Thirty-one days
That’s all that’s left of this year. Thirty-one days.
2016 has been a ridiculous year. I moved into a new house. Got divorced. Lost my job.
A year ago, I declared that 2016 would be the year of me. And you know, those three things I just listed that sound pretty terrible on the surface? Those things are part of the year of me.
They are, by far, the hardest things about the year of me, though. Moving into my own place was difficult. And expensive. Getting divorced was really hard. And expensive. And as much as I wanted a new job, losing my job without something else lined up was extremely difficult. And wow…finances suck.
There have been bright spots. Four amazing bright spots.
- This kid, for all that it’s been a hard year for him, is fantastic. He’s four and a half, so that makes him willful, independent, and boundary-testing. He’s also sweet, kind, and generally and happy little guy. He frustrates me and exhausts me and makes my heart grow three sizes every time he tells me how much he loves me.
“I will take our selfie, Mommy.”
- This guy. The beer guy I’ve referenced once or twice. He has definitely been a bright spot in my universe this year. I honestly don’t know how I would’ve gotten through the year without his support. It’s really been a fantastic journey and one that I’m looking forward to continuing, hopefully with much less stress at some point.
- This trip. My solo trip to Iceland, while also very expensive, was amazing. I really went a long ways out of my comfort zone, was wracked with nerves leading up to it, and ended up having an even better time than I’d imagined. There are definitely pros to traveling with someone (someone to talk to and with whom you can take turns driving are two that come to mind), but now that I’ve done this, I know I can do just about anything.
- This job. It’s been a good writing year. I maybe haven’t been as productive as I would’ve liked, but I wrote two full length novels this year, have 1/2 of an Eleanor Morgan world novella done, finished initial edits of a book, hired a cover artist, hired an editor, and am getting close to finishing the BIG edit for that book. I’m hoping to have my first book ready for publication by my 40th birthday (if not before). It’s scary/exciting/terrifying/a little awesome.
So, while overall, my feelings about 2016 can be summed up in one meme:
I wouldn’t change anything.
Well, maybe one thing.
I am, however, very much looking forward to 2017. I don’t know why the one-day difference between 12/31/16 and 1/1/17 will be a game changer, but I need something to pin my hopes on!
2017 – new job, new book, new home (again), and so many exciting new experiences to look forward to. My kidlet will start Kindergarten (!!!!), provided the new job is a decent paying job, I have plans to go to Romania (!!), I’ll get Eleanor Morgan #2 published mid-year (!!!), and I’ll turn 40, which I’m assuming means I’m entering my Awesome Period (!).
Best of luck to everyone out there just trying to make it through this one last month. Thirty-one days. We’ve got this.
Turn faster, dammit!
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