Happy New Year, dear reader. I don’t know about you, but for me 2013 was the longest year ever…yet I still can’t believe it’s over.
Our little family went through a lot this year, and I won’t rehash it all for you now, but I feel like I’ve aged a lot in this last trip around the sun. But with feeling a little older comes the sense that I’ve (hopefully) grown a little wiser too. I’ve learned that I can handle a lot more than I think I can; that I am indeed and old fart; and that while I’ve always had cats, I considered myself to be an animal lover, and that now that we have a dog I am 100% convinced that I am a cat person to the core. Don’t get me wrong, I love the newest member of our family, but gosh he sure is needy! I’ve learned that grief is a funny and sometimes unpredictable thing. I’ve learned that my definition of love from just 5 years ago was so shallow and uncomprehending…I cannot wait to see how that definition changes and grows in the years to come.
And I’ve learned that when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, less is more. Last year I had 4 items to check off my resolution list. One was absolutely completed, one was completed twice, one was completed 3/4 of the way but had to stop because of circumstances beyond my control, and the last one, my resolution to blog weekly, well, you know, when life got hairy I just put that priority on the back burner. But I choose to be proud of the accomplishments I made this year, nevertheless.
What about you? Did your 2013 go according to plan? Did you even remember your last New Year’s Resolutions? Last year was hard, and I know the coming year will be too…but I, for one, cannot wait to embrace 2014 and everything that comes with it. I’m so very much looking forward to something new.