The holidays have come and gone and a new year has started. I was lucky enough to spend Christmas with my family in Nashville. We carried out our family traditions and spoiled one another to no end and counted our blessings along the way. I had quite a bit of time off from work and for the first time in many, many years I did not go out of town. Over the break I had a lot of time to reflect on the year, assess where I am today and lay out plans for the future. In doing so, I decided to send out New Year cards since I didn’t get my act together in time for them to be Christmas cards. I included a recap of the highlights of 2017, and there were a lot!
[box] 2017 was full of travel and adventure! 5 passport stamps, climbed Kilimanjaro (with walking pneumonia) and went deep diving in Belize. I floated the canals in Amsterdam and saw so many gorgeous animals on an African safari (probably one of the coolest things ever!). I bought a new house and new car and welcomed home a labradoodle puppy. I played lots of tennis and even moved up a level in my league and am looking forward to playing more this coming year! I also became a sponsor to a four-year-old orphan named Heritier from Rwanda. As much as I know I am helping him have a better life, he is enriching mine 10 fold. This year I earned a promotion to Director of Marketing which has brought on new challenges and opportunities. I was also lucky enough to spend time with family and friends all over the country! It’s been an exciting year and I cannot wait to see what 2018 has in store![/box]
Those are some pretty amazing highlights and yet, when I look back on 2017, I realize I spent most of the year heartbroken and obsessing over the fact I was alone. I am annoyed that I let myself get so negative. And I don’t know why I let being alone bother me so much? Truth is, I have been alone for over a decade and it’s really not the worst thing in the world. I mean, not ideal but eventually you get used to it [kind of]. Then I had a conversation with my mom and she reminded me “to keep looking on the sunny side,” which in 2017, is something I failed to do, or do well. So aside from my typical resolutions of getting in shape, saving money, etc. I need to really focus on being happy in the moment and not stressing about the things that are not in my control.
The reality is that my life is not starting off any different in 2018 than how it ended in 2017. However, my attitude is going to change. I am going to keep the glass half full. I am going to continue to pursue the things that make me happy. I am going to be healthier both physically and mentally. And when I start to feel that darkness try and creep it’s way in, I am going to come here, to this blog, and remember to find the light.
