Feystorm
Reflections of 2012 – Hopes for the New year
Dec 31, 2012
I started this year stressed and worried about what 2012 would hold. But, as always, I was hopeful. And what a year it has turned out to be for me! An absolutely fabulous, wonderful, incredible year that surpassed any hopes I could have had.
Most important in my eyes was my wedding. I go on and on about my husband, and sometimes do, driving people nuts. But in my opinion, this is how it SHOULD be. I love my husband, deeper each and every day. When he comes home, my eyes light up and my heart is happy. He is truly my best friend and my soul mate. I don’t ever want to imagine my life without him. This man makes my soul smile, and I couldn’t ask for more. All I can ask is that we are able to hold onto our love for the rest of our lives together, and a hope that each year we continue to grow and work together for that goal.
I also spent some in person time with my best friend, as she travelled three times from Canada to see me. First time was for the wedding. It may be weird to some for me to have had a best friend for 3 years that I never met before in person – but others who know me, know that this is just me. I talked to Candy almost every day, and we couldn’t be closer unless we were twins. She’s my sister from another mister, and I am grateful for her love and friendship. This year allowed us to spend some quality time together, laughing and carrying on like teenagers. It was as if we had lived next door for the last few years, instead of over 2500 miles apart. Our plans for the future have many more visits between the two of us, and our constant contact on the phone. Thank goodness that Verizon finally added Canada to their unlimited texting plan. Saved me some serious money – more $$$ for traveling lol ;).
This year also saw me go on my weight loss journey and adventure. I mention it solely because of the friendships I have gained, from the beautiful women that have shared this journey with me. I have had the opportunity this year to meet some incredible inspirational women who show me just what determination and beauty really are. Alison is my personal superhero, and my forgiving lawyer mentor. Ms Shell is my no-nonsense, kick in the butt when needed! Jenn is a beauty who is finding strength where she didn’t realize she had it. All three are the definition of beauty and inspiration, and I count myself incredibly lucky to have met these women and shared this path with them. Another amazing couple I have met is Mike & Linda B. Their love for each other and the way they encourage each other and others gives me hope. They appeal to the romantic part of me that I try (badly) to hide. I hope that we all continue to grow as friends in the next few years. Lots of 5k’s, meetups, and shopping trips. I am planning to cheer on Alison in her triathalon. I have the utmost faith in her!
My children always have been and always will be the joy in my life. They give me so much happiness and fill me with pride. Michael went from failing out of high school to being on the honor’s list at the end of the year. That’s pretty exciting. He’s had surgery on his knee, coming through like a trooper and being diligent about his physical therapy. He’s going to be chef – and has plans to attend culinary school. Taking culinary night classes has made him quite happy. He’s growing up to be a fine young man. Sierra has grown up right before my eyes. She’s currently determined to become a vet, and my hope is for that to continue. She has developed a severe tomboy streak and has gone from having hair to her butt to having shaved up the back of her head. Lol. She continues to do amazing in school. I love watching her grow into the little lady she is quickly (too much so) becoming. Miley is already 4 years old, and I can’t believe how quickly the time passes. She will start school next fall – amazing to me. I have one child preparing to leave the nest and another starting kindergarten in the next year. Floors me. Michael should be able to do driver’s education in this coming year. My poor car. Lol. Sierra is going to take a horse riding/care class to see if her interest in this holds. Miley is growing up and starting school. Children grow too fast for my tastes. lol.
My hope for the next year is to pass the bar. I’d like to say that it wasn’t the most important thing in the world to me – but honestly, it truly is. I have worked so hard for this point to come. I will graduate, of that I have no doubt, but that bar exam looms over me like a monster in a small child’s closet. It is like throwing a rock into a still pond – the results of that test will have a ripple effect on the rest of my world. My plan is to study my ass off. I can give up the next few months of my life in exchange for the next few decades of doing what I want (more or less lol). I have not come this far to fail!
Also, I hope that the next year sees more time spent with my best friend. I love the trips we get with each other. I also plan to take my son on a trip to visit the culinary school of his dreams. I hope that he gets to see his dreams fulfilled.
My greatest hope is to just spend more time with my family. I love the quiet moments I spend with my husband, and the busy moments spent with my kids. I want to enjoy more coffee time with my sister-in-law, who I have grown to be good friends with. Spending some time with my friends going shopping, drinking coffee or just being silly, are among some of my simple, yet happy goals for the new year. 2013 holds great hopes and dreams for me and my family. I plan to work hard to see everyone achieve their goals.
This year has held its share of troubles and sorrows. Some sad realizations have come to pass, but as tough as they are, all things happen for a reason. I have learned some painful, but valuable lessons this last year. I don’t plan to forget them in the years to come. I will use them to grow stronger and overcome anything in my path. I will show them to my children as examples of how hard life can be, but how it is possible through our own choices to overcome and persevere. No one’s opinion determines who we are or what we are worth! We chart our own paths, plan the types of people we wish to become, and our worth is determined by the love and goodness we send out in the world and receive in kind, not the bitterness and hatefulness some people choose to spread. I firmly believe that life is completely what we make of it. We CHOOSE how our life turns out. Whether it is through our actions or inactions, the choices we make, good or bad, determine the life we live.
As for me, I choose hope, love and happiness. I make a decision each day to choose to be happy. Oh, some days it is soooo incredibly hard, and I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. Sometimes people hurt me or let me down, and I just want to curl up and cry myself to sleep. But then I remember that I can choose to let something that someone else chose, to ruin my whole day/week/month/life, or I can choose to not let allow it to have an effect. That is all up to me. I choose to pick myself up, and persevere towards the life I want. It matter not what others want for me, or whether they like my life. It only matters what I choose to think, believe and act upon.
May everyone look back on their past year with a smile and turn it forward to a new year, filled with hope and love.
