As 2023 ended, so does part of ourselves as we leave behind a year of world complications that will only impact us more in the future.  As contradicting as that sounds with each passing year, I remain in awe of how there is so much that is changing before our eyes. Every year I like to reflect on what these 12 months were like for me personally as well as highlighting what’s happened in the world (with some bias, of course). We can be both grateful and disappointed at what actually took place and did not. So, in this year’s review of 2023, here is my best shot at what made the cut.

But First … Let’s Start with Me:

 2023 was both a challenging and amazing year for me. It was a year of transition initiated three years ago with the most difficult and final phase of implementation happening in 2023. It is no mistake that I am writing my blog from Oaxaca, Mexico.

In 2023, (if I can gloat a bit) I have:

Closed my 38 year consulting practice,

Sold my house,

Got rid of 50% of 50 years of accumulating stuff (no wonder I needed such a big house),

Store the rest in two storage units near where my sisters live,

Took a 6-week hiatus to live in New York City Chelsea neighborhood (walking the Highline every day),

Spent a month automating my life to become a nomad

Sold my car two days before jumping on a plane to Mexico on Oct 3rd, AND

Been living in Mexico in several of its glorious cities for the last three months of the year.

Not sure I can ever match a year like 2023, but I will keep trying. Now let’s move on to the rest of the world.

Last year, I noted that the war in Ukraine was one of the most impactful events of 2022 as Ukrainians fight for their lives and the world’s freedoms. The Ukrainian war has now entered its second year in 2023 with many victories but also immense loss and fatigue. The devastation has been more acute as it is now affecting the global economy. Who would have guessed there would be a second war of even greater impact? The Israel and Hamas war has been both devastating and controversial with the potential of expanding into a more potent Middle Eastern conflict. There are clearly divided opinions about both wars and as expected, they are now part of our political process. As we enter 2024, get ready to enter a third war … our electoral process. Notwithstanding, there have been ongoing conflicts with China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and many other countries. Democracy is on the chopping block and war is on the menu.

So much of this year’s news has been about the twists and turns (and gimmickry) of the Republican party and their infamous leader. Trump with four indictments totaling 91 charges is the leading candidate headed towards the 2024 primaries for the Republican Party. Can it be that the upcoming presidential election will be a repeat of 2020 for the Divided States of America? For now, the world will have to wait and see how both parties duke it out.

While still on the subject of politics, I do want to register the relentless nauseating news and drama of both former Congressman Santos and Senator Menéndez. Woeful examples of what is happening to our political system. Thank God we can laugh off some of this wretched behavior watching SNL (Saturday Night Live).

On a more serious note, there is the growing impact of climate change. Just about every day there is some billion-dollar disaster happening across the globe. Everything from wildfires to flooding, blizzards, record breaking heat temperatures and droughts. Who would have ever imagined that the skyline of New York City would turn an eerie, smoking orange color haze caused by Canadian wildfires?

Climate change can also impact the frequency of earthquakes. Globally, in 2023 we had severe earthquakes starting with Turkey, Morocco, Afghanistan, Nepal, Ecuador, Pakistan and the Philippines and on January 1^st of 2024 Japan (watch out California). Yet our world leaders lack the leadership to do anything about climate change. The world belongs to those in the present, forget the next 20 generations.

Two more trends that dominated world news and will continue into 2024 are: The growing hateful rhetoric affecting LGBTQ+, minority and migrant communities, everything from erasing history, banding their books and movies to increase violence and laws that perpetuate racism, sexism and xenophobia. It is important to note that in 2023, attacks on Black history, affirmative action in college admissions, and court cases against access to abortion have laid the groundwork for more battles to come.  It’s time to keep score and strategize.

The growing use and fear of AI and how best to not control it (seems to be where this is going) since no one knows what to do to stop it from taking over humans. We are watching too many Sci-Fi movies or there is a Genisys (Terminator) in our future.

Ok enough with being a Debbie Downer. What actually happened that was good?

The pandemic is clearly behind us as we now have newer vaccines to combat variants. But it has changed the world. Remote work and zooming are now part of the workforce. Although, there is a desire by corporations and government for all to return to the office, it is here to stay with some limits.  It has also revolutionized the travel world, as there are fewer limits from where you can zoom and see the world.   Clearly, this does not apply to the billions of workers who do not have the option to work remotely. Regardless, it is still a win for labor and work/life balance. But there is more …

In 2023, we experience one of the strongest resurgences of union strikes among several industries in the US succeeding in their quest for greater equity in pay and benefit reforms for auto workers, writers, actors, health workers and many others. Union membership is moving up at a time when it is much needed to address the inequities of corporate greed. Not as successful were Paris unions, who could not stop the raising of the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Justice was won for two Georgia election workers who filed a defamation lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani where the verdict of $148 million in damages was awarded to these two public servants who are black women. Hopefully, this will make others think before they engage in pushing outrageous lies about the election process and the people who work to maintain it.

