Here we are—the last day of 2023. And what a busy and eventful year it has been! As I do every year, I’ll end the year with a look at some of the blog highlights of 2023 here on Boomer Eco Crusader. And of course, I’ve got a sneak peek at what’s coming in 2024.

Let’s dive in!

Blog highlights of 2023

It has been a year of growth for Boomer Eco Crusader as I challenged myself to try new forms of writing. Here’s a recap of the highlights.

• I published 104 new posts, and I refreshed and updated all my 2020 posts.
• I kicked off The Sunday Spark series in January. It has been a fun series to write, and it gives me an opportunity to reflect at the end of each week and share things I learned with my readers.
• This was the first full year of Climate Change Collective posts—a series that Jamie Adams and I started in the middle of 2022.
• Although I prefer to focus on accomplishments other than numbers, I did see a 25% increase in blog views, and picked up a bunch of new followers. Thank you!
• In October, I joined the group of talented writers at Wise & Shine, where I post every Monday.
• I made some wonderful new blogging friends and continue to be inspired by the positive and amazing community we have here on WordPress.
• Finally, thanks to two of those new blogging friends, Vicki Atkinson and Wynne Leon, I achieved one of my 60 Before 60 goals to guest on a podcast when I joined them for Episode 39 of Sharing the Heart of the Matter.

Favourite posts of 2023

It’s always interesting to look back at the posts I’ve written over the year and share my favourites. These posts are rarely those with the most views, but they are pieces I’m proud of.  

• Here it is – My 60 before 60 list is a fun to do list to help me celebrate an upcoming milestone birthday.
• The wonderful world of waste management recapped the learnings from an Earth Day tour of our local landfill and recycling centre.
• A Campbell River sunrise inspired this poem was my first attempt at poetry.
• Best homemade soup recipes to warm up winter featured some of my favourite homemade soups.
• I wrote 6 ways to reduce the environmental cost of experiences for the Climate Change Collective. It considers the often-downplayed reality that the experiences that have replaced physical possessions for many also come with an environmental cost.
• Hidden joys and benefits of sustainable living considered how my life has improved since going green.
• In Microforests – A tiny idea with big potential, I shared my involvement with a local tiny forest project.

The Sunday Spark highlight reel

As for The Sunday Spark, reading these weekly posts is like looking at a highlight reel of my year. Here are some highlights:

• In Airport adventures at O’Hare, I told the tale of an eventful evening spent sheltering in place as a tornado approached of the world’s busiest airports…and the scary flight back to Toronto later than night.
• Thanks for 100,000 blog views celebrated a major blogging milestone.
• In Life’s full of beginnings and endings, I pondered life’s transitions including graduations, new jobs, and retirements.
• Surviving the teenage years – I did it! marked another milestone—my younger daughter’s 20^th birthday—with some thoughts on the qualities I admire in my daughters.
• Celebrating 50 years in Canada was an opportunity to consider how my life might have been different if my family had stayed in England.
• In Goodbyes are never easy, I shared my feelings about my older daughter’s move across the country to British Columbia.
• In The power of music to unite people, I reflected on the impact of musical experiences on my life.   
• Maybe island life isn’t for me was a look at the downside of being on an island when bad weather hits.
• In Visiting faraway loved ones, I discussed the challenge of balancing my sustainable living focus with the need to visit family who live across the country, or across the ocean.
• Finally, in What to do with a lucky windfall, I discussed putting raffle winnings to good use.

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Looking ahead to 2024

As I close the book on another year, I’m excited about what lies ahead in 2024. I’ll celebrate my 5^th blogiversary in July—along with my 60^th birthday and our 30^th anniversary. It will be a big month. As promised, here’s a peek into what’s coming this year:

• The Sunday Spark will return next weekend, with a couple of small changes to keep things fresh.
• The Climate Change Collective continues to gain momentum, and we’re always open to new members. If you’d like to join this group of environmentally conscious bloggers, drop me a note.
• After a hectic 2023, I’m feeling a need for another round of decluttering, so I’ll be rebooting the popular 52-Week Decluttering Challenge. Every Friday, I’ll republish a post from 2021 with new tips, learnings and progress.
• And another round of decluttering might just inspire some new Clutter Tales!

And, I have news of an exciting new collaboration to start the year. Stay tuned for more information in the next couple of weeks.

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Thanks to each of you for spending a little bit of 2023 with me. I sincerely appreciate every view, like, share and comment. Happy New Year. I wish you a 2024 filled with peace, joy and love.

What are you excited about for 2024? Drop me a comment below and let me know.