Way back in January, when I posted my first blog entry of the year, I was feeling a mix of pessimism and optimism. (It seems like a lifetime ago now, given what my wife and I endured this year.) I weighted the pessimism a little more heavily. Not long after that post, work and life seemed to be showing signs of improvement. Then everything started into a a slow spiral downward.
It would take probably a couple thousands words to describe the hell we went through in 2022. The worst of it was my wife needing brain surgery to remove a meningioma that had been discovered by accident, and had grown in size. She had it removed on March 1, and our lives became very complicated after that. Her recovery was slow. She had balance issues, appetite issues, weight loss, emotional outbursts, and temper tantrums that were very unlike her. Many other health problems, tests, new medications (and stopping some others), and doctor visits followed.
In October, I contracted Covid-19 despite my best efforts to prevent contraction. Then my wife got it from me. A couple days later, she was hospitalized due to a bout of severe IBS-C and had to be admitted to the hospital while sick with Covid. We both recovered somehow, and started to wonder if things were ever going to be back to normal.
By default, I became a nearly full-time caregiver while trying to freelance. I did manage to take on a couple new clients, but the year never took off like I’d hoped it would.
In terms of business and freelancing, I’ve had one steady client for a year and a half now, and it’s satisfying work, but 2022 was yet another year that kept me in the category of “under-employed.” I managed to get another client out in California who represents two companies, and he’s been a real pleasure to work with. I hope that relationship continues in 2023.
Overall though, I have to say I’m not super encouraged by what’s happening in the US economy. The business confidence and pandemic recovery doesn’t seem to be there yet. I depend on the marketing budgets set by companies, and whether or not they feel that new creative efforts are worth spending money on. And even if they did feel flush with new money to spend, I can’t even guarantee that I have a place on their roster of go-to freelancers. All I can do is email them quarterly and remind them that I still exist and I’m available for work. My self-promotional efforts and marketing assets are in good shape, so at least I have that to rely on.
By Thanksgiving, it seemed like the worst of the year was behind us, and the December holidays were overall pretty good. I have no idea what to expecte for 2023. I can only hope and pray for a healthier, calmer year.
To those of you who’ve read this, I wish you a healthy, happy new year. Enjoy!