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Abstract

going treatment for an eating disorder in 2022, I lost 34 pounds this year.</p><h2 id="9123">A Failure</h2><p id="cf21">Another year passed and I didn’t write a novel. Sometimes I worry that I’ll never write one. I know I have the talent, I just need to figure out how to get past my mental blocks and actually do the work.</p><h2 id="9aee">Something To Be Grateful For</h2><p id="c6ba">My two surgeries — one to remove my appendix, the other to remove a polyp in my uterus — went well. The overnight stay for appendicitis was actually pleasant. I had a great room, the halls were quiet, and the food was terrific. My mom even bought me a pretty new dress to wear when I left the hospital.</p><figure id="68fb"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*ImDiJZK8XOXO86g2.jpeg"><figcaption>Leia. Photo courtesy of the author’s mother.</figcaption></figure><h2 id="825d">One thing that happened that you hope doesn’t ever again</h2><p id="747e">My Chihuahua, Leia, escaped from the yard soon after we adopted her and vanished for days in the scorching heat. I thought we had lost her for sure. She’s home safe and sound now — I never want to go through that again!</p><h2 id="74d0">One thing that happened that you hope DOES happen again</h2><p id="ae60">Becoming a travel writer! I have honed my skills here on Medium over the past year and sometime in the future I’d like to write for magazines and newspapers.</p><h

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2 id="473b">Your motto for 2024</h2><p id="a8d9">Write like time is running out.</p><p id="5c26">Here is <a href="undefined">Barb Dalton</a>’s original challenge:</p><div id="e126" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/whats-your-best-and-worst-of-2023-e75196306be4"> <div> <div> <h2>What’s Your Best and Worst of 2023?</h2> <div><h3>And a few other questions to ponder as the year ends</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*bxYBhqsIGvBnyjEwxIY3KA.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="e99c">Check out <i>the Challenged</i>, a publication for writing prompts and challenges:</p><div id="4211" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/the-challenged"> <div> <div> <h2>the Challenged</h2> <div><h3>This publication isa place for writers who enjoy a challenge.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*RU0_HxU6dg33AnyDf6J92A.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

My Best and Worst of 2023

The year was hard as always, but better than 2022!

Standing Stones Bed-Inn Breakfast, Condon, Montana. Photo credit: Erie Astin

An end-of-year writing prompt by Barb Dalton.

Your Best Moment

I took two overnight trips with my mom, one to Standing Stones Bed-Inn Breakfast in Condon, Montana, and one to Philipsburg, Montana, a historic mining town. I also got to take a few scenic day trips in my quest to take a photo of every town in Montana.

Your Worst Moment

All spring and summer, I barely stood on my own two feet, much less walked for exercise. This was partly due to the severe respiratory issues I was having and partly due to my intolerance for heat and brightness with my chronic headaches. I’m slowly building up my stamina again, but it’s a long slog.

Standing Stones Bed-Inn Breakfast, Condon, Montana. Photo credits: Erie Astin

An Accomplishment

After gaining 100 pounds and undergoing treatment for an eating disorder in 2022, I lost 34 pounds this year.

A Failure

Another year passed and I didn’t write a novel. Sometimes I worry that I’ll never write one. I know I have the talent, I just need to figure out how to get past my mental blocks and actually do the work.

Something To Be Grateful For

My two surgeries — one to remove my appendix, the other to remove a polyp in my uterus — went well. The overnight stay for appendicitis was actually pleasant. I had a great room, the halls were quiet, and the food was terrific. My mom even bought me a pretty new dress to wear when I left the hospital.

Leia. Photo courtesy of the author’s mother.

One thing that happened that you hope doesn’t ever again

My Chihuahua, Leia, escaped from the yard soon after we adopted her and vanished for days in the scorching heat. I thought we had lost her for sure. She’s home safe and sound now — I never want to go through that again!

One thing that happened that you hope DOES happen again

Becoming a travel writer! I have honed my skills here on Medium over the past year and sometime in the future I’d like to write for magazines and newspapers.

Your motto for 2024

Write like time is running out.

Here is Barb Dalton’s original challenge:

What’s Your Best and Worst of 2023?

And a few other questions to ponder as the year ends

medium.com

Check out the Challenged, a publication for writing prompts and challenges:

the Challenged

This publication isa place for writers who enjoy a challenge.

medium.com