2024. My Year Of Discomfort. Hopefully.

Again, another year has come and gone. I have to say, 2023 was a wonderful year of photography for me. I had an opportunity to photograph the rehearsal and dress rehearsal of the Syracuse City Ballet dancers for The Nutcracker production. I photographed an amazing burlesque show; something I’d never done before, and something that unlocked another creative side of me. I was able to check off a bucket list item in December, photographing at the Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas. Those vintage signs, ugh!!! Loved it! 2023 was in many ways, a first of photographic experiences.

I also made a decision in 2023 that, not only was it NOT uncomfortable, I didn’t realize how needed it was. I walked away from a job that I actually really liked, but came with a supervisor who served condescension and microaggressions with a smile. I was fortunate in 2 significant ways. First. I retired from a 35-year career and have a pension coming in. While I really enjoyed the pure financial freedom I had with the extra income, my bills were still paid without it. Second. I know my worth, value, and strength. And because of that, I don’t need to suffer fools for any length of time. So, a little over a week prior to 2024 arriving, after settling on the indisputable fact that it was now time to leave, my parting words on the subject to my supervisor were, “I will NOT take this into 2024. Friday, December 29th will be my last day with Loretto.” And gleefully it was!

Why am I hoping for a year of discomfort you may wonder? For this reason. Being in discomfort, if we take the challenge, can and will push us through it and into places and situations that help us to grow. Sometimes forces us to grow. There are a number of areas in my life that I have become too comfortable with, and that comfort is not serving me. In some cases, it is doing harm. The things I need to do to change this are not hard, but they are uncomfortable. What I have to remember is, the changes are also very necessary.

I have strength, fortitude, and all of the necessary tools to be assertive when someone else challenges me in intentionally unconstructive ways. I don’t have an issue pushing back and saying, “No, no. What you’re trying to do? Not happening. Today or ever.” But there is one person I have not been able to be that firm with. That I back down to. That I let win in moments when I shouldn’t let them win. Who is that person? ME! I can talk myself out of doing the right thing faster than anyone else. Just a single thought. “Meh, start tomorrow.” “Do it later; sit and chill for a looooong while.” “Don’t rush, you’ve got time.” Really? Do I? Do any of us? My year of discomfort is to challenge myself. To be louder than my soothing voice of procrastination and vice. I’ll win some, and I’ll lose some. But I’m getting in the game.

LaTrenda