Finally, while inflation is not where we would like it to be, the predicted recession by many, including me, did not happen (Yeah, sometimes it is good to be wrong)

 Best and Worst of Pop Culture…. moving on to something more entertaining

Pop culture is what keeps us curious and in a good mood when we are confronted daily with depressing news and bad humans.  We all can use a little gossip.  Starting with the worst of pop culture, here are my picks:

 The Worst

This year the very privileged was well behaved and there was no major scandal or court case yet to write about. However, there were all these biographies written by the rich and famous about their “suffering” privileged life. Paris Hilton‘s memoirs, Ugh, like who gives a dick? The same goes to Pamela Anderson, Jada Pinkett, and Britney Spears. Surprisingly, Britney and Jada’s books made it among the NY Times Best Sellers. Let me not forget Prince Harry’s book “Spare” (another privileged suffering drama) ranked as #2 on the NY Times Best Sellers. I guess for a more balanced story, we will need to wait another ten years for Netflix to produce a second Crown series about the Royals.

Others who are on the Bad list of celebrity behaviors for 2023 are:

Sean Diddy Combs, who immediately settled a lawsuit over rape and sexual abuse (that would have been a great court case to watch).

Lizzo who is accused of sexual harassment by her dancers. I love Lizzo’s positivity and body autonomy and was taken aback by this contradiction. Lets see where this lawsuit goes in 2024.

Drew Barrymore, who got plenty of heat over not “really-really” supporting the writers’ strike. Fame and money can get the best of you.

Elon Musk, bad boy genius had to apologize for his anti-Semitic statement. By the way, his biography made the NY Times Best Sellers list in 2023 ranked as #2 in part because it was written by Walter Isaacson, a worldly respected biographer and journalist.

Sad News

Although there were many celebrities that left us in 2023, such as Queen Elizabeth (who lived a very privileged life) there was one death that I believed was most impactful. The life of Matthew Perry is one that is worth reflecting on. There are so many families and their children who are fighting severe addictions to drugs and alcohol. Fame and money apparently did not offer Matthew a way out. It most likely was a contributing factor. I admire his honesty about his condition and advocacy work for rehabilitation, although in the end it was too much for him. I bid a heartfelt goodbye to all those souls who were causalities of this dreadful disease.

The Best

Got to love Taylor Swift, she rocks, and does it without being outrageous gaining a larger audience as she ages. I hope she continues to play an even bigger role in getting young people to vote.

Great movies are back and are more influential than ever. The Barbie movie was groundbreaking and did more for the feminist movement and the color pink than those ugly pussy hats. I hated both the hat and the name. I can’t say I was crazy about the movie, especially the ending, but the concept was very provocative and that is where filmmaking needs to be. Kudos to Gretchen Gerwig and the actors on delivering magic.

The other influential movie of our times is Oppenheimer, the creation of a weapon to end all wars. Didn’t quite happen that way. Is the invention of AI the next Oppenheimer? There are plenty of folks that think so.

The movie Maestro, the story of Leonard Bernstein’s life directed and acted by Bradley Cooper offers us a glimpse of the complicated life of a gay man living in two worlds. Both beautifully directed and acted by Bradley.

I have yet to watch Killers of the Flower Moon which has some controversy as expected when trying to tell an ugly side of American history. Don’t be surprised if it banned in some states.

Lastly, I want to again channel Time’s Top 100 Photos of the Year by sharing Limited Limitless Living’s Top 50 Photos for 2023. My love for photography truly liberates me and so the choosing of 50 photos was just too damn hard. The photos are of everything I love about cities and people. My travels were plentiful this past year and are a big part of this year’s choices.   Photos are from New York City, Miami and Mexico ( Merida,Campeche, Oaxaca, Loreto). I did add an extra one, a pic of me for the fun of it.  Remember to click the center of the photo to see the full view. If interested in reading my 2022 year in review and photos, click here.

Final Note 

As we enter the year 2024, I do have some anxiety about will be another tumultuous year. We do not know what to expect of the world and can only hope that whatever it is, we can make the best of it. In 2024, I wish for peace and that we all find within ourselves what makes us happy. Happy New Year!!!