself.  I even signed up for an event in town, which would have been way more unlikely last year than the first three things I mentioned in this paragraph.  In fact, I’d go as far as to say signing up for social events wasn’t even a consideration, while the other things were.

Something that’s been a huge help to me is changing my environment more.  During my school years, besides going to classes during the week, I did next to nothing else.  There were rare occasions where I’d go to the gym, but it wasn’t enough to make a physical or mental difference.  Even up to this past summer, I wasn’t changing my environment enough, and this caused me to have a huge creative block.  And as someone who prides themselves on their creativity, this made me fear for my future.  Now that I’ve been going outside my home more, the creative block has decreased significantly.

Feeling Hopeful

At this point in time, I’m at a place where I feel content with life.  I’m hoping to keep up this momentum as we transition out of 2023 and head into 2024.  For now, though, I wish you all a happy December!

Did you know I make music? Check out my Spotify page with all music!

– T