Reflecting On 2008
I’ll get this out of the way right now…I don’t make new year’s resolutions so that isn’t what this post is about. I don’t believe in making promises to yourself based on an arbitrarily chosen date just because it’s what we’re SUPPOSED to do. I have a tremendous dislike for doing anything that I’m SUPPOSED to do. What if I’m not ready to make that change until March 1st or June 23rd?
I did make a resolution somewhere around October 1st, 2007 to attempt to regain some semblance of mental health. That month I started on a path to self-awareness and I have taken no prisoners. Most of the work done on that resolution took place during 2008 so now I’m looking back and am amazed, absolutely blown away, by how huge this past year was….
My Marriage: At this time last year, hubby and I had been fighting pretty much non-stop for 2 months solid. We were in marriage counseling but were miserable. A few days after we rang in the new year we separated for 5 months. Today, we are happier than we have ever been, with ourselves and with each other. My resolution has had a tremendous impact on both of us individually and on our marriage. Luckily, he made the same resolution somewhere around March of 2008 and so we were on the same path, instead of the two very different ones we started the year on.
Me: At some point, after making the resolution to regain some semblance of mental health, I was shocked to discover that I had never had it in the first place. So, I was forced to revise my resolution to FIND some semblance of mental health. It may seem like semantics but the difference is monumental. I spent my 5 month marital separation in virtually constant introspection and very frequent isolation. I learned a lot about myself and have grown tremendously. In 2008, I took a solo trip for the very first time in my life, I lost my career, started a business (that didn’t work out but at least I tried), went back to college and discovered a new passion for writing when I became a blogger.
I’d say that with the exception of currently being unemployed for over 6 months, 2008 was a pretty damn good year! Yes, there was pain and depression and anxiety and loss. But there was also tremendous growth, a family saved from divorce, and exciting new opportunities, challenges, and adventures. I am a better person for having gone through all the ups and downs of the past year and am looking forward to what 2009 brings.
Thanks for stopping by!
At some point, after making the resolution to regain some semblance of mental health, I was shocked to discover that I had never had it in the first place.
I like that. The people that think they have it are sooo boring!
Nice, but you “tried” at the business?! LOL
I too am psyched for 2009, if 2008 keeps the steam going.
congratulations on your spiritual journey over the past year or so — it can be an amazing thing to see where you have been and where you have ended up.
the past two years i have asked my daughter to write me a christmas letter telling me about herself on the day she writes it. comparing the two (last year when she was ill and injured and we did not know why and she could not dance, and this year where she has learned to cope and medications are working and her social life has blasted off because she has more time since she is not dancing all the time) is amazing. i have asked her to do it for me every year — that is all i want. snapshots in time, once a year.
have a wonderful 2009!
you are truly an inspiration
Aw…thank you.