2024 Yearly Theme: Control
The word ‘Control’ evokes various thoughts and emotions, many of which are negative. Control is often associated with an excessive desire to dominate or dictate every aspect of a situation.
The bad guys in movies and in real life desire control at almost any cost.
Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars said the only way to improve life in the galaxy was for him to seize control. Thanos said the only way to save the universe was to control the population by controlling the infinity stones.
Countless dictators and wannabe dictators have justified taking control because they’re the only ones who can save us.
It sounds micro-managy, almost authoritarian when you say, “I want to be more controlling.”
But Control at the right scale is super important. If you don’t control your car, bike, or other vehicle, for example, you will end up hurting yourself or someone else.
In thinking about my next yearly theme, a recent conversation I had with my therapist was top of mind. I told her that I didn’t feel like I was in control of anything.
Not my health. Not my money. Not my time or schedule.
As you’ll see when I grade 2023: The Year of Budgets, it was a pretty tough year. I don’t think I fared well.
When I watch my kids play Super Mario Bros (the NES version, natch), they just kind of mash buttons and wonder why they died.
2023 kind of felt like that for me. I wasn’t doing a good job of controlling myself — which is why 2024 is The Year of Control.
But first, let’s look at 2023.