In what has to be the first time in nearly a decade, I managed to stay up until midnight and ring in the new year. Usually the clock turns well after I'm in bed but this year - woo hoo! I toasted in 2015. It makes me feel like I've already achieved something and the year has just begun.
I'm not sorry to see 2014 in the rearview, given the year that I've had. It will definitely be a memorable one - some good, some not so good. As is my tradition, today I took some time to look back at the year that was.
THE GOOD
There was plenty of good stuff that happened this year. A few highlights in particular:
Phoenix in January. I really liked Phoenix (especially the shopping) and the run there. My time was horrific as per usual, but I enjoyed the experience and every mile felt good. Especially after the long hard slog of winter training. As it turns out, it was my only race for the year. I'm glad it could be in such a beautiful place.
A decade of marriage! It seems hard to believe because it feels like our wedding was just yesterday. But we've now passed the ten mile mark. We're not newlyweds anymore, we're seasoned married folks.
A promotion at work. I somewhat resisted the new role - thus the fact I broke the organization record on how many times they had to extend my interim contract - but it seems to fit me. The best part of my job is my wonderful colleagues, who have also become dear friends. Could not, would not do it without them.
More time for me. I still need to do work on this but this year, more than any other in the last few years, I feel like I've made definite progress. I actually have some hobbies now! And speaking of hobbies...
Having sew much fun. Yup, it turns out that if you do something even half-assed consistently you will get better at it. Since I've put some time into sewing I've seen definite improvement. And of course when you start to get good at something, it's way more fun.
Wicket turned 8. I like to think he will live to be 20 or 25, but as Dennis likes to remind me - anything after 14 is fair game. I am in no way ready for him to leave me. I will never, ever be ready. Therefore every birthday he has is a joyful celebration.
More time with family. My experience with cancer has definitely brought us closer and I'm grateful for all the time we've had together this year.
THE BAD
My life is very blessed but of course it's not perfect. A few struggles this year:
Lean in the media. It's hard when something you believe in deeply is trampled in the court of public opinion day after day. On the one hand, I'm glad we're having some real conversations about our health care system and what we want from it. But it's frustrating when there is so much misinformation and misunderstanding out there. It has been hard to be positive but it has helped develop resilience and a thick skin.
Still at my holiday weight. Actually several holidays combined, at this point. I really gotta do something about this. This year is the year for me, if for no other reason than to be healthy in case I need to get in the ring and go a few rounds with cancer again some time.
The book backlog continues. Ugh, this one. The problem is it's very easy to buy books but much harder and time-consuming to read them. Add to that, Netflix has all 5 seasons of Hart to Hart online now so my bedtime routine (when I typically read) has some competition for my attention. It's not that I don't read. I'm an avid reader but an even more enthusiastic purchaser. When you love books, you keep buying them because they all seem so interesting. What I need to do is actually put some hard numbers to it - count and see how many books I have to read, and then figure out a reasonable pace and target. (Okay, I'm feeling a little scared about the hard numbers thing. I have a feeling it's going to be sobering.)
My fitness routine has taken a nosedive. Between all my surgeries and procedures, I haven't been able to be as regular with my routine as I would have liked. I've also had a level of fatigue that I've never experienced before. All in all, this year is probably the most unwell I've felt in my life. Most days I feel like a 90 year old. On a good day maybe a vibrant 90 year old. And I hate it. I miss feeling that sense of vitality.
THE UGLY
There is thankfully only one thing on this list but it's a doozy:
Breast cancer. While there have been many things I've been grateful for in my experience with cancer, the disease itself is not one of them. Cancer is horrible. It means tests, needles, surgeries, pain, suffering, fear and the end of your life as you knew it. No matter how good your prognosis, cancer puts a question mark after everything. I would not wish this on anyone.
And was the year that was! Next up - reflections on my hopes for the year that will be.
I'm not sorry to see 2014 in the rearview, given the year that I've had. It will definitely be a memorable one - some good, some not so good. As is my tradition, today I took some time to look back at the year that was.
THE GOOD
There was plenty of good stuff that happened this year. A few highlights in particular:
Phoenix in January. I really liked Phoenix (especially the shopping) and the run there. My time was horrific as per usual, but I enjoyed the experience and every mile felt good. Especially after the long hard slog of winter training. As it turns out, it was my only race for the year. I'm glad it could be in such a beautiful place.
A decade of marriage! It seems hard to believe because it feels like our wedding was just yesterday. But we've now passed the ten mile mark. We're not newlyweds anymore, we're seasoned married folks.
A promotion at work. I somewhat resisted the new role - thus the fact I broke the organization record on how many times they had to extend my interim contract - but it seems to fit me. The best part of my job is my wonderful colleagues, who have also become dear friends. Could not, would not do it without them.
More time for me. I still need to do work on this but this year, more than any other in the last few years, I feel like I've made definite progress. I actually have some hobbies now! And speaking of hobbies...
Having sew much fun. Yup, it turns out that if you do something even half-assed consistently you will get better at it. Since I've put some time into sewing I've seen definite improvement. And of course when you start to get good at something, it's way more fun.
Wicket turned 8. I like to think he will live to be 20 or 25, but as Dennis likes to remind me - anything after 14 is fair game. I am in no way ready for him to leave me. I will never, ever be ready. Therefore every birthday he has is a joyful celebration.
More time with family. My experience with cancer has definitely brought us closer and I'm grateful for all the time we've had together this year.
THE BAD
My life is very blessed but of course it's not perfect. A few struggles this year:
Lean in the media. It's hard when something you believe in deeply is trampled in the court of public opinion day after day. On the one hand, I'm glad we're having some real conversations about our health care system and what we want from it. But it's frustrating when there is so much misinformation and misunderstanding out there. It has been hard to be positive but it has helped develop resilience and a thick skin.
Still at my holiday weight. Actually several holidays combined, at this point. I really gotta do something about this. This year is the year for me, if for no other reason than to be healthy in case I need to get in the ring and go a few rounds with cancer again some time.
The book backlog continues. Ugh, this one. The problem is it's very easy to buy books but much harder and time-consuming to read them. Add to that, Netflix has all 5 seasons of Hart to Hart online now so my bedtime routine (when I typically read) has some competition for my attention. It's not that I don't read. I'm an avid reader but an even more enthusiastic purchaser. When you love books, you keep buying them because they all seem so interesting. What I need to do is actually put some hard numbers to it - count and see how many books I have to read, and then figure out a reasonable pace and target. (Okay, I'm feeling a little scared about the hard numbers thing. I have a feeling it's going to be sobering.)
My fitness routine has taken a nosedive. Between all my surgeries and procedures, I haven't been able to be as regular with my routine as I would have liked. I've also had a level of fatigue that I've never experienced before. All in all, this year is probably the most unwell I've felt in my life. Most days I feel like a 90 year old. On a good day maybe a vibrant 90 year old. And I hate it. I miss feeling that sense of vitality.
THE UGLY
There is thankfully only one thing on this list but it's a doozy:
Breast cancer. While there have been many things I've been grateful for in my experience with cancer, the disease itself is not one of them. Cancer is horrible. It means tests, needles, surgeries, pain, suffering, fear and the end of your life as you knew it. No matter how good your prognosis, cancer puts a question mark after everything. I would not wish this on anyone.
And was the year that was! Next up - reflections on my hopes for the year that will be.