As the year ends we think about the year that just finished. No year for me has ever been perfect, some better than others, but all of them zip by fast looking back. As you look ahead, however, it seems the opposite; especially when you have upcoming tough challenges. It’s harder to manage the unknown than the known. I’m still challenged late at night with the nagging doubt “how am I ever going to get through all that?” My long term parlor trick for survival is planning milestone events throughout the year and progressively moving from one to the next. Don’t try to hit them all at once, but instead stretch them out along the way. When year end arrives you’ll think about those hard moments that passed but they’ll seem small compared to the good that actually happened. Now that 2023 is almost behind me, I remember some difficult moments, but the good far outweighs the bad.
Looking back will remind you, believe it or not, you once crawled through worse hardships than you’re experiencing now. The hardest patch for me was in 5th grade when every Sunday my father would drag us down to my grandmother Lawson’s house after church. We weren’t allowed to touch anything inside and instead had to listen to her gripe about every topic under the Sun for hours on end. It was awful, especially since we were pinned to the couch watching The Farm Report on a black and white TV and couldn’t escape. At least my father could hide behind the New York Times and pretend to listen. To end this madness, my brother Chris took matters in his own hands and unplugged her Philco TV thinking it would distract her complaining. Unfortunately, she had an octopus of electrical cords all fed into one socket, so when Chris gave it a yank he got a massive shock that shot out a blue arc and dimmed the power in the whole house. I thought for a moment I was going to have to face future Sundays all alone. Lucky for me Chris got to live another day.
As I look back now I could easily start rattling off all of the pain and misery I experienced in 2023, but I catch myself because I’d sound just like my Grandmother Gertrude Lawson. Instead, I think with fondness about 2023’s timeline which included Diane turning 60, Kelsey and Devin having another baby, David and Tatiana getting married, and Dillon and Carly getting married. Without a doubt we raised plenty of toasts this Christmas as a family celebrating a great 2023. Last January Matt Tormey asked me what my New Year’s Resolution was and I said without blinking, “To be around next year.” So, in that light, I’m signing up for 2024. No matter what low points are thrown my way I’ve got plenty of stepping stones to reach so I can raise a toast by next December and confidently say, “2024, what a great year.” Slainte!
Hi Pete Lawson, I read your life story.
I was very happy with how he overcame himself throughout the treatment.
May God bless you and your family always.
signed, Franklin here from Brazil.
Thanks Franklin, Happy New Year!
Franklin, thanks for your good wishes. Pete
Hi Pete, thanks for responding.
Happy New Year!!! Always best to look forward!!! We’re so lucky 🍀!! Stay well friend and cheers 🥂 to all the good!!!!
Slainte!
Thanks for your 2024 resolution Peter, I’m going to use it as mine as well!
Write it down and make that resolution a reality 🍀 See you in 2024. Merry Christmas and Healthy and Happy New year😎🍀
Nice job as usual, Pete. Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year for you and the family!
Thanks again…,🎄❤️🎄❤️🙏👍
Once again….THANK YOU..!!❤️🎄❤️
Cheers and looking forward to the many fun filled stepping stones we will experience in 2024….2025….2026 and on! Slainte My Brother!
Glad to hear that you signed up for another round. There will more Notre Dame victories, more great times with your family, and tons of inspiration for the rest of us. Vaya con Dios amigo.
Glad to see you signed up for another year. There will be more wins for Notre Dame, more great moments with your family, and a ton of inspiration for the rest of us. Vaya con Dios amigo.
You’ve been through a lot and I always enjoy reading your memories and thoughts. Happy new year!
My plan for 2024 includes reading your message every Wednesday until next Christmas, and the make a plan to do that for 2025 and years to come….from Tim McMullin. Slainte
Now that was a great review for you of 2023 ! You certainly have plenty of Family events to stay positive . Keep on kicking Negativity out the back door !
I love you, Mr. Lawson.❤️☘️🪳
Another extrmely inspirational message, Pete! Thanks for the uplift you give to all of us. You certainly have a beautiful family! Slainte 🍾🥂
Another good one Mr Lawson, you definitely had a very busy year that’s for sure and made some amazing memories. How exciting a new baby on the way. I am 100 % percent sure that Quinn doesn’t have the same experience as you did visiting your grandma – I have witnessed the fun she has visiting her grandparents, as will the new baby. Hope he likes football and fishing. Sending all our love as we enter the New Year and look forward to making more memories together.