Reflecting on 2022 (So Far)
I wanted to write a recap of how this year has been. More specifically, I wanted to talk about how amazing fatherhood is, how cool Graham is, how inspiring Kim is, etc.
But, as I thought about what to write, a series of bizarre misfortunes piled up on us in the span of 3 hours. And it really just reminded me that 2022 has been a rough year for all three of us. Honestly, it’s been the hardest year of my life, and it’s not even a contest.
This won’t be an especially fun read, but give me a few minutes to get it all out there. I promise the payoff will be worth it.
Series of unfortunate events
We started off 2022 by getting COVID. In February, we all got the worst stomach bug any of us have ever experienced. (Kim said she would rather go through labor again than get this bug a second time, which… I mean, wow.) Two days after that, we moved into an apartment and had to have the floors completely redone, but the workers didn’t cover anything so a lot got soiled or outright ruined.
By the end of that week, Graham was running a 105-degree fever; after a frantic trip to the ER we discovered he had his first set of ear infections. This would become a persistent issue that bothered him every day for the next three months. And while he went through five rounds of antibiotics, Kim and I both got bacterial infections that beat us down for six weeks, leading to a dozen doctor visits and more expenses than I care to add up.
(Graham had surgery to have tubes put in his ears, which thankfully helped him avoid any long-term hearing loss or health issues. He transformed overnight, and seeing how comfortable and happy he is now made all of the hassle worth it.)
The misfortunes weren’t limited to our health. In February, half my department got laid off. Then our Marketing VP quit in March, our marketing director left in April, and our content manager (my boss) swapped teams in May. Those things aren’t horrific on their own, because I still have a job. But it’s been chaotic ever since, with people fighting for power as we restructure the department and shift responsibilities.
Also, Kim’s phone had to be replaced, our car broke down, I traveled to a friend’s wedding… Not all “bad” things, but expenses and complications that put even more strain on us.
Searching for the bright side
For context, that laundry list of bad news only includes about five months. Basically, every facet of our life has been in a constant state of disarray and uncertainty since the end of January. It’s an almost comical combination of things going wrong, and it’s been brutal.
I don’t think either of us have felt quite so drained and dejected as we have this year. Thankfully, it hasn’t put too much of a strain on our marriage, although there have been tough days.
But you know what? We also paid off the last penny of over $70,000 in debt in March. Finishing our debt free journey — which took 20 months and a whole lot of hard work — is one of the most fulfilling and satisfying things I’ve ever done. And it only happened because of Kim’s hard work and meticulous budgeting, even with pieces of our life falling apart all around us.
Somehow, in spite of six months of one misery after another, this has been one of the best years of my life. Sure we’ve seen a lot of obstacles. And sure, we’re more drained than we’ve ever been. But we’re also content, surrounded by people who love us, and aware of more blessings than we deserve. More importantly, we’re in a place where the future feels limitless and we are free to dream — and actively pursue — the life we want.
Things in life will go wrong. While my family often groans about the curse of the “Gula Luck,” misfortune is an inevitable fact of life. But when things do go wrong, what else can we do but remember that God has provided for us and will continue to provide for us?
It’s not an insurance policy against broken-down cars, 105-degree fevers, or demotions at work. But it is a reminder that things keep working out in the end. God has met every single one of our needs to date, so I’m not going to worry about what may happen tomorrow.
I’d much rather enjoy the good things around me instead.