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If 2012 was about change, both seeking it and then dealing with it when it happened (or didn't happen), then 2013 was a year of adventures. Literal adventures - I spent more time on planes and trains last year than I care to count - and metaphorical, as I embarked on the adventure of falling in love and beginning to build a life with a fantastic person.
When I sat down this year to write an end-of-year/start-of-year/goals & resolutions-type post, it made me take a long hard look at my life. And when I did that, I realised something awesome: I pretty much have everything I ever wanted.
A beautiful home that, in the not-too-distant-future, I'll get to share with a brilliant dude.
A job that - while demanding and stressful - is never dull. I work with great kids, I talk about books and writing all day, and I manage to maintain a reasonable work-life balance despite the crazy hours teachers have.
A good wage that enables me to buy the things I want, go on fun date nights, and travel regularly.
A family that is happy, healthy, and only a couple of hours drive away.
A group of friends, both IRL and online, who I know are there for me no matter what.
A body with which I am more at peace than ever before.
A man whom I love, and am loved by, and who makes every moment spent with him a joy.
And so my goal for 2014 is to realise how fucking lucky I am, and to remember all of the good before I dwell on the small irritants of life. This goal is important because I suppose the only fly in the ointment of 2013 was being diagnosed with not one, but two long-term medical conditions that, while both manageable, are exacerbated by stress. I always thought I dealt with stress pretty well, but my body had other ideas. While my mind stays (relatively) calm, my body betrays me and can make me feel pretty miserable. I figure that if I can count my blessings and be happy about the good stuff, maybe the bad stuff - my stupid illnesses - will improve and then I really will have everything I could need.
Oh wow, so much of this echoes the post *I* just published. I'm glad you're so much happier this year and glad you're focusing on the joy and glad you're tackling the health stuff, and I hope this is the year we get to talk about it all in person!
ReplyDeleteThat's weird - they really are almost word-for-word at times! And yes, 2014 really needs to be the year we finally meet up x
DeleteAh, what a great post! It sounds like you're in a great place, and I'm sure 2014 is going to be a great year for you! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteJaney x
Thanks, & happy new year too!
DeleteI'm really glad to hear that you're feeling happy with your life right now - remembering to be grateful for it is such a lovely resolution :) What a positive start to 2014!
ReplyDeleteI just hope I can maintain it once the stresses and strains of work start to bite!
DeleteYay, it sounds like you've had a great year and things are going well :) I feel a bit like this aswell, isn't it funny when you stop and think and realise that life is pretty darn good?! Hope 2014 is awesome for you x
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes it's a good thing to take a moment to look around and realise, hey, I have it pretty good here!
DeleteThis is such a positive post, I love it.
ReplyDelete