I am going to preface this first post by saying that I have attempted these blogs in the past and fell off pretty quickly. Mainly because it was on 2+2 and I really don't like that forum much. Over the years, everything I have seen here on runitonce has been very pleasant and at times very helpful to answer a lingering question. For that, thanks to the runitonce community. Also, I enjoy writing, but really hate social media. I think the hating social media aspect is what turns me off in the end. But I am getting inspired by my friend Chow's blog he started last week (glad your back in the saddle buddy) and enthusiastic about some poker conversations we've been having and the study plans we are in the process of formulating... so anyway I figured lets give this another shot and try not to pressure myself so much to be posting and just write when I feel like it.

With that out of the way.

It's a new year. Another year has past playing this game we all love and unfortunately not really being where I hoped to be when I first got the poker study twinkle in my eye years ago. It's been a rough road all the way through...and poker in 2021 was no different. The first half of the year was a nightmare. The biggest downswing I have ever had in my poker journey lasting four months straight and over 50 buyins down. I know though that a lot of it was my fault, being stubborn about what sites I was playing, not picking the right game format for myself and just plain playing badly for a good chunk of it. The second half of the year... specifically from July 19 onward, went in a bit of a different direction however. With the help of a really great coach, I feel like I made some spectacular progress. Shortly after my first few sessions my win rate jumped significantly with his advice and for about three months I was on cloud 9, as they say. Since then the high I was on has dissipated, but for once over the last few years, I finally feel like I have some semblance of direction... that I am finally going to get somewhere with this game and overall it feels good I suppose. Just hopefully it wasn't short lived... not running too hot right now and don't feel I am currently playing the best I can despite having the most game knowledge I have ever had.

2022..... I haven't thought a lot about my poker goals for this year. I haven't thought a lot about my goals for anything in my life yet for that matter and I really need to do that. I'm getting older and I have lived every year for the past I don't know how long, in a state of "winging it". That may not be the right way to put it, but i'll leave it at that. This year.... I just want to be disciplined... just want to grow as a poker player and a person as a whole... just want to find my path so to speak. Maybe i'll elaborate on this in future posts or maybe I won't... I dunno, but right now I feel a bit lost in what I want from life and for my future. Maybe writing in this blog will actually help put things into perspective and determine what I really want from life in my poker, in my career and in my personal life. Anyway... sorry if anyone reading this finds the post to be a bit of a 1am ramble...

Welcome 2022.. hopefully you're a good one. Happy New Year and wish you all the best of luck at the tables this year.