I’m participating in WordPress’ annual Bloganuary event, where you post every day for the month of January.

My biggest challenges right now are my procrastination, depression, and chronic health issues. I felt like God was testing me hardcore last year. But I also see these challenges as shaping where this journey takes me.

To echo the former name of this blog, life’s a marathon, not a sprint. And that’s okay. You’ll fall down, but in the words of Captain America, I can do this all day.

Here are the three challenges that I plan to work on for however long it takes.

1. Procrastination

One of the biggest hurdles I grapple with is the eternal battle against procrastination. Despite my best intentions, I often succumb to mindless distractions, doomscrolling but not consuming anything.

I let so much precious time slip through my fingers. I kept up with my responsibilities the past year, but it all felt like I accomplished nothing that moved me to where I needed to be.

2. Depression

I also found myself struggling with the weight of depression. The fog settled into my mind for long periods throughout the past year, making it difficult to find motivation to do anything but the bare minimum. The lingering sadness of the things that I lost and the lack of energy suffocated me, leaving me feeling disconnected.

It’s an ongoing challenge to navigate through the darkness and seek out the glimmers of hope that remind me that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

3. Chronic health issues

I’ve always thought I was a healthy person. However, I had several chronic health issues pop up out of the blue last year, pretty much right on top of the other. Perhaps I didn’t see the signs, and that’s why it felt like it was hitting me all at once. I mean, nothing unusual ever came out of my bloodwork and the symptoms didn’t feel impossible or debilitating like they are now. For real though, dealing with physical ailments consistently pushes my buttons.

The emotional, mental, and physical limitations that make up these conditions do make it challenging to engage in activities that bring me joy or pursue my goals with the same intensity. It is a constant balancing act to manage my health while striving for personal growth and fulfillment.

Not all those who wander are lost

While some might consider these challenges daunting, I’m determined to rise above them. 2024 will be my year of genuine growth, tapping into my reserves to rebuild my resilience, and I’m doing all of this with a renewed sense of purpose. I’m confident that with my stubborn perseverance and support, I’ll overcome these obstacles and emerge stronger on the other side.

I can’t wait to see how the rest of the year shapes up. I gotta keep the energy going!