After months of navigating grief and professional obligations, J.D., the voice behind the personal finance platform Get Rich Slowly, has announced a significant shift in his personal and creative trajectory. Following the passing of his mother two months ago, J.D. reports that the emotional fog has finally begun to lift, sparking a renewed sense of motivation and a commitment to prioritize his own physical and mental well-being in the months ahead.
In a candid update shared with readers, J.D. revealed that a period of deep soul-searching, undertaken alongside his partner Kim, led to the realization that he needed to fundamentally alter how he manages his time and energy. The result is a bold, albeit initially uncomfortable, resolution for the upcoming year: declaring 2023 as "The Year of Me."
This concept of theming distinct periods of time is not entirely new to J.D. Over a decade ago, he regularly assigned themes to his years and months, a practice he found both enjoyable and remarkably fruitful. Whether he was dedicating a specific span of time to physical fitness, writing, or dating, these focused efforts consistently yielded positive outcomes. However, as the demands of life accumulated over the years, this habit eventually fell by the wayside, leaving him accustomed to placing his own needs second, third, or even ninth in line.
Recognizing that he has spent too long making excuses and allowing external distractions to interfere with his health, J.D. has decided to flip the script. Starting immediately, his primary objective for the foreseeable future is to put himself first. While he acknowledges that this shift initially feels foreign, selfish, and contrary to his usual habits, he maintains that prioritizing his own well-being is a necessary step. Furthermore, he points out the inherent paradox of self-care: by taking better care of himself, he is far more likely to become a stronger, more supportive presence for others, including his readership.
For the dedicated readers of Get Rich Slowly, J.D. reassures them that the core experience of the site will remain largely unchanged. The true transformation is taking place internally. By granting himself the permission to place his personal needs and desires at the forefront, he anticipates generating fresh perspectives and renewed creative fodder for future articles. Additionally, he notes that this renewed focus will finally pave the way for the long-awaited completion of the site’s ongoing de-design.
However, as part of this conscious commitment to his own well-being, J.D. is deliberately stepping away from rigid publishing and production schedules. Moving forward, he plans to write organically—sharing thoughts when he has something meaningful to say, and remaining silent when he does not. He notes that the current update itself was born out of this spontaneous approach, written during a brief window of free time following a life-design exercise and just before a scheduled call with a friend.
This flexible mindset extends to the types of content readers can expect. While long-form, highly focused articles will not disappear entirely, readers are likely to see more conversational, reflective posts that capture his immediate thoughts and ongoing personal developments.
2023 — The Year of Me
The decision to reclaim his time and focus is deeply intertwined with recent intellectual explorations. During a Thanksgiving road trip to California to visit Kim’s family, the couple listened to The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. The book, which explores the psychological worldview of Alfred Adler and which J.D. suggests might be more accurately titled The Courage to Be Happy, provided substantial food for thought during the long drive.
Although the book is written in the style of a Socratic dialogue—a format that J.D. found occasionally tedious—it was packed with profound insights. The unconventional nature of Adlerian psychology initially presented concepts that seemed entirely opaque without context, prompting J.D. to plan a return to the text in Kindle format to skim for its most valuable takeaways. He has also hinted that a comprehensive review or summary of the book could eventually make its way onto Get Rich Slowly.
A Values-Driven Life
The themes of self-determination and intentional living were further underscored by a highlighted passage from Stephen R. Covey’s classic work, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which resurfaced via J.D.’s Readwise app. The quote emphasizes the fundamental difference between reactive individuals, who are driven by fleeting feelings, environmental conditions, and external circumstances, and proactive individuals, who allow themselves to be guided by carefully considered, internalized values.
Reflecting on Covey’s words, J.D. realized that a primary catalyst for his current burnout and need for a reset was a gradual erosion of his ability to control impulses, coupled with a detachment from his core values. Recognizing this drift, he has already begun taking proactive steps to curb reactionary habits, such as removing time-consuming distractions like Reddit and Hearthstone from his iPad.
By stepping back from strict operational expectations and refocusing on his foundational values, J.D. aims to navigate the coming year with greater intentionality. While the format of his future updates may vary—ranging from short observations to expansive conversational pieces—the underlying mission remains clear: an internal realignment designed to foster long-term health, balance, and authenticity.
